Release date: October 21, 2022

Oh my goodness! The album opens with Michael Sweet’s voice in top form, belting out a hair-raising scream that could wake the dead and make any true metal fan stand at attention to salute the undisputed master of metal vocals. This opening bellow makes this album worth the purchase price ten times over. Not to be overshadowed by the first few seconds of this opening track titled “Transgressor” the remainder of the 4:25 opus is chalked full of crunchy metal riffs, gang style vocals, and multiple speaker destroying shrieks from Michael. The guitar solo, which sounds to be another stellar twin guitar attack by both Oz Fox and Michael Sweet tears through the middle of the piece leaving you yearning for more and more of their guitar virtuosity.

If we stopped right here, this one song would be enough to make this one of the top metal releases of the year. It has been a very long time since I heard a song that hits all the markers in the way this initial track from Stryper does. In an era of cookie-cutter bands, YouTube artist, and trend following musicians, Stryper has put out an album that has made me, and hopefully you, excited about music again.

The Final Battle picks up where its predecessors No More Hell To Pay (2013), Fallen (2015), God Damn Evil (2018), and Even The Devil Believes (2020) left off. The Final Battle has elevated the bands song writing and musicianship to a significantly higher level. In the past decade of career rebirth they have developed a pronounced heavier sound in comparison to their classic style. Yet somehow manage retain the vocal and guitar melody that we have come to love, and frankly expect from Stryper.

The second track is “See No Evil, Hear No Evil” which opens with a Black Sabbath style guitar riff that is coupled with the classic squeal that Styper has made distinctively their own. This is undoubtedly produced using the Washburn V2FR Michael Sweet Signature guitar. This guitar angst in layered with thunderous drums from Robert Sweet and a pounding bass line that makes your head start to bob before you even know it. The second guitar joins the rhythm and takes the song to a haunting level before the lead vocals piece the palette of sound. Once again the song is dominated by guitar prowess that is pronounced with a solo around the three minute mark, followed by a guitar piece that has a mid-eastern feel to it.

Next up it the crunchy “Same Old Story” that opens with a riff that would make the late Eddie Van Halen proud. As this song progresses it feels more and more like a classic Stryper track. I could hear this song on Soldiers Under Command or even Yellow and Black Attack. The loud and proud chorus is quite reminiscent of that time period for the band.

The fourth track “Heart & Soul” starts with a guitar sound that will make you think of Anvil, Loudness, Accept, or even Quiet Riot. This straight ahead rocker features an amazing solo, hook, and metal screams that would make Rob Halford blush.

“Near” is up next. This track slows the tempo down a bit, but still manages to rock hard as Michael exclaims “That’s  why I need you to be near, that’s why I need you to be here.” And as you suspected a stellar solo drops in your lap mid-song. This quick solo reminds me of another late and great guitarist, Randy Rhoads.

Yes, Stryper is unequivocally a Christian band and their faith and love show through in every aspect of their art and career. I know that scares a lot of you, but this and many of their previous album are so genuinely good that you are seriously depriving yourself if you shy away simply due to their beliefs. I have met the band several times. I have interviewed Michael multiple times and had the opportunity to interview Oz several years back. I can say with a clear conscience that these men are the real deal. They have migrated through four decades of the music industry with every ounce of their integrity and musical talent intact. /rant

Next up is “Out, Up & In” and it has a more simplified sound with lyrics about the end times, the Tribulation, the Rapture and celebration. The song has a bit of a punk-rock feel to it, but is distinctly Styper at every turn.

Falling in order is “Rise To The Call” a fasted paced anthem that reminds me of Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken or Grimm Reaper. Followed by a more groove oriented song “The Way, The Truth, The Life” that adds some more dimension to the album. It has a unique and sharp delivery of the lyrics in the verse and a of course a soaring solo.

Track nine, “No Rest For The Wicked” could be pulled from Warrant’s “Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich” album right down to the Janie Lane style vocal delivery.

“Till Death Do Us Part” is the only track that I could say anything negative about. Honestly (no pun intended) it is a quality track, but placed along side such an amazing selection of other songs it fades by comparison.

Ashes To Ashes closes the album with a giant exclamation mark, letting the world know that Stryper is here to stay and that they much more than a 80’s glam metal band that tosses bibles into crowd.

Overall this is an amazing release. The vocals of both lead vocalist Michael Sweet and “helper” Oz Fox are spectacular from beginning to end. At this point in their career vocalist seem to shy away from such vocal acrobatics, but not Styrper! They have embraced it with full force and have raised the bar for not only bands in their genre, but musicians across the board.  It also goes without saying that the guitar work on this album is stellar. They are running like a finely tuned, classic mussel car cruising the highway at 100mph.

The Final Battle – Track Listing

Transgressor
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Same Old Story
Heart & Soul
Near
Out, Up & In
Rise To The Call
The Way, The Truth, The Life
No Rest For Wicked
Till Death Do Us Part
Ashes To Ashes

Total Run Time: 46:23

About Author

Josh Drespling

Josh is the Publisher and creator of Empire Extreme and it’s sister publication Kingdom Extreme Magazine. He is an accomplished writer, photographer and graphic designer. He is always conjuring up new ideas and has a amazing passion for the music industry and all the things that surround it.

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