Musical Style: Melodic Metal/Hard Rock	Produced By: Michael Sweet
Record Label: Frontiers	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2026	Artist Website: Stryper
Tracks: 11	Rating: 95%
Running Time: 40:50

With the September of 2026 release to its Frontiers Music SRL eighteenth studio album Throne Of Thorns, Stryper continues to delight with its general excellence.  Throne Of Thorns mirrors the choice songwriting and production not to mention upper tier vocals and musicianship that made recent comeback albums including heavier efforts Fallen (2015) and Even The Devil Believes (2020) and those on the melodic side, When We Were Kings (2024), such solid releases.  It also musically more than holds its own when placed alongside Angelic Warlord annual album of the year recipients No More Hell To Pay (2013) and The Final Battle (2022).

Whereas When We Were Kings successfully captures the commercial facet of Stryper, it also reveals cracks in the form of the occasional skip button, an exceedingly rare occurrence far as modern Stryper concerns.  Throne Of Thorns, however, rectifies this with a better-rounded package of songs in which hitting the skip button is uncommon while maintaining the accessible sentiments initiated with When We Were Kings.  You will encounter, for instance, an emphasizing of immediate melodies and ample doses of signature layered vocal harmonies but not without forsaking the ingrained Stryper guitar affection.

Albums opening title track does a choice job in such regards.  “Throne Of Thorns” engages from the get go, orientating equal parts driven - validating the stark as it gets riffing - and graceful, observing the choir like vocal melodies that hearken back to the groups eighties prime.  This one sets the stage for the impactful material to succeed.  Lyric snippet:

Throne of Thorns
Don’t bear the pain alone
Rise up from the fire
Faith will take us higher

Grief the river
Mercy is the stone
Seasons of our sorrow
Will take us to tomorrow

“Here In Your Heart” follows suite in placing equal emphasis on plush backing vocals, which galvanize what amounts one in a long line of Throne Of Thorns refrains that refuses an instance to depart.  Also akin to the album is the wonderfully executed lead guitar work.  Musically, this one is not that far removed from “Free” off To Hell With The Devil from 1986.

“Falling” represents another top cut.  It further elevates melody with its incessant harmonies - Stryper is literally on fire with its draw you in capabilities - but fails to back from the guitar fortitude, muscle abounds in form of the devout guitar tones and fervent impulses to hold sway.  “Sing-Along Song” (also To Hell With The Devil) comes to mind.  Lyric snippet:

I would try to keep it together
Pretending I wasn't breaking down
I carried pain and failure forever
Praying I would never hit the ground

You showed up in all of my trouble
I knew that I was fighting for life
You breathed warm into the cold
Turn rusted steel to gold

Throne Of Thorns opens to a fine a four-song run when factoring “I’m Alright (I’m Okay)”.  It sees the group again delving into its eighties roots - vocal melodies are truly infectious - with insistent hooks and commercial but not to fault contexture playing defining roles.  Musicianship remains supreme, found in Perry Richardson’s persuasive bass line and Robert Sweet’s creative drum roles and fills.

Ballad “Waiting For You” is lone track in which I pass.  It is not bad far as ballads concern, but rather fails to capture my imagination in similar fashion as top Stryper ballads “Betrayed By Love” (When We Were Kings) and “First Love” (Soldiers Under Command).  Again, song is by no means flawed but also a bit predictable if not too formula for my tastes, which leads to my main point: I encourage Stryper to extend its musical boundaries and instead compose a jamming instrumental, blues metal piece or epic metal cut (think “Yahweh” off Fallen).  If completely out of ideas, then deliver another cover track, noting the group’s partiality in these areas when factoring “Jesus Is Just Alright” (off No More Hell To Pay) and “After Forever” (also Fallen).  Lyric snippet:

I am the seam in-between
The silence and the sound
I am a mystery
The promise that needs to be found

I am the tree that's beneath
The crumbling, broken stone
And I'm everything you can't see
The voice that's calling you home

Album regains its momentum with “Carry The Flame”.  Song embodies the Stryper heavier side, revealed in the anthem-like metal riffs carrying over double kick drum to speak of the Soldiers Under Command title track.  Michael Sweet sings in somewhat a lower register compared to the groups eighties heyday but remains an upper tier front man nonetheless.

“Hollywood” is a classy melodic hard rocker reveling in larger than life hooks- the ‘Hollywood, Hollywood, chasing dreams’ refrain goes straight to the heart and refuses to let go.  It actually takes a mid-tempo approach as opposed to the upbeat demeanor defining much of the Throne Of Thorns material, exuding full on emotion found in the inspiring mentality and catchy as it gets guitar rhythms.  Lyric snippet:

Faded signs
Neon reflections
Every day another start
Though we had many imperfections
We just kept following our hearts

Hollywood, Hollywood
Chasing dreams
Changing the scene
Do you remember Hollywood

What we have in “Beautifully Broken” is another example of first classic melodic hard rock.  Song trudges through its verse sections to a darker aligning akin to the heavier To Hell With The Devil material only to break out for a refrain awash in eighties allure that speaks of dominate FM radio if given choice opportunity.  I am going so far as to suggest in light of its stronger cuts, Throne Of Thorns would have sold 4 to 5 million copies if released in the late eighties.

Speaking of which “Ashes To Roses” represents another top of the line piece embodying not just AOR formatted choir vocals and commercial partialities but also ample stretches of Michael’s impressive soloing of a harmony driven nature.  Song takes an emotionally slower form, bordering a semi ballad aesthetic touching upon the worshipful.  In the end, a solid deep cut lending to the albums depth.  Lyric snippet:

The smallest moments Show Your hand
The softest breeze
Whispers Your plan
I'm reminded
That it will be okay

From Ashes to Roses
Beauty and grace from above
When my heart closes
I'm always redeemed by Your love

“Alone Again” might not be a favorite but is essential all the same.  It takes a classic hard rock approach, rough and tumble with its backend cowbell and tenacious bass, but also indelible in terms of the concentrated polish adorning the ‘I’m alone again, I’m alone again’ refrain.  Good to see Stryper throw bit of an unexpected curveball musically.

Album closes strongly to the catchy metallic leanings to “Shadowbreaker”.  This one captures the Stryper heavier side, delivering mountainous guitar walls and catalyst bordering the freight train like.  Song stays true all the same to the catchier themes defining the better Throne Of Thorns material.  I see this one being a concert staple.  Lyric snippet:

The Fear of despair
Burning my mind
Every lie has to fall
To the light it denies

I am the Shadowbreaker
I will not fall for the night
Through all the darkness
I’ll rise, I’m unshaken
My victory’s born in the light of Jesus Christ

Throne Of Thrones unequivocally proves Michael Sweet remains a world-class songwriter whom continues to get better in terms of his compositional skills.  Again, release the album in the late eighties (such as in between In God We Trust and Against The Law) and it goes multi platinum.  Everything else is spot on, including the flawless production and eye catching cover art- I am glad the group went away from the blue background tint (no matter how good it is) to previous releases.  Rhythm section of Robert Sweet and Perry Richardson remain in top form all the same (Oz Fox reportedly did not participate on the album due to health reasons).  Moving forward I would like to see Stryper branch out musically as noted, but if a fan or into eighties metal and hard rock you will not find Throne Of Thorns disappointing.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Throne Of Thorns” (3:57), “Here In Your Heart” (3:33), “Falling” (3:38), I’m Alright (I’m Okay)” (3:27), “Waiting For You” (4:02), “Carry The Flame” (3:27), “Hollywood” (3:38), “Beautifully Broken” (2:47), “Ashes To Roses” (4:02), “Alone Again” (3:25), “Shadowbreaker” (3:53)

Musicians
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals & Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Oz Fox - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Perry Richardson - Bass
Robert Sweet - Drums & Percussion