Review of Seven by Stryper ***

An excellent album if you like heavy metal.

Okay Stryper is on an evangelistic mission and I am not Christian, nor do I have any intention of becoming one, but this stuff is great 80s hair band heavy metal.  I could care less about their mission.  I listen to several bands where I don’t necessarily agree with their lyrics, but I don’t let that stop me from enjoying the music.  And, in this case I don’t care so much about the bands mission as that they are just a plainly talented band that is a little cheesy.  I once saw them live, and they put on a good show.  Musically, there is not much difference between Stryper, and Motely Crue, Poison, or Skid Row.  And, of course those bands are all essentially copy cats of bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.  If you don’t like any of those three that are among the more popular 80s bands, then maybe you won’t like Stryper, and that is okay because I am not on an evangelistic mission to get you to like Stryper or heavy metal.  However, Stryper’s vocalist has a tremendous set of pipes with an incredible voice that should be enough to impress any musician.  In fact, all the musicians in Stryper are very talented.  I usually don’t like power ballads, but Honestly, which was Stryper’s greatest hit is actually really good.  Instead of reminding me about Gd, it reminds me about a kind and loving pet with lines like, “And through the years I will be a friend for always.”  Pets seem to love unconditionally.  Seven is a greatest hits album, and in my opinion it is the best of their hits collections.  It is chock full of fun songs, many of which will probably make you laugh at their silliness.  If you buy this album, then there is no need to buy any other of Stryper’s albums.