Customer Reviews

The Covering

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

First of all I must say I'm a HUGE Stryper fan and love all of their recordings. When I found out they were releasing an album of cover songs (with "God" being the only original song), I was initially disappointed. Their original music is so inspirational, the lyrics so moving, that I didn't want any of that being lost on an album full of covers. After hearing the songs on this album, I'm so glad they decided to record it! They chose some awesome tunes to cover; songs that influenced each member of the band and helped them become who they are. This album is well recorded, the music is amazing, and Michael Sweet's vocals are nothing short of extraordinary; he would make Ronnie James Dio proud on Heaven and Hell and takes Carry On My Wayward Son to a new level. The guitar playing is top notch, and the solos from the Trooper and Over the Mountain really stand out. Plus "God" is a really cool song and is reminiscent of tracks from earlier works like Soldiers Under Command. This is a great cd and I'd highly recommend it!!!

From the very first notes of the very first track of Stryper's latest album, "The Covering", you know you are in for something special. The first full length studio release to feature the original four members of the band - Michael, Robert, Oz, and Timothy - since 1990's "Against the Law"; "The Covering" erupts from your speakers, grabs you by the neck, and takes you on a no-holds-barred exploration of `70s and early 80's rock. But this isn't just a random collection of cover tunes. If you listen closely, you can hear the threads in these songs that run through Stryper's own music. It's a roadmap of how Stryper became who they are musically. It's also an exceedingly good album.

I can't say it's not strange at first to hear Stryper tackle songs by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Kiss, etc. But here's the thing - it really, REALLY works. It's clear the guys grew up listening to this music and they treat it with respect. The real genius of the album is in the balance they strike between remaining faithful to the original recordings, while still leaving room to stamp each track with their distinctive Stryper sound. Every song is instantly recognizable (no experimental jazz/fusion takes on Iron Maiden to be found here), but also instantly recognizable as Stryper.

This is the best the band has sounded since "To Hell With The Devil". Both Michael and Oz's guitars sizzle with a gritty resonance that sounds born straight from the "Soldiers Under Command" sessions. Their twin lead lines are so crisp and so much in the pocket together, it's hard to believe it's really two guitarists and not some crafty producer with a knack for Pro Tools. Timothy and Robert still blend seamlessly together to deliver one of the best metal rhythm foundations around. Michael's voice is as powerful and pure as ever, with the band's trademark lush backing vocals in evidence throughout the album.

Stryper rips through "The Covering" like a band 25 years younger. I challenge you to go back and listen to "To Hell With The Devil" or "Soldiers Under Command" and find a step the band is missing today. There is seemingly no note that Michael still can't hit. Oz doesn't miss a single riff, and both Timothy and Robert push the band along at the same driving pace they always have. If anything, the band sounds like they have a new energy with this album. And more importantly - they sound like they are having fun.

So it has come to this: Stryper releasing an album of cover songs. Did the band run out of ideas? Inability to come up with new material? Or perhaps this is something the band has been wanting to do for a long time, after all they're not the first band to release an album of cover songs. In fact Guns N'Roses and Metallica have famously done so with The Spaghetti Incident? and Garage Inc. respectively. I have nothing against a band releasing a covers album, if the performances are solid and the choices are good it can always be interesting. Yes this a covers album but it's definitely one of the best cover albums I've heard and I must say I'm in love with their choices of songs. Iron Maiden's "The Trooper", Ozzy's "Over The Mountain" (I'm impressed with this choice, one of my fav Ozzy songs), KISS' "Shout It Out Loud", Judas Priest's "Breaking The Law", Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" and Black Sabbath's "Heaven & Hell" are all terrific picks and they're all classic metal songs. I'm a huge fan of the artists and songs they chose to cover and let me tell you they did a great job! To me some of the highlights are the cover of the Scorpions song "Blackout" (which delivers great energy and plain rocks), "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden (no matter how tired I am of hearing the Maiden version this one is fresh and amazing to me), Ozzy's "Over The Mountain" (terrific again)

Originally I wasn't too sure about Stryper doing this and if it would work for them but now I must admit I was wrong, "The Covering" is incredible. This being a cover album of artists that influenced them and that they respect it's obviously not going to be the Christian-rock flavor of lyrics that they usually have. Not that there is anything wrong with that, hardcore Christian fans of the band may be disappointed but metal fans like me in general should be pleased. Of course there is the obligatory new song on the album, "God", which is a very good one, makes me want to hear some more new material, this new song is what the band is all about. Until new Stryper material is released this should satisfy your hunger. I'll have to join the five stars chorus here, "The Covering" is a terrific cover album and it's one that should be heard.

Ok, first thing first. This record rocks, period! With that said, let me tell you exactly what you get with this record. All the songs are nice selections by some of the greatest bands during the best era in Rock n Roll. If you're in your 30's or 40's you'll quickly recognize most, if not all these songs. Stryper has clearly modernized all of them with clean, snappy production, while remaining true to the music and keeping the integrity of each song. The best way to describe this record ... It's kinda like going from a standard television to a high definition television.

I never would have imagined that I would enjoy listening to "Carry On Wayward Son" again, a song that I've probably heard over a thousand times on the radio the last 25 years. But Stryper pulled it off big-time ... they took one of the most played classic rock songs from the 70's, and made it enjoyable for me.

Prepare for an incredible sonic experience.

Stryper rocks! the christian metal masters did a fantastic job covering so well these hard rock classic cuts. I particularly like the impeccable work of Oz Fox at the leading guitar and the crisp, versatile voice of Michael Sweet. Robert and Timothy in the rhythm section are the perfect complement for this brilliant effort. According to me, the highlights of the CD are the powerful versions of Deep Purple's hard rock anthem "Highway Star" and UFO's "Lights out", but all the other songs are performed masterfully. The only new song of the album, the cut entitled "God" is vintage Stryper.
I highly recommend this collection.

Stryper decided to put out a cover album to pay homage to the bands that shaped their sound as the band was forming back in 1983. This is by no means a departure from their faith, but rather a trip down memory lane. I've purchased a few of the recent cover albums by 80's Metal Bands (Poison, Tesla, Def Leppard) and this far exceeds the other offerings - by a long shot. Not only are the songs they selected better (IMO) but Stryper maintained the integrity of the originals while painting them (yellow and) black. (Sorry Mick, I had to throw that in there.) My faves are Set Me Free, Over The Mountain, and The Trooper. But wait, there's more! Stryper threw an original track on the end titled "God". I believe this served two purposes; to show their faith is as alive as ever, and to foreshadow what's to come on the next Stryper album. To put it simple, this track is KILLER! All the throwbacks to the glory days but with a bit of cutting modern edge. I saw Stryper perform live at Club Nokia in LA on March 9, 2011 and they were as tight and melodic as ever. They played a few tracks off this album (Carry On My Wayward Son, Heaven and Hell, Shout It Out Loud) and did it to near perfection. I fully recommend this album for Stryper fans, and for those looking for a modern version of these classic metal tunes. You won't be disappointed.

The latest offering from Christian metal pioneers Stryper is a bit unconventional. With The Covering, the boys in yellow and black take on some of the best-known bands and songs in the "secular" hard rock and heavy metal world. This seems a bit risky, as some of the band's Christian fans may not find these songs appropriate, and mainstream metal fans might not think Stryper is up to the task of covering songs by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath.

I'm in the latter camp, and to my surprise not only did Stryper deliver respectable cover versions, they totally nailed nearly every song chosen for this collection. You tend to forget that behind the Christian message this is a band with serious chops. Oz Fox is a completely underrated guitar player, and Robert Sweet is a fantastic drummer. These guys are more than capable of serving up "Breaking the Law," "the Trooper" and "Heaven and Hell," and Michael Sweet's vocals bring the necessary power and versatility, whether he's singing a `70s rock staple like "Set Me Free" or "Carry On Wayward Son" or an all-out metal anthem like "Highway Star" or "Lights Out." The only song that seems ill-chosen is Van Halen's "On Fire."

The album closes with the new original recording "God," which is a not too subtle reminder that despite the band's affection for these metal classics, their loyalties are never in question. It rocks pretty hard too, which is a plus.

The Covering may be the surprise hit of 2011. It really is a fantastic collection of cover songs and a great display of what Stryper is capable of. Whether you're a Stryper fan or not, if you love classic hard rock and heavy metal, you should absolutely give The Covering a try.

At first listen, I thought The Covering was just average but upon second and third hearings, came to realize just how good it is--excellent, actually. Every cover on this release is at the very least decent, with most being very good and some being outstanding. The best cut, in my opinion, is Stryper's rendition of "Highway Star" by Deep Purple, which rocks through and through. A couple other great takes are "Over the Mountain" by Ozzy, and "Lights Out" by UFO. Again, all the rest are very good and every song is about 90% true to the originals in the ways that count most (i.e. solos, screams, harmonies, etc.). The only cut that comes close to being disappointing (but does not actually disappoint) is "Blackout" by the Scorpions. The Stryper sound on that one is less aggressive and in-your-face than the original--a bit too commercial for such an outstanding hard-rocker. In fact, Stryper's inclusion of that song in particular must be seen as controversial, the song's theme being what it is and containing a [mild] swear in it as well.

As far as the CD packaging, I understand the imagery on the front and back sides of "before conversion [to Christ]/after conversion" but found the drawings (not the concept) lame. Reminded me of the equally lame Sacred Warrior "Wicked Generation" album cover from back in the day--I'll be quick to say what an outstanding recording "Wicked Generation" is, however, it being the Christian Metal equivalent of Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime" and every bit as good, if not even better. Furthermore regarding the packaging of The Covering, the insert is, I'm sorry to say, also lame. In fact, whoever put that together did not even get the spelling right on the name of the songwriter for "Carry On Wayward Son" by the band Kansas, Mr. Kerry Livgren (they have his last name as "Livgen"). Stryper ought to take responsibility for that. Livgren was and is a song-writing genius and deserves to have his name spelled correctly. On another note, I do wish Stryper had chosen a Judas Priest song other than the all-too-common "Breaking the Law"--why not cover "Heading Out to the Highway" or any of a number of other infrequently covered catchy rockers of theirs?

Back to the favorable aspects of this release: I find the new Stryper song "God" to be outstanding--perhaps their best original song since "Believe". Bottom line: I'm quite impressed with The Covering. Let it play all the way through and enjoy!

Stryper has taken these "secular" songs to a whole new level. You thought Jimmy Page, KK Downing and Dio rocked? Wait til you hear Michael Sweet and the boys version of these songs. Michael has the incredible ability to use various tones and levels in his voice to match - and somehow make better - the original vocals on these songs. This CD will rock both Christian and seculars the same. I personally am a Christian but still very much appreciate the many talents of the entire musical world. You will love this CD - Keep up the Good Fight my brothers and sisters!! God Bless

this is one of the best metal cd's out there now,i enjoyed the classical metal as well as the new original stryper song "God" very melodic yet heavy with the screaming vocals,as well as the screaming dual guitar solos,these guys prove they are the real deal true musicians!!!