MICHAEL SWEET: STRYPER Vocalist Releases Eighth Solo Studio Album ‘Ten’
October 11th, 2019
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Michael Sweet, vocalist of Orange County, California-based heavy metal group Stryper, issued his eighth solo full-length studio album proper Ten on October 11th, 2019 in Europe through Frontiers Music Srl. Rat Pak Records scheduled United States release for the same day.
Sweet commented: “It’s called Ten ’cause it’s my tenth album, and because there is a title track on there about the Ten Commandments – a really powerful song. There’s real heavy stuff. It starts kind of smacking you in the face and it ends kicking you in the gut.”
The outing features a number of guest musicians, including singers Todd La Torre (Queensrÿche) and Ian Raposa (FirstBourne), drummer Will Hunt (Evanescece), bassist John O’Boyle, and guitarists Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake / ex-Night Ranger), Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy / ex-Nevermore), Marzi Montazeri (Exhorder / ex-Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals), Gus G. Gus G. (Firewind / ex-Ozzy Osbourne), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo / Fozzy), Mike Kerr (FirstBourne), Howie Simon, Ethan Brosh and Andy James.
“It started out where I was gonna have just a few players,” said Sweet. “Then I thought, you know, it would be really interesting to bring in a different guy on every song. And I started putting names out there and reaching out to people, and they started agreeing to do it. And then I had guys reaching out to me.”
Speaking about the general musical direction of Ten, Sweet added: “There are old-school, straight-ahead metal ideas à la Judas Priest and Dio, as well as a few uptempo riffs à la Iron Maiden. There’s also a few ballads with a bit of a Led Zeppelin vibe.
“I’m really excited about the musical direction. I’m bringing back a few of those classic hooks and melodies that some of you have asked for. Ask and you shall receive!”
Produced by Michael Sweet, Ten was recorded and mixed by Danny Bernini at Spirithouse Music in Northampton, Massachusetts. Mastering duties were handled by Alex Saltz at APS Mastering in New York City.
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The track listing is as follows:
01. ‘Better Part Of Me’ (feat. Jeff Loomis)
02. ‘Lay It Down’ (feat. Marzi Montazeri)
03. ‘Forget, Forgive’ (feat. Howie Simon)
04. ‘Now Or Never’ (feat. Gus G.)
05. ‘Ten’ (feat. Rich Ward)
06. ‘Shine’ (feat. Ethan Brosh)
07. ‘Let It Be Love’
08. ‘Never Alone’ (feat. Joel Hoekstra)
09. ‘When Love Is Hate’ (feat. Joel Hoekstra)
10. ‘Ricochet’ (feat. Tracii Guns)
11. ‘With You Till The End’ (feat. Mike Kerr and Ian Raposa) *
12. ‘Son Of Man’ (feat. Todd La Torre and Andy James) *
* bonus track
Official lyric videos were released for the title track and the songs ‘Better Part Of Me’, ‘Shine’, ‘Son Of Man’ and ‘With You Till The End’. All five clips can be viewed below.
Seventh solo studio record One Sided War was released in August 2016 via Rat Pak Records.
Promotional photograph by Pedro Blanco.
