To Hell with the Devil (CD - 1986)

Personnel: Michael Sweet (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, background vocals); Oz Fox (guitar, background vocals); John Van Tongeren (keyboards); Tim Gaines, Bradford Cobb (bass guitar); Robert Sweet (drums).

Recording information: Master Control Studio, Burbank, CA.

Photographers: Annamaria DiSanto; Suzen Carson; Anne Revenge; Neil Zlozower.

Unknown Contributor Role: Stryper.

Arrangers: Michael Sweet; Stephan Galfas.

When the majority of Christian artists were going unheard in the secular market, Stryper became even more visible among non-Christian audiences with its third album, To Hell with the Devil. This was the first time a Stryper album went platinum -- something the headbangers' presence on MTV no doubt played a role in. And the fact that this album boasted Stryper's strongest writing up to that point didn't hurt. The southern Californians sound especially confident and inspired on "The Way," "Sing-Along Song," "More Than a Man" and the infectious title song. But as invigorating as the up-tempo numbers are, Stryper's ballads didn't improve a bit; "All of Me" and the hit "Honestly" are as annoying as ever. ~ Alex Henderson minimize