Description
Against the Law is the fifth studio album by the American glam metal band Stryper, released on Enigma Records in August 1990. The album was recorded and mixed by Eddie De Lena with Tom Werman producing. Featuring a pop-metal cover of the classic Earth, Wind & Fire song “Shining Star” with guest Randy Jackson on bass.
The long-awaited and much-scrutinized new Stryper album is musically the kind of record they should’ve released right off the bat. It’s loud, fun, and heavy. Following the current metal trend of going back to a hard-edged, blues-based hard rock sound (like Motley Crue, Kiss, & Van Halen), Stryper sounds like they had a very loose and fun time recording this album.
The wide open production of Tom Werman (Poison, Faster Pussycat) gives the simple rhythms lots of breathing room. The result is a very groovin’ slab of metal. The obvious inspiration from Van Halen throughout the album is only too apparent in one song – «Not That Kinda Guy» – which sounds like a blatant rip-off of VH’s «Hot For Teacher».
Michael Sweet has, for the most part, ditched the high-pitched squeals and embraced a more grovelly Plant/Coverdale mid-range approach. The harmonies are more street gang sounding than the beautiful, polished background vocals of Stryper’s past. Even the obligatory ballad, «Lady», has a rough edge to it. Oz Fox, who handles 80% of the guitar work this time around, does a good job laying down thick and heavy power chords and creative little fly-ins that sizzle with energy.
The item that most Christians are curious about, the lyrics, are pretty much the same as the last two Stryper discs – save the appearance of one blatant Gospel number like «More Than A Man» or «The Reign». The words here maintain a positive, moral, though not specifically Christian message. Those familiar with what Stryper has communicated in the past will clearly understand what the band is saying in lyrics like: “We’ve still got the fire burning in our soul/ But we’re just rockin’ harder to make our music roll.” («Against The Law»); “You’ve got everything, live like a king But how will you live tomorrow?/ You’ve got to make a choice before you get burned.” («Caught In The Middle»); “…With armies from heaven/ we have fought with a rage/ We trust in our sabres with the words that we sing.” («We Will Rock The Hell Out Of You»).
If you’re looking for some good, clean rock – look no further. This is easily Stryper’s best album, with consistent hook-laden material for the hard rockin’ masses. If you’re looking for lots of spiritual edification, look elsewhere. [Doug Van Pelt, CCM, September 1990]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/against-the-law/1443727717)
CD tracklist:
01. Against The Law – 3:49
02. Two Time Woman – 3:40
03. Rock The People – 3:34
04. Two Bodies (One Mind One Soul) – 5:17
05. Not That Kind Of Guy – 3:59
06. Shining Star – 4:22
07. Ordinary Man – 3:51
08. Lady – 4:53
09. Caught In The Middle – 3:48
10. All For One – 4:31
11. Rock The Hell Out Of You – 3:35
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Enigma Records.
A full-page advertisement for Stryper’s Against The Law was featured in the October 1990 issue of CCM Magazine.
Michael Sweet – “All For One” (from his Sole DVD)
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