Review STRYPER “Thorne of Thorns”

If a band can stay in the business for more than four decades, that usually takes more than just a few good songs. It takes a loyal audience, plenty of determination, and the ability to keep moving forward. Stryper are a case in point. Formed in 1983, the Christian rockers are still on the road and still releasing new music. Their black-and-yellow stripes have long been part of the visual identity, and the band has occasionally been treated as an easy target for jokes. But it is worth separating the music from the lyrical message. Stryper are not a band singing about the devil and hell—and when those subjects do appear, they are generally presented as symbols of evil rather than something to celebrate. The music though is a different story as Stryper mostly delivered ver solid melodic metal. Anyone picking up this review should have that distinction in mind.

After calling it quits in 1993, Stryper entered their second era in the new millennium. Since then, new albums have arrived with reasonable regularity. The latest is Throne of Thorns, and the Californians are staying on familiar ground. A blend of hard rock and melodic metal comes through the speakers, and even listeners who are not already part of the Stryper camp may find something to enjoy in tracks such as the stomping “Here in Your Heart.” This is not a band trying to reinvent the rock business with every riff. The appeal lies elsewhere – in the commitment of the musicians and in a lineup that still features three founding members, bringing plenty of experience and musical precision to the table.

At times, as on “Falling,” Stryper lean heavily into sweet, polished melodies. That approach may not work for everyone, but the song is still firmly connected to the melodic rock tradition of the 1980s. The album is well put together, something that also becomes clear on the pulsating “Hollywood.” This mid-tempo rocker rides on a steady beat, pairing a catchy chorus with a weightier riff and giving the track enough muscle to balance its melodic side.

Of course, a Stryper album would hardly be complete without a few quieter moments. “Waiting for You” provides one of them and works as an emotional change of pace, although it does not bring many surprises to the table. It is more of a familiar Stryper moment than a major detour. Much the same can be said about the somewhat cliché-heavy “Ashes to Roses.” The album could probably have done without it, particularly because Stryper have other ways of showing their skills.

“Alone Again” is a good example. Its darker riff attack gives the record some extra weight before “Shadowbreaker” shifts the gears upward. The fast-paced track not only closes the album but also provides one of its more energetic moments, bringing Throne of Thorns across the finish line with a firm pulse.

Throne of Thorns is, in many ways, a classic Stryper album. Even on their 18th studio record, the four musicians are not interested in abandoning the musical direction that has defined the band for decades. The compass still points toward melodic rock and metal, and the eleven tracks offer enough familiar ingredients to keep longtime followers engaged while leaving room for a few new listeners to climb aboard.

Stryper are not trying to become a different band. They simply continue to play the music they believe in – and after all these years, that consistency is part of their identity.