583. Stryper / The Covering. 2011. 3/5

I think there is always an initial excitement when a band you like brings out a 'covers' album, especially when so many of the songs/artists on said release are also big favourites of your own! And so it was when this release was first announced that I felt a tingle of anticipation.
 Having said that, the other main thing that must be made about covers albums is that the versions of the songs done very rarely match up to the original versions, and after a few listens the cover album generally gets placed on the CD shelf and is left to its own devices.

In all respects I could leave the review there, but that may be a little unfair.

The songs chosen could easily have been a best-of selection of 1980's heavy metal - could almost have been the song list I would have chosen if I was putting together just such a compilation. I guess there is an inherent danger in taking on songs of this magnitude - they are some of the most recognisable songs in heavy metal history, and if they aren't done justice it can be a cruel blow.
Cutting to the chase, and the good news is that the boys have done a good job on the album. The songs have been somewhat "Stryper-ised", in that they do not possess the raw power and heavyness of the original material, and they have quite rightly attuned the guitars and music to a "Stryper-ised" sound without compromising the basis of the music. So if you have come looking for a modern metal take on these songs you have come to the wrong place. However, if you have come to see how this very good band interprets some of the best metal songs of all time, then it is worth a listen.

Most of the songs have the tempo just dialled back a little from the original versions. My interest was always going to be focused on two specific elements. First was the guitaring of Oz Fox and Michael Sweet, and the best way to describe it is 'efficient'. Having seen the band live I guess I was hoping for some ripping solos from the two of them. What you get is some very good guitaring which never really breaks out of the mould, apart from perhaps the Kansas song "Carry on Wayward Son". Mind you, they are up against some of the best of all time, so it's a tough task. Second was the vocals of Michael Sweet, and how he approached the task at hand. There is a lot of double tracking of vocals, which works on most songs, though perhaps not on Iron Maiden's "The Trooper". Sweet has always had an awesome voice, but again is up against some of the best in the business in Dickinson, Halford, Osbourne and Dio.
In conclusion, I can but repeat my remarks from the beginning of the review. It's great to hear a band love the same songs that you do, and make an album of them. Once you have listened to it 8 to 10 times, as I have since buying it two days ago, you begin to crave listening to the original songs again, and start burrowing through the CD shelves to find them. They are good versions of these great songs, and the band is faultless in their musicianship. Michael Sweet's vocals soar as they always do. But the novelty can only last for a certain period of time, and then you will move on.