A few years ago, I came across a collection of Larry Norman Christmas songs, called Christmastime. I would have never pegged Norman as the type to do a Christmas album, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the record. I kept that experience in mind when it was announced that Stryper was releasing their first-ever Christmas album. The Greatest Gift of All is a 10-track offering with half of the tracks being traditional classics (like "Silent Night" or "Little Drummer Boy"), and the other half being original seasonal tunes (along with a remake of their '80s track, "Reason for the Season"). The result is a yuletide soundtrack blasting in hair metal glory. Like Norman before them, can Stryper pull off a rock version of Christmas?

It's worth starting with the sound of the album. Yes, it sounds like Stryper, but there are subtle changes that bring a freshness the band has long needed. The first two original tracks on the album (the title track and "Heaven Came (On Christmas Day)") carry a more punk rock feel. Maybe it's because Michael Sweet is writing in a major key, but it finally introduces a fresh innovation that Stryper's recent albums have been lacking. Granted, the other original tracks all sound like more traditional Stryper, though the traditional Christmas tunes maintain the "brighter" sound. This subtle shift in tone helps bring a fun sound to the album and give it a little bit more Christmas joy.

Beyond the sound, the songs as a whole add to the joyful feel. The original tracks revel in the "reason for the season," looking not just at Jesus' lasting impact on the world ("Still the Light"), but also in how this season should draw us to be more giving (the title track). "On This Holy Night" is the more critical track. Backed by dramatic riffs, it warns of how we can pollute the holiday. "Jesus, where'd You go this time?/We lit the tree but dimmed Your light." The covers are fairly common choices, perhaps too common (can we retire "Go Tell It on a Mountain" and "Little Drummer Boy" for a while?). But, as noted above, the arrangements make for fun listening and help smooth over the over-familiarity of the songs. "Joy to the World" is the best of the bunch with a solo worthy of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. "Silent Night" felt like a whiff for this reviewer. "Winter Wonderland" felt like an odd choice, but, again, the galloping music makes up for it.

At the end of it all, there are two things I greatly appreciate about this album: One, the fact that half the album is original tunes. As good as the music makes the traditional tracks, an album of only old carols would have probably scored lower. The originals make The Greatest Gift of All more special for their inclusion. The second thing I appreciate is that the album is releasing in November, a week before Thanksgiving (as opposed to the industry standard October). Maybe it's just me, but it makes the album feel less like a cash grab since it's being released as close as possible to the Christmas season. Stryper's gift to fans this season is a rollicking record that points the way to the Savior while keeping an edge with the right amount of fun in the music.