Stryper - Reborn
Well, here it is. After way too much delay, I finally got my Stryper Reborn review posted. Sorry for the wait.
Here we go, song by song.
Open Your Eyes - I'm not wild about the sound on the verses, but the chorus is good. The style is modern hard rock. This song shows that Mike's vocal are still in good shape, even if they are not quite what they once were.
Reborn - This song has been around awhile and we've had more time to get used to it, but it's great song even if I just heard it today. Good and heavy.
When Did I See You Cry - This song has some really great lyrics, even though they were not penned by Michael. Probably some of the deepest and most meaningful lyrics I've ever heard in a Stryper song. The music is also very good for this one, making a great song no matter how you slice it.
Make You Mine - This one is a mid tempo number. Very much melodic rock, which is something Stryper has always brought to the table. So, even if this a bit lighter than what they used to do, it's still a good song.
Passion - This song is a good ballad, which is a must on any Stryper album. It's also a song of worship and devotion, which is something I always like to see.
Live Again - This song comes on with a good heavy riff. If anything on this album comes anywhere close to metal, this would be the song.
I Wait For You - This is an enjoyable pop rock song. It's a bit of a departure, but I have to say I really like this song.
Rain - This song was just OK for me when it was released on Truth and it's still just OK. It does have a good chorus, but the verses just lay there and don't do a thing for me.
If I Die - Something I like. Something I don't, but I think it will grow on me.
10,000 - An interesting take on Amazing Grace. Not bad, though certainly not my favorite. Once again, it will probably grow on me.
In God We Trust - Then and now this is a great song. They changed it just enough to make it interesting again, but not so much that it becomes any kind of distraction from we always loved about this song.
Overall, this is a pretty good album. Is it the best album this bunch of guys could have made? I highly doubt it. But after all, this was basically just a redressed Michael Sweet album and for a Michael Sweet album it's great. Hopefully, the future will bring us a new Stryper album that is totally the product of these four guys as a band and that will be the real album to judge. No, it's not your 1980's Stryper album, but this is NOT BAD MUSIC. Not bad at all.
Mike Tifft
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