The Yellow and Black Attack

This is the debut album from Stryper, though virtually all of this material was used on the Roxx Regime demo shortly before they switched names (and outfits). The raw production helps this kind of classic rock-based Metal come alive, but the strengths of this particular album are the guitar solos and vocals, which the rawer production did not compliment. It is essentially a good solid record which suffers from two saccharine-drenched ballads. The thing one has to remember, is that the most offensive ballad (My Love I'll Always Show) was not present on the original version of the album, so the now-common version of 'Yellow and Black Attack' has a markedly poppier approach.

Sound-wise, the production is high for this period, but not 'In God We Trust' over-produced. The guitars have a vicious crunch thanks to the two B.C. Rich guitars utilized by both Michael Sweet and Oz Fox. The bass is audible, with a hint of distortion, and the drums cut through everything. The vocals at times suffer from being too low in the mix, but Michael Sweet gives a really exceptional performance. He hits every note any other reputable Metal singer can hit and then some, but has his own bombastic style... when he's not crooning like a lady on ballads.

From the opening lick of 'Loud n' Clear', alot of the predispositions towards the music tend to fall by the wayside, especially as the song culminates into a killer twin guitar solo (a definite homage to Judas Priest - one of the band's self-confessed inspirations) and ends with a twin-guitar riff that I could easily see Iron Maiden or Accept having difficulty with. The difference, of course, being that the high end of both of these riffs is actually played by vocalist / guitarist Michael Sweet - impressive, no matter who your God is. It is not wimpy stuff, nor is the subsequent track, 'From Wrong to Right', which boasts a very strong main section. The album doesn't lose any steam until the end, when a few diabetes-inducing ballads theaten to sink it. Luckily, they are broken up by some rockers - 'Co'Mon Rock', 'You Know What to Do', and 'Loving You', the latter of which has easily the most complex dual guitar solo on the entire record, and may well be the standout of the album.

All in all, this one is actually a great record for those fans of classic early 80's Metal in the vein of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Accept, who aren't put off by the ballads present on, say, 'Point of Entry' by Priest. If you want the best version possible then pick up the original vinyl sans bonus tracks, or just skip them.