Stryper: Throne Of Thorns |

A Different Story

(2026 – Frontiers Music)

Sometimes it’s hard to understand the thousands of detractors Stryper has accumulated in recent years, with complaints such as that the band isn’t what it used to be, or that it always does the same thing, that its albums are just like Michael Sweet’s solo albums, and so on.
Such comments lead me to think about—and listen to—the legendary Stryper’s new album through a different lens. Judging Stryper is no easy task, nor is it when doing so with classic bands. There’s always the risk of falling into clichés and comparing the new material to the band’s classic hits from the ’80s, but that’s a grave mistake.
If we start from that premise, it’s clear that Stryper isn’t the same Stryper from the ’80s, nor does the band intend to replicate old albums like “To Hell With The Devil” or “Soldiers Under Command”; those already belong in the hall of fame. On the other hand, if we listen to “Throne of Thorns” from a perspective closer to the band’s recent years—setting aside their history for a moment—we may discover something different.
“No More Hell to Pay” is arguably one of the most powerful and cohesive albums from the Californian band’s recent years. With “When We Were Kings”, there was a noticeable dip in quality, which the band quickly began to erase with the Christmas album “The Greatest Gift of All”—an album that, despite my skepticism, pleasantly surprised me. Well, “Throne of Thorns” confirms that the band is back on track.
A path marked above all by that vibe so close to the ’80s sound, delivering each riff with heaviness and conviction, and creating an album with plenty of tracks in that anthem-like style so characteristic of Stryper—full of melody and grandeur. And it’s precisely the title track, “Throne Of Thorns”, that kicks things off and welcomes us to an album that’s possibly one of the best things the band has done in recent years.

And in case there was any doubt about the direction things were heading, “Here In Your Heart” sets the tone with its heavy riff and that epic, powerful sound for which Stryper is known, and with “Falling” they take us back to a much more ’80s-style vibe in the riffs and choruses—a sort of melodic Hard Rock with a solid, consistent foundation.
Next up is the fast-paced and effective “I’m Alright (I’m Okay)”, the first track we heard from this new album and one that, in a way, sets the tone for the direction they’ve chosen, placing heavy emphasis on riffs, a heavy rhythm section, and a guitar solo that’s sure to blow anyone’s mind.
The classic ballad is embodied in “Waiting For You”, which comes as no surprise, but I’d like to point out that it isn’t as soporific as in other, not-too-distant cases, maintaining consistency with the rest of the album, and right after that comes the interesting “Carry The Flame” with its relentless rhythm that hides, deep down, a sort of ballad carried by the heavy riff that accompanies it.
You could say that “Hollywood” essentially carries a similar idea to what we’ve already heard in “When We Were Kings”—that is, another ballad powered by a heavy barrage of powerful riffs, with a restrained drive and a decidedly rock-oriented vibe, yet one that offers another of the album’s best guitar solos.
“Beautifully Broken” paints a different picture, with a catchy riff and a whiff of the old Stryper, leaning into the most classic elements of Heavy Metal, bearing that indelible ’80s stamp that Stryper carries in its blood—and possibly deserving an honorable mention on the album— and in between, we have the radio-friendly ballad “Ashes To Roses”, which wouldn’t feel out of place on a road trip in a classic car along a scenic route.
We find that heavy, dark hard rock vibe in “Alone Again”—and even a certain stoner rock feel, if I may make the comparison—but it’s the album’s final track that really blows us away and brings us to the point where Stryper truly captivates us.
The thing is, “Shadowbreaker” carries in its blood the speed and Metal that Stryper used to deliver. Fast, furious, heavy, and intense, with a certain nod to the classic “Rock The Hell Out Of You”—though with some obvious differences, of course—but it still serves as a more than interesting conclusion to an album that’s possibly one of the best things Stryper has done in recent years.
The truth is that “Throne of Thorns” has a few things worth noting. No, it’s not the band’s “best” album—as they always claim when announcing a new one—but certainly from 2000 to the present, it could easily rank among the top releases.
Why didn’t Oz Fox record the guitars on this album? It’s understandable. His health situation isn’t easy, and Michael Sweet himself took care of it—both rhythm and lead guitars. Incidentally, his vocal range remains impeccable, despite the health issue that affected his throat. It’s true, there aren’t any of the off-key screams of yesteryear, but he stays true to the style he’s known for. Meanwhile, Robert Sweet continues to bring that unique style on drums, and Richardson contributes his part on bass.

“Throne of Thorns” is a cohesive album in and of itself, as well as consistent with the band and its history. Stryper isn’t a band that’s going to invent anything new at this point—we already know that—and we celebrate the fact that even today, more than 40 years since their formation, they’re still active, recording and releasing albums every year, and also performing live, which is no small feat considering all the difficulties their members have faced in recent years.
The songs on “Throne of Thorns” are, by and large, catchy, powerful, and as epic and potent as ever, sharing the common traits of strong, heavy riffs and a structure that cements Stryper’s status as a Heavy Metal band to always keep in mind.
The sound is truly spectacular, and the mix does an excellent job of bringing out the power of the guitars, which sound deep and heavy throughout most of the album—clearly serving as the cornerstone of the album’s sound production. And it’s perfect, since a band with Stryper’s years of experience and track record deserves a sound befitting its immense legacy, and on “Throne of Thorns”, they sound as good as they’ve ever sounded in recent years—strong, heavy, and clear. Nothing more, nothing less.
The album cover is more or less in the style of recent years. Perhaps not as striking as on previous albums, but it features a nice illustration that captures the idea and message of this work, with a design that’s repeated throughout the entire booklet—which is quite substantial—and includes the lyrics to each song, as well as several photographs of the band and its members. As is customary for both Stryper and Frontiers, the edition of “Throne of Thorns” is available on both CD and vinyl, with a nice release from the Italian label for cavemen like us who still listen to music on physical media.
Stryper made their move in 2026 and continues with their strategy of releasing one album per year. What’s next is surely a long tour spanning the remainder of the year and into early 2027, featuring an album that’s well-suited for live performance and offers plenty of interesting tracks to hear in person. Staying relevant isn’t easy, and yet, despite everything, Stryper is still going strong—and with a great album under their belt…
Below, we’ve included the music videos for “Throne Of Thorns” and “Here In Your Heart”, as well as the band’s social media handles, so you can stay up to date on their news and, above all, the tour they’re currently on…

https://www.frontiers.it

https://stryper.com

https://www.facebook.com/Stryper

https://www.instagram.com/stryper