Murder by Pride

Veteran Christian metal outfit Stryper celebrated their 25th anniversary with Murder by Pride, an amiable 12-track collection of upbeat pop-metal on par with the group's early-'80s offerings like Soldiers Under Command and To Hell with the Devil. Vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet's pipes have lost little in their transition from upstart faith-based twenty-something to seasoned hard-rocking worship leader, and his lyrics (though occasionally leaning hard on the cheese factor) are never overtly preachy, something that has always made Stryper one of the more accessible and legitimately fun acts in the notoriously sterile CCM genre. Murder by Pride stays true to the '80s hair metal template of ten rockers and two ballads, boasting at least three instant fan favorites in "4 Leaf Clover," "Eclipse for the Son," and the rousing title cut, as well as a choice cover of the Boston classic "Peace of Mind" featuring guitar work from Tom Scholz himself.