Customer Reviews

Soldiers Under Command

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've never been a Christian or religious person, but i've always been a big fan of Stryper for years. Their first album "The Yellow & Black Attack" is a classic heavy metal album, but misses a more polished sound that Soldiers Under Command delivers. This album has the perfect blend of great metal songs such as "Soldiers Under Command", "The Rock That Makes Me Roll", "Surrender", "Together Forever", more pop-like metal songs such as "Waiting for a Love That's Real", and of course the great Stryper ballads including "First Love". Stryper is a group that any real 80's heavy metal fan can enjoy because their musicianship was top notch, one of THE best during the hayday of metal, and to today. And their songs simply rock, with great melodies and harmonies. Their later albums "To Hell With The Devil" and "In God We Trust" were great albums too, but a bit more pop-oriented for my liking. Soldiers Under Command is the best Stryper album to date in my humble opinion, and definately worth the buy! Get it now.

Stryper rode the success of their first release "The Yellow and Black Attack" into a better recording experience for Soldiers Under Command and it shows. The album starts off with the title song and it doesn't stop moving from there. Their sound is and will always be the straight ahead hard rock of the 80's hair metal days. To say that Christian music hadn't seen anything like them is an under statement. I remember being around 12 years old hearing about these long haired, make up wearing, yellow and black spandex wearing people that threw out New Testament bibles at their concerts and thinking I have to check this out! Each and every song is good and has that mid 80's heavy metal sound that was copied and recopied by many bands. If you enjoyed the 80's hair metal days pick up this album.

"Soldiers Under Command" was my introduction not only to Stryper, but to Christian rock/metal music itself. "Soldiers" was the first Christian tape I bought during my first year of college (Fall '85) after hearing some guys cranking up Stryper records in our dorm. And what an intro! "Soldiers" was, and remains, a great album, produced & engineered by Michael Wagner, who has worked with the likes of Dokken, Accept & Alice Cooper. This is where I first experienced the songwriting & vocal mastery of Michael Sweet, the blistering guitar leads of both Sweet & Oz Fox, and the formidable rhythm section of bassist Timothy Gaines & drummer Robert Sweet. Standout tracks include the title track, plus "Makes Me Wanna Sing," "Reach Out," "First Love" & "Surrender." Buying this album then opened me up to other Christian artists/bands (rock & pop, as well as metal) as well as going back to "The Yellow & Black Attack" album. This was my first Stryper album, and it remains in a virtual tie with "To Hell with the Devil" for my overall favorite.

For fans of Stryper this is a must have album. It features essential songs by the band such as "Soldiers Under Command" "Reach Out" "Surrender" and "Together Forever" as well as underrated songs like "The Rock That Makes Me Roll" and "(Waiting For)A Love That's Real." This album is also one of Stryper's heaviest albums. This album was a huge success for Stryper and the title track was even transcribed in Guitar World magazine. That was unheard of at the time as Stryper was considered a Christian band and the magazine mainly covered secular artists like Ratt,Van Halen, and White Lion.

Although the album To Hell With The Devil is considered the breakthrough for Stryper and was their biggest seller, Soldiers Under Command should not be overlooked. If you are looking for a Stryper album that has great music and strong,bold lyrics and to see the beginings of a band that would eventually make the platinum album To Hell With The Devil then look no further. This is the album to buy.

Stand Out songs "(Waiting For)A Love That's Real" "Together As One" "The Rock That Makes Me Roll"

This is a masterpeice in every respect, harmonizing guitars, top notch production, great songs. Has anyone else noticed that George Michael used the intro to "Waiting for a love that's real" for his song "Faith"? That's okay because I think Stryper took it from that old hymn, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet". I think that was on purpose though; turning a hymn into heavy metal. It worked very well. There isn't one bad song on this entire album. It's classic Stryper that thousands of Christian rock bands would later trip over themselves trying to clone (unsuccessfully). As far as the guy in Flagstaff who can't understand this album cover and says that "Christ is the Prince of Peace", you need to read your Bible again my friend. I think you missed some chapters. Christ HIMSELF said, "I come not to bring peace but a sword". For anyone to hear this album and then attack Stryper for their "lack of Christian commitment" is ludicrous. Peace has a price. That price often involves war. Peace requires a commitment to do whatever is necessary. Christ said, "I have come to turn brother against brother". Does that sound like peace to you? Stryper made their point crystal clear. What more do you want? Religious people can be so annoying with their judgemental ignorance. I met all the guys in Stryper on more than one occasion and used to rehearse with my band nextdoor to Michael Sweet in Anaheim. They are the real deal. I genuinely felt sorry for the amount of garbage dumped on them from so-called Christians. If they weren't real Christians, then they wouldn't have been persecuted so much. Instead of finger pointing, maybe 'Flagstaff' should rejoice that someone is spreading the good news of salvation at all. Who cares if they are holding M16's? Where's your sense of humor? Lighten up. It takes a gimmick sometimes to get noticed. Christ used miracles, and Stryper used costumes and props to get noticed. Just read all the reviews from those who's lives have been touched by Stryper, and if you still don't get it then maybe you should remove the plank from your eye.

I remember fondly back in 1985 when I begged My Mom to buy me this CD (Well it was a cassette then).I already had The Yellow and Black Attack and thought it was good;But when I put this tape into My player I was just totally blown away! Styx meets Judas Priest! This is an alltime classic,rather you like thier message or not! I'm 28 now and I still play this tape all the time!

This is the Stryper album, (yeah...I'm showing my age), that first got me interested in this group. I was early in my Christian walk and was into Heavy Metal and not interested in most of what was available in Contemporary Christian music. I didn't think you could successfully mix Christianity and Rock N' Roll. ...Until I heard this album. This is a great Rock N' Roll CD and it paved the way for many other Christian bands. "Makes Me Wanna Sing," "First Love" and the title track are my favorites. If there was ever any question as to the band's faith, direction or intent, it disappears on "Makes Me Wanna Sing." Strong drums and great guitars belt out a hard rock beat that you can actually either bang your head or dance to! The clear, strong vocals and EXCELLENT harmony praise Jesus in the chorus and there is no mistaking where the hearts of these young men are. "First Love" is a driving ballad with strong drums that has a very deep meaning for those willing to listen. Done at a time when it wasn't popular to mix Christianity and Rock N' Roll music, these guys worked very hard to hold onto their faith and break the restraints forced upon them both by the record industry AND the "church." ...And they did an excellent job. We are soldiers. We are fighting against principalities and powers that sometimes we cannot see, but that affect us and affect a lost and dying world every day. But some of us still like to Rock N' Roll. This CD is for those who are pure of heart, strong in spirit and who really like well-played, well-produced, high-energy hard rock! Enjoy!

This is THE quintessential Stryper album. Every song on here is well written, heart felt, and touching. Michael Sweet is one of the best vocalists of our time. Oz Fox is an amazing guitar player. From rockers such as the title track and Makes Me Wanna Sing to ballads like First Love and Together As One, this album has it all. If you don't own any Stryper albums and want to give them a try, this is one of their best and a great one to start with. Highly recommended!!!!

I got into them in college, during my metal years. For a poseur band (meaning make-up and look-like-a-girl hair) they had a pretty good grasp of God and how to reach youth for Him. Good concert, good guitar work. Their "Battle Hymn" is killer! A must-get if you like good hard metal and want a positive message in the medium.

If you like Christian rock, Stryper is the one you should defintely know, and this album is the one you should defintely own. With this album Stryper opened the gates for many other Christian rock artists. Their Debut album "The Yellow And Black Attack" had many great songs but this album has ten great songs. Songs like "Soldiers Under Command", "Reach Out", "Makes Me Wanna Sing" and "The Rock That Makes Me Roll" can still be heard in their gigs after 22 years. I know because I have been in their gig in 2007. They also had "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as an intro. You could say that it was a great day for "Soldiers..." (it was also for THWTD...). Also the ballads "First Love" and "Together As One" are great songs. Michael Sweet has a great voice...I think it's even better than for example Bruce Dickinson's. Anyway, this album is pure gold, and a metal classic.
Stars: Together As One, The Rock That Makes Me Roll, Soldiers Under Command