Description
To Hell with the Devil is the third studio album by the American glam metal band Stryper, released on Enigma Records in October 1986, distributed by Capitol Records. The album was co-produced by Stephan Galfas and the band (Michael Sweet, Oz Fox, Robert Sweet).
Throughout 1987, both music videos for “Free” and “Honestly” ranked No. 1 on Dial MTV, the daily MTV list of most requested videos. The first single/video for “Calling on You” as well reached No. 2 on the show. “Honestly” was the biggest single from the album, peaking at No. 23 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles Chart. According to CCM Magazine, To Hell with the Devil was the 9th best selling album of 1987 in the Christian music market. It was as well the first Christian metal album to achieve platinum status, selling over one million copies, and it remained the best-selling Christian metal album until P.O.D.’s 2001 release, Satellite.
Get four guys with androgenous good looks into a hard rock band, put makeup on their faces, blow-dry their hair, dress them in spandex with that sprayed on-David Lee Roth look, and some people are going to draw conclusions based merely on their appearance. Risking controversy, however, let me suggest that Jesus, who was often mistaken for a glutton and winebibber and was seldom recognized as the Holy Messiah before His resurrection from the dead, stated that it is the heart of a person and not his or her appearance that matters to God.
Limited as I am, I can not see into the hearts of Stryper except as revealed in their music, and if ‘To Hell with the Devil’ is any indication, Stryper is a highly motivated Christian band with hearts for encouraging believers and evangelizing unbelievers, especially those hard-rocking headknockers out there. Aside from setting them up for considerable consternation in certain camps, the Stryper image often gets the band stuck with the label “heavy metal.” Even one only mildly initiated to the genre will notice that Stryper lacks the bombastic indulgence of traditionalists like Ozzy Osbourne and the repetitive nature of new speed metal bands in the mold of Metallica. Far more reminiscent of early Styx without the synthesizers, Stryper’s embrace of a broad spectrum of rock sounds from ballads («Honestly» and «All of Me») to pop hooks («Calling to You», «Holding On», and «Sing Along») to hard rockers (the title track, «The Way», «Rocking the World», and «More Than a Man») puts them closer to bands in the vein of Bon Jovi, although bands like Ratt and Motley Crue have sought a broader appeal through ballads also.
It’s Michael Sweet’s high, powerful voice and Oz Fox’s gutsy, melodic, and often inspiring guitar solos that shine through and keep Stryper’s music above the pack. Robert Sweet’s relentless drumming and Tim Gaines’ solid bass playing lay the groundwork, and the production keeps things clear and punchy, a trait often lacking in heavier rock and metal made by Christians.
And as Stryper consistently drives home above-grade, hard-rocking music, they never let up on the message that motivates them. Often direct to the point of lacking any subtlety at all, their message is summed up easily in the closing song: “God, I will follow you because you died for me/ Gave your life to set me free/ Anyone who asks will receive Jesus in your hearts/ It’s time to start giving God all the glory.” It sounds pretty clear to me, but then I haven’t seen the cover photo yet. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, February 1987]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/to-hell-with-the-devil/1440914389)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Abyss (To Hell With The Devil)” – 1:20
A2. “To Hell With The Devil” – 4:07
A3. “Calling On You” – 3:57
A4. “Free” – 3:41
A5. “Honestly” – 4:08
A6. “The Way” – 3:35
Side Two
B1. “Sing-Along Song” – 4:18
B2. “Holding On” – 4:15
B3. “Rockin’ The World” – 3:27
B4. “All Of Me” – 3:10
B5. “More Than A Man” – 4:35
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Enigma Records, with the vinyl edition housed in a gatefold sleeve. The original cover artwork, which depicted four long haired angels throwing the devil into a fiery pit, caused a torrent of controversy. The cover was then changed on later pressings to a basic black cover featuring the iconic Stryper logo in upper left hand corner (i.e., same as on the original cover), with the album title moved to the center.
The December 1986 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Stryper.
A full-page advertisement for Stryper’s To Hell with the Devil was featured in the January 1987 issue of CCM Magazine.
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