Note: the title of this album isn't meant to be vulgar. In the context of the title track, the speaker is telling God to condemn evil, which He ultimately will do. Neither God's name nor the word "damn" is used flippantly.

Stryper, remembered as a pioneering Christian "hair" metal band of the 80s, returns with their first new studio album in three years, provocatively titled God Damn Evil. Though Michael Sweet and company generally stay true to their roots, Evil, like their previous two albums (Fallen and No More Hell To Pay), also tips its hat to modern metal. In the blistering opener, "Take It to the Cross," for example, Sweet shows off his retro vibrato vocals while the chorus pays homage to the guttural style of metalcore. The choruses are jarring compared to the standard hair metal verses, mostly because of the unexpected style shift, but after a few listens, it's easier to swallow. Overall it's a good song, though the bombastic choruses may be a little over the top to some.

As usual, the album opens with a stellar guitar solo as Micheal and lead guitarist Oz Fox take turns shredding. The lead single, "Sorry," tones things down slightly as Michael adds an emotive performance to a simple yet true message about how we use words carelessly. He sings in the first verse, "More than just complicated / and more than just okay. / No it's not overrated / every word you say." Here, Sweet references how people in the wrong often say that their words meant nothing, and the other person is just overreacting. He then acknowledges how words can, in fact, mean nothing with the chorus, "Sorry / it doesn't always make things starry."

For those getting reacquainted with Stryper after their comeback, it won't take long to realize that the self-referential lyrics of their heyday have been abandoned in favor of songs about relationships, God's faithfulness to us, and the reality of spiritual warfare. Meanwhile, the musicianship is as virtuosic as ever with Michael Sweet and Oz Fox frequently firing riffs back and forth, while Michael Sweet's solo album bassist, John O' Boyle (new bassist Perry Richardson didn't record for this album) and drummer Robert Sweet blaze away in the rhythm section. Michael's ridiculous vocal talents, particularly on "Lost," never fail to amaze, given that his voice sounds the same if not better than it did thirty years ago. Robert Sweet's throbbing bass drums underneath killer snare hits and tom fills give "The Devil Doesn't live Here" the right amount of triumphant metal fury, while the beautiful guitar runs in "Can't Live without your Love" emphasize the tenderness of the lyrics.

As impressive as the musicianship is, the songs themselves are also enjoyable. Standout tracks include "Sorry," "Lost," the Psalm 23-quoting "The Valley" and the furious closer, "The Devil Doesn't Live Here." The title track is also noteworthy with its anthemic, retro vibe and tongue-in-cheek wordplay, both of which bring "To Hell with the Devil" to mind. These songs are definitely the strongest and most memorable, but the weaker ones are good in their own right as well. This Stryper album may not give us something unexpected, but that doesn't stop it from being a very solid and entertaining record.