STRYPER

(Enigma)

You know you’re in for something, er, different when the back cover of a record hosts not only a quote from the scriptures (“By His Stripes We Are Healed”—Isaiah) but a thank you nod to “#1 Jesus Christ (The Boss Man)” to boot. And different is probably the best way to describe this mini-LP by what is—unarguably—the world’s firstever BORN AGAIN HEAVY METAL BAND!!! Yes, like the Pharoah say, I kid you not, and prophet Trakin’s words (see Dio review elsewhere in this issue) do indeed appear to have come to pass, as screeched onto vinyl by the stryped tongue of Michael Sweet: “Why lose when you can win? Give G-d a try/The Devil’s not your friend/The truth is not a lie.” Can’t you just see these guys giving sanctuary to defenseless chickens escaped from the clutches of Ozzy Osbourne, or maybe bringing in the exorcist to help turn Tony Iommi into a rightie? Oh well, Lord or no Lord (and I don’t mean Jon) it ain’t metal if it doesn’t give you a headache, and this six-songer, while it may inherit the earth, has got the lamb but not the chops. Alternate Title: Deadly Blessing. B.A.