Michael Sweet Gives Us The Rundown of The New Stryper Release on This Weeks Focus on Metal

  Episode 473 - Even The Devil Believes

So this week we start off with some chat about drive in concert events and the new Rust in Peace book but we managed to rein in our metal chatter long enough to have another chat with Michael Sweet. Yep, Michael makes yet another appearance the show this week as we talk with him about Stryper’s latest release “Even The Devil Believes”

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and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

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And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Michael Sweet & Ricky Warwick on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 436 - Another State of Ten

Michael Sweet just put out his latest solo release “Ten” via Rat Pak Records. This is probably his heaviest effort yet and loaded with great guest guitar slingers including Jeff Loomis, Gus G, Ethan Brosh, Joel Hoekstra. This week we’ll get the story on that one direct from the man himself. 

After that we sit down with Ricky Warwick to talk through Black Star Riders latest “Another State of Grace”

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Carl Alvarez From Inside Metal on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 377 - The Rise of LA Thrash Metal

At long last Bob Nalbandian and the crew at Metal Rock Films ( MetalRockFilms.com ) have finished the LA metal documentary trilogy they started way back in 2014. The final part was the much anticipated volumes on thrash, “The Rise of La Thrash Metal” volumes 1 & 2. Narrated by David Ellefson they wrap up the project in style. This week we are happy to have filmmaker Carl Alvarez on to talk about the making of the Inside Metal documentary series and his own first hand personal experiences in the LA thrash and metal scene.

Track of the weeks comes from the just released second solo album from Leather Leone "Leather II"

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Gus G & Michael Sweet Guest on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 372 - God Damn Fearless

Double shot of metal goodness once again as we bring not one but two great chats this week. First up we talk with guitarist Gus G about his brand new release “Fearless” and we follow that up with a chat with Michael Sweet about the latest from Stryper “God Damn Evil”. Both of those releases are due to drop this Friday so this ought to get you in the mood for release day.

Here's a taste of what to expect from Gus


and of course some new Stryper

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Michael Sweet Guests Once Again on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 360 - Unified

I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve had Michael Sweet on the show but this week, you can another appearance to his total. Sweet & Lynch just released “Unified” and Michael is on this week to give us his insights into the album. He also gives us an update on what’s going on in the Stryper camp.

Find out more at: MichaelSweet.com and at facebook.com/SweetLynch/

Track of the week is from Pink Cream 69 from their great new release “Headstrong”

Here's another great track from the album:

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Projected's John Connolly Talks Up "Ignite My Insanity" on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 346 - Projected

Sevendust & Projected guitarist John Connolly joins us this week to talk all about the new release from Projected “Ignite My Insanity” which was released via RatPak Records. Projected, which also consists of Vinnie Hornsby (Sevendust), Scott Phillips (Alterbridge), and Eric Friedman (Tremonti) went all out and released a double album of great new music and John’s here to give us the inside track.

Get a great deal on a Projected bundle at: RatPakRecordsAmerica.com

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Michael Sweet Returns Once Again to Focus on Metal This Week

Episode 297 - Michael Sweet

Our annual summer break is upon us but before we take a few weeks off Michael Sweet returns to the show once again this week to talk about the imminent release of his latest solo album “One Sided War” due from Rat Pak on August 26th. He also talks about the upcoming Stryper 30th anniversary “To Hell With The Devil” tour and we even manage to fit in some gear talk too. Enjoy our talk with Michael and we’ll be back the week of Sept 12th with more metal goodness.

Michael can be found on the net at michaelsweet.com/ and the latest Stryper news and tour dates are at stryper.com/

And be sure to pick up your copy of "One Sided War" This Week.

Track of the week is from the new Metal Allegiance EP Fallen Heroes. Here's Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy talking about making the track

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us On Demand everyday on Platinum Rock Radio by going to this link

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Just posted: Mike Portnoy on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 291 - Mike Portnoy

After several missed connections we FINALLY were able to get an interview with the always busy Mike Portnoy.The guys currently in six bands so we gotta cut him some slack.

The best place to keep up with all things Portnoy is at mikeportnoy.com/

Here's some Hello Kitty action from Mike

And here's Mike with some usual bit of kit

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us On Demand everyday on Platinum Rock Radio by going to this link

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

RPR set to release Michael Sweet (Stryper) "One Sided War"

In what promises to be Stryper front-man Michael Sweet’s most intense solo release to date, “One Sided War” showcases a full plate of hard rock & classic metal riffs from start to finish. One Sided War marks Michael’s 7^th studio solo album and it clearly proves that he is still at the very top of his game! “I’ll tell you about it”, says Michael, “Musically it’s my heaviest solo album. It’s not thrash metal but there are definitely some songs on there that will pop out at you. There are some songs that have a bit of the Iron Maiden / Dio feel to them, as well as some songs that have a little bit of a Van Halen influence to them. It’s a very guitar-oriented, hard rock/metal album with lots of melodies and hooks!”

Surrounding himself in the studio with Whitesnake guitarist Joel Hoekstra, Evanescence drummer Will Hunt, bassist John O’Boyle and East Coast shred-master Ethan Brosh, Michael began creating what would soon be known as “One Sided War”. Michael states “Originally I planned on showcasing my own guitar playing; I was going to do it all myself, but once I brought Joel & Ethan into the picture, things began to take a new direction and I am very happy with what we have accomplished”. Says Ethan Brosh about working with Michael, "He's one of those guys who have always been at the top of their game and has just never lost it and for me to be a part of this is very special". Joel Hoekstra comments "Michael and I actually go back to my time in Night Ranger when we opened for him when he was playing with Boston. Ever since then we've just been kind of collaborating and this is sort of a natural evolution getting to play on a few songs on his solo album".

The fast and furious opener “Bizarre” ignites the album’s pace with it's lightning fast riffage, soaring vocals and blazing guitar solos. Tracks like “Can’t Take This Life”, “One Sided War”, "Golden Age", “I Am” and “Comfort Zone” keep the metal fires ablaze, while tracks like “Radio”, “One Way” and “You Make Me Wanna” bring the hard rock vibe to the forefront . “One Sided War” features only one ballad, “Who Am I?”, a heartfelt, passionate song that reminds us of the softer side of Michael’s talents. Closing out the disc is a bonus track; it’s a different version of the song “Can’t Take This Life”, a duet with Michael and 16 year old up-and-coming female vocalist Moriah Formica. If you are a fan of Michael Sweet / Stryper or a fan of classic Hard Rock & Metal in general “One Sided War” is an absolute must have, you won’t be disappointed! Official release date is August 26, 2016

The CD was tracked at Spirithouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts.

TRACK LISTING:

Bizarre

One Sided War

Can't Take This Life

Radio

Golden Age

Only You

I Am

Who Am I

You Make Me Wanna

Comfort Zone

One Way Up

Can't Take This Life (*bonus track* featuring  Moriah Formica)

Just posted, FoM 256 With Michael Sweet of Stryper

Episode 256 - Fallen

Not sure at this point how many times the prolific Michael Sweet ( http://www.michaelsweet.com/ ) has appeared on Focus on Metal but he's back again this week. Stryper just released their 11th (and heaviest) full length studio album "Fallen" via Frontiers Records ( http://www.frontiers.it/ ) on October 16th and so far it's been getting very solid reviews. Michael will give us the full lowdown on the album as well as what's going on with all his other projects.

Track of the week is from High Roller ( http://www.hrrecords.de/ ) artists Ambush from their second release "Desecrator". Ambush hail from Sweden and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Ambushsweden

In case ya missed it Focus on Metal is now part of a new network The Blast Syndicate. So point your browser to http://www.blastsyndicate.com/ and Get Blasted!

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us Tuesdays on Platinum Rock Radio and be sure to check their schedule because we usually get a repeat run during the week.

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Review - Stryper- Live At The Whiskey (Frontiers Records)

   Boy are this band busy these days. In the last couple of years they have released a covers album, a selection of re-records from their earlier catalogue, a back to basics belter of old school new stuff in No More Hell To Pay at the tail end of last year and now this, a live recording from their show at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles supporting that album. Oh and let's not forget Michael also released his excellent autobiography Honestly and solo album I'm Not Your Suicide.

   In my opinion this release has three strikes against it before I even pop it in the cd player. Strike one is live albums are pretty much redundant today what with You Tube and the like. Seriously when is the last time you salivated over the release of a live album from your favorite band. Now there's tons of live footage out there and often some professionally shot. For free too. Strike two is the importance of music these days, if U2 can slog for years in the studio and give away their album to sell a bloody new phone what does that say about people's investment in music. What is it now, an app? Finally strike three is the fact that some people can't get past Stryper's lyrics. They just won't go there.

   So I'm just going to bash this thing, right? WRONG. I've seen this band live in the last couple of years and they still sound fantastic and you can't emphasize enough the importance of having the four original members on stage. To me it's always been music first, if that doesn't grab me them I'm out of there. I love Stryper, I love Slayer and that's because of the tunes.

   This band has an abundance of good songs. Their last album is well represented with a very healthy four cuts and second song Marching Into Battle is probably the heaviest they have ever done. Michael still sounds great and the backing vocals are top notch. There's no ballads either, not even Honestly from To Hell With The Devil which is their biggest hit from the past. I would like to think this was left off on purpose to highlight that this was and is a hard rocking band. It's a seriously heavy live sounding record. Not everything works though, Always There For You highlights how weak a record In God We Trust was and there's nothing from the more recent Reborn or Murder By Pride. The inclusion of All For One from Against The Law is a nice surprise but the set ends predictably with Soldiers Under Command that is their Paranoid or Take Hold of The Flame.

   So a worthy inclusion to the Stryper catalogue. If you are a fan you will love this, for someone sitting on the fence this might surprise you with its heaviness. The band still sounds great, now how many 80's bands can you say that about?

Richie.

http://www.stryper.com/

http://www.frontiers.it/

Review - Stryper at Hampton Beach Casino 7/12/2013

   I couldn't make Mike Tramp's acoustic set so can't comment on it. He was meeting people at the merch booth and signing stuff when I got there. The line was pretty long too so he must have gone down well. Don't judge him only on the White Lion stuff, those Freak Of Nature albums are really good.

   Stryper are a great and I mean great hard rock band. I couldn't give a shit about the lyrics as long as the tunes are there. They throw some bibles throughout the show but don't force feed the message down your throats. They also have all the original members in the band who still seem to enjoy playing with each other.

   Opening the set with To Hell With The Devil the band relied heavily on that album playing six other tracks from it in a sixteen song set. Not surprising as that's their biggest. One For All from Against The Law was a welcome addition but nothing from In God We Trust. They did play one newie from the upcoming Hell To Pay release and it's super heavy. They played three covers; Shout It Out Loud, Heaven and Hell and I'm On Fire, all great but that means leaving out some original stuff.

   Top notch musicianship, amazing vocal harmonies, great vocals from Michael Sweet and a band that still seems to have fun on stage. What's not to like about that? Praise the lord.

Richie.

Review - Stryper- Second Coming (Frontiers Records)

   Anyone who heard me on episode 130 knows that I am not a fan of re-record cds. I understand that they are done for economic reasons, the label ponies up the cash and the band get the rights to the re-records. Sounds great for the band doesn't it. Here's what the fan normally gets: a half arsed performance from a band who have to change the tuning from the originals because the singer can't cut it like he used to. Want proof? Go listen to the last Dokken greatest hits re-records or the butchering Geoff Tate did of 4 Queensryche classics on Frequency Unknown.

   Well I'm glad to report that here's an exception. I got this because we recently did an interview with Stryper vocalist Michael Sweet and needed something up to date in the name of "research". What they have done is concentrated solely on their first 3 albums, 2 from The Yellow and Black Attack and 6 each from Soldiers Under Command and To Hell With The Devil. The running order from the originals is intact which added a nice touch.

   The result is fantastic. This cd rocks, of the 14 re-records there is only 1 ballad. The bands playing is as tight as ever. Michael Sweet is still an amazing singer and doesn't shun those high notes at all, also kudos to the rest of the band for their vocal harmony work.

   2 new tracks are also included and both rock especially Blackened. Frontiers Records have also done a nice job with the packaging. It seems more and more melodic rock bands from that era are ending up on Frontiers but it's not proving a graveyard for them at all.

   So nothing here from In God We Trust or Against The Law although Michael did say that they intend to get to these in the future. The bottom line and for me this is saying something: if the band had re-recorded these albums in their entirety and released them not only would I buy them but I would play them over the originals. This is that good. Now you tell me how many bands you can say that about.

   The band have also just finished recording their new cd No More Hell To Pay and Michael did say its heavy and it's the best work the band have ever done. You know what, on the strength of this I believe him. I await with bated breath. Go see them on tour.

Richie.

http://www.stryper.com/

ICONIC CHRISTIAN ROCKERS STRYPER SIGN TO FRONTIERS RECORDS FOR MULTI-ALBUM DEAL

RE-RECORDED COLLECTION “SECOND COMING” DUE OUT IN MARCH

Frontiers Records is proud to announce the signing of iconic Christian rockers Stryper to a multi-album deal.  The first release due out will be a new re-recorded collection; SECOND COMING will hit streets on March 22^nd in Europe and March 26^th in North America. 

The album features sixteen tracks, including new recordings of fourteen songs from the band’s early years as well as two brand new songs recorded especially for SECOND COMING, and is produced by Stryper frontman Michael Sweet. 

Sweet commented, “We're really excited about this record. The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome…better than the originals in many ways!  One word to describe the record? Heavier. We've hooked up with some great people - we've got new management, a great album, a great label. We just feel like everything is coming together, and hopefully some big things are to follow."  Please see below for the complete track listing.

Stryper is one of the top Christian rock bands of all time.  Comprised of the original line-up of Michael Sweet (vocals/guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Tim Gaines (bass), and Robert Sweet (drums), Stryper has been rocking since 1984, and is responsible for such '80s metal classic albums as SOLDIERS UNDER COMMAND, TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL, IN GOD WE TRUST and such MTV hit singles/videos as "Calling on You," "Free," and "Honestly."

After a sabbatical for much of the 1990's, Stryper returned strong in the early 21st century.  To date, the band has sold upwards of 8 million records worldwide and is a Dove Award-winner and Grammy nominee.  Stryper is the first band to have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously.

SECOND COMING track listing: Loud N’ Clear; Loving You; Soldiers Under Command; Makes Me Wanna Sing; First Love; The Rock That Makes Me Roll; Reach Out; Surrender; To Hell With The Devil; Calling On You; Free; The Way; Sing Along Song; More Than A Man; Bleeding From Inside Out (New song); Blackened (New song)

Weblinks: www.stryper.com / www.frontiers.it