Magnolia Thunderpussy

Reviews:

If you were kickin' it back in the day, you were probably either wholly offended and disgusted by Stryper's million-selling Christian melodi-pop-metal or you were a yellow-and-black devotee, getting smacked in the forehead by the Bibles they chucked into the crowd during shows. Given the amount of faith-based metal and hardcore around today, most of us should be beyond caring that these dudes engage in far-too- wholesome activities while on their knees. However, no Christian, Jew, atheist, Muslim, Satanist or Mormon should allow bad music to exist in the name of religion, and there's a hefty share of bad music on this, Stryper's first album in 15 years.

Not surprisingly, though, there's just as much to like about Reborn; the hooks that expanded their fanbase beyond the devout back in the '80s resurface on "10,000 Years" and "Open Your Eyes," undeniable to even the most rabid Deicide fan. Yet just when the Sweet brothers (guitarist/vocalist Michael and drummer Robert), lead guitarist Oz Fox and new bassist Tracy Ferrie are onto something, along comes the Alice in Chains-influenced trainwreck that is the title track or the horrendous FM radio rock of "Wait for You" to cast a dark cloud over the proceedings. Consistency is not a strong point on Reborn. Then again Christianity has never been too concerned about consistency. But that's another story altogether...