Stryper - Soldiers Under Command (1985)

Oh how the sceptics mocked, and how the metalheads frowned. Stryper were so anti- everything in regards to metal that they were never given a fair chance but little did the naive realise that the band, despite their heavenly lyrics, were still a decent metal act. Stryper may have chosen God over Satan and they may have been lampooned for it, but I find myself liking this straight-edge metal, the title cut is a bit of a stomper, Sweet's vocals are clear and edgy over the riffs, and sure, there may be no blood dripping from those structures but 'The Rock That Makes Me Roll', and its merry band of godly buddies are not as cringe worthy as one might expect. I remember the uproar caused when thrashers Believer came out and told the world they were a Christian thrash act, but it didn't detract from the fact the band were a very cool act - okay, so Stryper are no Believer, and there's more prancing here than the mentioned cult thrash act, but even so, take the 'hymns' with a pinch of salt, as one in fact should with regards to Satanic leaning, and just respect the rock.

7/10