STRYPER – The Second Coming
Frontiers www.frontiers.it
Stryper are having second wind with two studio albums since they returned back in 2003 (plus a covers album) and they are currently working on a new album for release later this year. This album sees them re-record classic songs from their first three albums to give them control back over their songs. Plus there are two new songs, both featuring monster riffs and like the heavier songs they have done of late. Best of these is ‘Blackened’, although ‘Bleeding From The Inside Out’ is no duffer.
Of the re-recorded songs the main difference is that vocalist Michael Sweet veers away from some of the higher notes on the originals and ‘Visual Timekeeper’ (or drummer in any other band) Robert Sweet sounds slightly louder in the mix at times. A good selection of their classics as well with ‘Calling On You’, the monster ballad ‘First Love’ and ‘The Rock That Makes Me Roll’ personal picks.
If you’re fan bar the two new songs this is not a ‘must have’ I’d guess, however it is a great place to start for those new to the band. Yes their lyrics can be preachy at times and there are as good as, if not better white metal/rock bands out there but few have the consistency of music that Stryper have and they are a must see live. Roll on the new studio album…
****
Jason Ritchie
PAPER AEROPLANES – Little Letters
Navigator Records (Released May 13th) www.navigatorrecords.co.uk
Third album from Paper Aeroplanes who are a duo consisting of Sarah Howells and Richard Llewellyn. They have already built up a decent head of steam via glowing reviews, airplay on 6 Music and Radio 2 plus plenty of live work. They have a few guests to help round out the music including on double bass John Parker, who is in Nizpoli who had a number one UK hit with ‘The JCB Song’.
Give the album a few spins to sink in as bar say opener ‘When The Windows Shook’, few songs grab the listener instantly. Slowly though it all clicks into place and the title track is a blissful moment of pop, recalling Kate Bush and Tori Amos. ‘Singing To Elvis’ shows what a lovely, wistful vocal Sarah Howells has.
The only downside is that fact it can take a little while to sink in, although that’s no bad thing in a world dominated by disposable pop pap.
***1/2
Jason Ritchie
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
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