Reborn
For those of you who never left 1985, a time when metal bands had big hair, singers reached for the highest note, and drummers twirled their drumsticks between beats, I bring good news: Stryper is back! Then again, after listening to the "comeback" releaseReborn, it sounds like they never left. And while the yellow-and-black spandex may be gone, the vocal theatrics of Michael Sweet remain in tracks like "Make You Mine," "Rain," and "When Did I See You Cry." The band updates its sound some with the edgier "Open Your Eyes" and on the title track. "10,000 Years" is another curiosity as Sweet takes lyrics from the timeless classic hymn "Amazing Grace" and wraps them around a metal rave-up. But for the majority of this release, they’ll be no mistaking the guitar riffs of Oz Fox, let alone the tin-can, rat-a-tat-tat drumming of Robert Sweet. New bassist Tracy Ferie capably locks down the rhythm section as a successor to original bass player Tim Gaines. Otherwise, it all seems to be frozen in time. If you never left the 80s, you’ll loveReborn. Break out the Aquanet and studded belt and live to rock another day with the original Christian metal band.--Michael Lyttle