Fallen
Stryper
•
November 28, 2015
Many remaining bands of the 80s could not remain relevant, and, how can i say... not "getting old" very well. Others, on the contrary, even after a hiatus due to the changes in the music market, mainly occurred during the 90s, returned to produce quality music, including in some cases going back even better than before, with more sobriety and maturity. Two bands that in my view have returned better and also had the ability to renew their music, are Europe and STRYPER."Fallen" is STRYPER'S eleventh studio album (counting on the EP "The Yellow And Black Attack", 84), and continues the saga of good albums that has released since their return with "Reborn" (2005) and exceeds the optimal "No More Hell To Pay" (2013), coming with their Hard/Heavy even stronger, with killer riffs and huge melodies! Well, the band has always had a great ability to create memorable melodies and choruses.The vocal range of Michael Sweet is also striking feature, it is easy to recognize it immediately as well as the sounds of Michael's and Oz's guitars, distilling great riffs and solos. The rhythmic section, which again has the original duo since Gaines' return in 2009, always competent and with further footprint.
"Yahweh" opens the album with already characteristic STRYPER'S choruses, and the highlight is the powerful riffs and Michael's killer vocals, in a perfect Heavy Metal song! The title track "Fallen" continues the load, with more powerful riffs and Michael not saving his voice,culminating in memorable and exciting chorus. In fact, the band has spared no expense in memorable riffs and choruses, and are even better in the question of mixing perfectly the Hard and Heavy, but what is striking is that since their return the band is getting more and more vigorous.As I said at the beginning of this review, the STRYPER is one of the bands who managed to return, catch up and follow relevant, while still maintaining his personality, because many of STRYPER features 80s are easily identified, especially in the question riffs and memorable melodies, and many choruses and riffs have the brand of heavy metal that time on several of the tracks, some even more pronounced, as in "Big Screen Lies", but never sounding dated.That is, they do not try to reinvent the wheel here, but just keep getting better at what they do.
It is an album of great quality, well balanced, strong and very dynamic, without disposable songs, those difficult to point out highlights on it, but it has some tracks that stand out in the very first hearing, as the first two tracks, and even "Heaven", more mid-tempo, marked by great melodies on guitar and vocals, in a progress in a style of SABBATH'S "Heaven And Hell" at some moments; And speaking about them, the Fathers of Heavy Metal, we have the version of "After Forever", where STRYPER managed to print your personality, making it more hard. Of course, could not miss the ballad, a thing that STRYPER is a master, and "All Over Again" with its acoustic arrangements and melodies, tailored to the audience sing along and turn on the lights of the cell (in the 80s were lighters, hehehe) during its execution.
The clothes, and the most extravagant visual in yellow and black from the 80s now appear more discreetly, and in some details (now the black color are more dominant), but the ability to compose a Hard/Heavy full of energy, with memorable melodies, especially on vocals, remarkable riffs and Michael's unmistakable voice remain intact and increasingly vibrant.
9 / 10
Almost Perfect
"Fallen" Track-listing:
1. Yahweh
2. Fallen
3. Pride
4. Big Screen Lies
5. Heaven
6. Love You Like I Do
7. All Over Again
8. After Forever
9. Till I Get What I Need
10. Let There Be Light
11. The Calling
12. King Of Kings
Stryper Lineup:
Michael Sweet - Vocals & Guitars
Oz Fox - Guitars
Tim Gaines - Bass
Robert Sweet - Drums
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