The Yellow and Black Attack

Description

The Yellow and Black Attack, a six-track 12-inch vinyl EP, is the debut effort by the American glam metal band Stryper, released on Enigma Records in July 1984. (The name “Stryper” is based on Isaiah 53:5) The album was engineered by Randy Burns with Ron Goudie and the band producing.

Featuring Michael Sweet on guitar and lead vocals, Oz Fox on guitar and backing vocal, Tim Gaines on bass, keyboards, and backing vocals, and Robert Sweet on drums.

The album was re-released in August 1986, featuring new cover artwork as well as two additional songs, “Reason for the Season” (which was originally released on a 1985 Christmas-themed 12-inch single, with “Winter Wonderland” on the flip-side) and a new, mellowed-down version of “My Love I’ll Always Show”, which dates from their earlier days as Roxx Regime. The album was entirely remixed (mostly taking out the reverb).

For those of you who like your music loud and your message clear, watch out for Stryper’s ‘Yellow and Black Attack’. With a somewhat sparse heavy metal population in Christian music, Stryper is a welcome addition to any headbanger’s record collection.

The debut comes on Enigma Records, the label that introduced metal-men Motley Crue. The label isn’t the only thing these two groups share in common. They both started on the club circuit in Los Angeles, and Motley’s Vince Neil and Stryper’s Michael Sweet have the same “pretty boy” look.

But there are definite differences. Not only is there an obvious absence of demonic images with Stryper, there are godly images in the music and on the album jacket. It features missiles, marked with the initials of band members and coded 777, headed towards a yellow-and-black-striped earth. Stryper’s jacket logo includes Isaiah 53:5, from which the group takes its name.

The album contains six songs, five of which are bone crunchers. The sixth, «You Won’t Be Lonely», is lighter, but not mellow. The album opens with Stryper stating their purpose in «Loud N Clear». Each song offers wholesome images of love and the gospel, while thundering power chords and pounding drums reinforce it.

The creative influence of Stryper is definitely Michael Sweet, who wrote or co-wrote all of the songs, plays occasional lead guitar, and handles all lead vocals.

This is not a perfect album by any means. Although you know the drums are thundering in the studio, the production doesn’t have that powerful wallop heard on other current heavy metal records. Another problem is that there are only six songs on the disc.

Stryper has the promise of a major success story – Christians making it in the music world without compromise. It will just take a little time for the group to completely put it all together. [Devlin Donaldson, CCM, October 1984]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-yellow-and-black-attack/1443599081)

EP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Loud N Clear” – 3:38
A2. “From Wrong To Right” – 3:52
A3. “You Know What To Do” – 4:58

Side Two
B1. “C’mon Rock” – 3:49
B2. “You Won’t Be Lonely” – 3:47
B3. “Loving You” – 4:18

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Enigma Records.

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