Reborn

Stryper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 16, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Big3 Records
• ASIN: B000A7Q2IM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,835 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Open Your Eyes

2. Reborn

3. When Did I See You Cry

4. Make You Mine

5. Passion

6. Live Again

7. If I Die

8. Wait for You

9. Rain

10. 10,000 Years

11. I.G.W.T.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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" release Reborn, 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 love Reborn. Break out the Aquanet and studded belt and live to rock another day with the original Christian metal band. --Michael Lyttle

Product Description

With their first album of all-original material since 1990's Against The Law, Christian heavy metal band Stryper do more than drum up their glory days on 2005's Reborn. The intervening 15 years did little to diminish Stryper's attack: the band still thunders with both glitz and muscle, and lead singer Michael Sweet sounds as sharp as ever. Likewise, Stryper's commitment to their faith hasn't wavered an iota, as the messages on songs like 'Passion' and the title track prove. In the midst of the many Christian metal bands inspired by Stryper's model, Reborn finds the fathers of the genre reasserting their worth. Includes the 2 live bonus tracks 'More Than A Man' & 'Reach Out'. Dream On. 2005. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stryper is "Reborn"!!, August 16, 2005

By 

Louie Bourland (Garden Grove CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reborn (Audio CD)

Fresh on the heals of their successful reunion tour, Stryper has returned in full force with "Reborn", their first album of all new material since 1990's "Against The Law".
For this album, the band has not only added a new bass player, Tracy Ferrie (who replaces original member Tim Gaines) but also adopts a heavier edgier sound than what was heard from them during their hair-band '80s heyday. Despite this, the album still comes off as a genuine Stryper effort and is arguably their best since "To Hell With The Devil".
Tracks such as "Make You Mine", "Wait For You", "If I Die" and "Rain" retain the classic Stryper sound 2005 style with Michael Sweet's signature vocals and melodic songwriting. Other tracks such as "Open Your Eyes", "Live Again" and the title track have a more raw in-your-face feel with their thick edgey guitars and gritty vocals. "Passion" finds the band moving slightly into a worshipful territory while "10,000 Years" adopts a new approach to the hymn "Amazing Grace".
Just the show that Stryper isn't ashamed of their past, the band closes the album with a new rendition of their 1988 classic "In God We Trust" which has a heavier darker feel to it but is still awesome nonetheless.
What else can be said about "Reborn" except for the fact that it is an amazing album. Stryper is definitely back for the long haul and are sounding better than ever. All of the band's musical trademarks are still in tact with some new elements thrown in. "Reborn" was definitely worth the wait and it's great to see Stryper back in business again.
Still Rocking for the One Who Is The Rock!!!

Small Footnote: The track listing on the back cover as well as inside the CD booklet is slightly incorrect. Here is the correct track listing as it appears on the CD: 1.Open Your Eyes/2.Reborn/3.When Did I see You Cry/4.Make You Mine/5.Passion/6.Live Again/7.Wait For You/8.Rain/9.If I Die/10.10,000 Years/11.In God We Trust.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The yellow and black attack is back--again!, January 15, 2006

By 

Brian Reaves (Anniston, AL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reborn (Audio CD)

Pioneers of Christian metal Stryper have had a rough history. The first real "metal evangelists" in the 80's, the church didn't know how to accept them even as the crowds at their concerts were given songs with more honest lyrics than many songs on adult contemporary radio at the time. Known for harmonic guitar solos between Michael Sweet and Oz Fox, Michael's stratospheric vocal range, and the most visually active drummer around, Stryper thrilled their fans with amazing concerts and consistently good records. Eventually, though successful, the 90's hit and metal died. Stryper disbanded after a powerful career, with each member going their separate ways. After reuniting for an anniversary tour, the band stayed together to bring a new batch of songs into the twenty-first century.

Over a decade since their last studio album, Stryper is back with Reborn. Just to prove they haven't softened much, the CD cover alone should cause enough controversy to shake a few Christian retailers (they actually had to hide the cover with a yellow wrapper to soften the "transformation" look). Original members Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, and Oz Fox are back, joined this time on bass by Tracy Ferrie (already well known to Christian music in bands like Seraiah and Whitecross). The yellow and black spandex is gone (to be fair, they actually dropped that with their final release Against The Law), but how's the new sound?

It's hard to know what to say here. Bands like Bon Jovi and Aerosmith keep their fan base and grow new ones because they gradually update their sound with each record (even though they went several years before putting out a new one themselves). Stryper, on the other hand, was known for the "hair metal" sound. Can a glam rock band put out another type of music and still be considered the same band? Yes and no. This is definitely not Soldiers Under Command or To Hell With the Devil. There are flashes of the old band here and there, but for the most part this is an updated sound that rocks. If this was a new band, the CD would probably do well. Being an established band known for a particular sound, it's hard to break the mold and still keep everyone happy. Sweet's banshee wailing is gone completely, and the harmonic solos are done in different ways, but for the most part the essence of the band remains.

"Open Your Eyes" starts the CD off with a weak opening. It really doesn't sound like a Stryper song at all, and doesn't actually fit with the rest of the CD. The title cut is great, with deep guitars and a hard-rocking chorus. "When Did I See You Cry" takes the sound a step further, and at last we hear the harmonies we're used to from Stryper. This finally gives you an idea that you're really hearing the band you knew.

"Make You Mine" easily falls into the vein of "Honestly" or "Always There For You". It's the rock-power-ballad-love-song they're known for. That's not a cut-down, but a compliment. These guys can put together some great stuff without falling into the syrupy trap of trying to sound too corny. The guitar solo here is great too. It's the harmonic solos of old Stryper, done in an updated way with each guitar using a different effect. It doesn't sound "80's" at all.

Unfortunately, the middle of the CD seems to lack any shining songs in it. Most seem like filler. "Passion" is about the passion of the Christ, rather than another love song. "Live Again", "Rain", and "Waiting For You" are decent songs, with the last one having some memorable guitar work. "If I Die" is a good rocker and picks things up again.

They save the fun stuff for the last two songs. "10,000 Years" is an updated version of the old hymn "Amazing Grace", and I'd love to hear it done in church this way! A lot of singers have tried lately to modernize the hymns, and most sound like the exact same song in a different key. Major points to the band for totally re-imagining the song from the ground up. The drums here are reminiscent of Robert's greatest moments in the 80's.

To close it all up, the band updates another song with "I.G.W.T.". This time it's one of their own songs they're bring back ("In God We Trust"). The song starts off strong and heavy, drifts into the old feel of the original, and then blows you away with the guitar solos. Oz and Michael do things this time around that really give a shot in the arm to the old favorite. The last two cuts on the disc alone are worth the price.

If the band had stayed together and the change had been a little more gradual over several discs, I don't think anyone would have a problem identifying this as a Stryper release. While I welcome the band back with open arms and look forward to years of new releases, I hope their next ones sound a little more polished. There's nothing wrong with being known for a certain vibe or sound; but in an effort to avoid the dated sound of their old songs, I think they swayed into the "plain vanilla" feel a little too often. You probably could listen to this in ten years and not immediately plant it in a certain time frame like you do with Soldiers Under Command or In God We Trust-but would you really want to? Still, it's good to see the guys together again and I hope they stick around for years to come. Reborn is for the fans who've asked for their return, and just like the past, they're not afraid to try new things with their music.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RIGHT ON TIME!!!!, October 7, 2005

By 

Richard D. Cappetto "RickDC" (Moodus, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reborn (Audio CD)

I did not even know Stryper was coming back until I head a new concert on XM radio live from the BB KING club in NYC, it was a hot show and the new songs were great so I had to get the CD, and I LOVE IT. Stryper has come back right on time, we are right on the beginning point of a resurgence of hard rock; And this album (CD) reborn ROCKS. many many bands come back after the years have passed with weak versions of there old materiel, but not Stryper, this album reborn does have the old Stryper sound, but its updated and very edgy. I would say its heavier (and harder) then the old Stryper. The Bass Player, Tracy Ferrie has a lead bass style that is driving the music in a more edgy way then pervious Stryper albums. Also instead of just clean fast lead Guitar licks (of which there are some), we have some more retro rifts and licks hear from OZ and Michael. Also the lead vocals of Michael are as good as ever and the Harmonies are outstanding. Robert Sweet's Drumming is excellent as always. Some stand out songs on the CD are Open Your Eyes, Reborn, Where did I see you Cry, Live again and Passion. LIVE AGAIN absolutely ROCKS. l'd say Stryper fans will not be disappointed and there will be plenty of new fans. This is a must have CD.