Reborn

With their first album of all-original material since 1990's Against The Law, Christian heavy metal band Stryper do more than drum up their glory days on 2005's Reborn. The intervening 15 years did little to diminish Stryper's attack: the band still thunders with both glitz and muscle, and lead singer Michael Sweet sounds as sharp as ever. Likewise, Stryper's commitment to their faith hasn't wavered an iota, as the messages on songs like 'Passion' and the title track prove. In the midst of the many Christian metal bands inspired by Stryper's model, Reborn finds the fathers of the genre reasserting their worth. Includes the 2 live bonus tracks 'More Than A Man' & 'Reach Out'. Dream On. 2005.

For those of you who never left 1985, a time when metal bands had big hair, singers reached for the highest note, and drummers twirled their drumsticks between beats, I bring good news: Stryper is back! Then again, after listening to the "comeback" release Reborn, it sounds like they never left. And while the yellow-and-black spandex may be gone, the vocal theatrics of Michael Sweet remain in tracks like "Make You Mine," "Rain," and "When Did I See You Cry." The band updates its sound some with the edgier "Open Your Eyes" and on the title track. "10,000 Years" is another curiosity as Sweet takes lyrics from the timeless classic hymn "Amazing Grace" and wraps them around a metal rave-up. But for the majority of this release, they’ll be no mistaking the guitar riffs of Oz Fox, let alone the tin-can, rat-a-tat-tat drumming of Robert Sweet. New bassist Tracy Ferie capably locks down the rhythm section as a successor to original bass player Tim Gaines. Otherwise, it all seems to be frozen in time. If you never left the 80s, you’ll love Reborn. Break out the Aquanet and studded belt and live to rock another day with the original Christian metal band. --Michael Lyttle