Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Stryper
Title
7 Weeks: Live In America
Type
LP/EP
Company
Fifty Three Five
YOR
2003
Style
Hard Rock
6/22/2004 - Review by: Ken Pierce
Stryper “7 Weeks: Live In America, 2003” Fifty Three Five Records 2004 Reviewed by: Ken Pierce

Track Listing
1. Sing Along Song
2. Makes Me Wanna Sing
3. Calling On You
4. Free
5. More Than A Man
6. Caught In The Middle
7. Reach Out
8. Loud N Clear
9. The Way
10. Soldiers Under Command
11. To Hell With The Devil
12. Honestly
13. Winter Wonderland
14. Closing Prayer
Late last year Christian Rockers Stryper reunited for a small tour of the States. It was the first time in twelve years as a band that they had done this. I was able to catch one of these shows when they hit New York City. As a matter of fact, there is a review of this show elsewhere on the Metal Circus site (check Conciertos). This CD entitled “7 Weeks: Live in America 2003” is a souvenir to the fans of Stryper music to mark this tour happening. I enjoyed seeing the band reunite because of their positive message in a time where the world is full of so much less than that. So as a result, I also enjoyed the aspect of having the performances represented on a CD to keep in my music collection.

The CD begins with the “Sing A Long Song” and everyones voice comes through nice and clear. The production is fine on this disk. I found the drums a little overpowering sometimes on the CD, but as a drummer this did not bother me all that much. The guitar work of Oz Fox is not lost amidst any of the songs, and pretty much every level is on an equal. No overproduction on the vocals as was sometimes seen on the studio releases, and not as much effects on them either which I enjoyed. Better t hear the band sing normally and in great harmony without the aid of too much processing. Some of my favorites on the CD are “More Than A Man”, “Soldiers Under Command” and “Calling On You”. OK, I also enjoyed “Honestly”. The CD runs about 63 minutes which is not bad, but could have thrown a bonus track in there. At least a different tune that might have been done on another set of nights.

I did have a gripe about the book being so minimal. I would have liked it to include a lot of the pictures taken across the duration of the tour. Inside it opens to a two-page foldout which is in black and white. I felt it would have been nice to have a lot more of these pictures in color, with more than the two sentence liner notes about the tour. They do include the complete venue list so fans can see where they played. I attended the 3rd performance on the tour. I found the sound on the CD to be a little tighter bandwise since it was recorded a lot later on. At the third show there were of course light tweaks being worked out after so long an absence from live performance. I think it would have been smart to include a DVD of the live stuff from various locations if it was available, because these days so many bands are trying to include stuff like this to add to the value of the customer dollar.

Casual fans of the band can enjoy this release since there is no live Stryper album before this one. However, this is more for the fans who must have everything that is released. If this is a first time to try them, great go for it. Yet you might wanna grab the recently released “7: The Best Of Stryper” before you get anything else. The metal music arena and the world itself is a far different place since Stryper first came around. Perhaps it is good for their message of hope and love to have returned at this time.

Rating: 7.8/10


--Ken Pierce 06.22.04
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: STRYPER
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
7 Weeks: Live In America
2003
Fifty Three Five
Ken Pierce6/22/2004
-
7: The Best Of
2003
Hollywood Records
Ken Pierce6/3/2004
-
God Damn Evil
2018
Frontiers
David Loveless5/24/2018
4.5
No More Hell To Pay
2013
Frontiers
Eric Compton2/11/2014
4
Reborn
2005
Big Three
Anthony Burke9/14/2005
-
To Hell With the Devil
1986
Hollywood Records
Frank Hill12/19/2003
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: STRYPER
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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