The Metal Voice Interview: STRYPER’s Michael Sweet Would Love To Produce VAN HALEN’s Next Album

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Canada’s The Metal Voice recently caught up with vocalist, guitarist of Christian metal pioneers, STRYPER‘s Michael Sweet. In the chat Sweet talks about the band’s new album “Fallen” and gives his opinion on W.A.S.P., Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Geoff Tate and Queesnryche’s new albums. STRYPER’s new Album “Fallen” will be released on October 16

When asked about his approach to writing the new album

“Before we make a new album I start listening to new bands, that range from real heavy stuff, to alternative stuff. I listen to the fans and I ask the question what do you guys want to hear on this album, and they tell us. And I kept thinking Heavy, heavy, heavy that’s why we didn’t do a piano ballad. That why we didn’t do pop metal kind of songs. I wanted this album to consistently be heavy.”

When asked about his favorite track on the album Pride

“The song Pride came together very fast as did all the other songs. That is one of my most favorite songs on the album. The reason why it is it’s because it’s a great merge of the old with the new and it’s got all the Stryper qualities you would expect. Pride is going to be the first music video that hits on release date October 16.”

On his thoughts about recording a concept album in the future

“I have thought about doing a concept album and I just haven’t ever gone down that path and made the commitment to do it. But sure, absolutely I thought about it and I think Stryper would be a great band to do that.”

On the highlights and disappointments of recording ‘Soldiers Under Command’ which is celebrating its 30 year anniversary

“Highlights working with Michael Wagner legendary metal producer. We recorded that album in 10-11-12 days tops and the downside of the album is we didn’t get to be there for the mix.”

On Michael Sweet’s plans for a new solo album

” I start recording a new solo in the next 3 weeks, it’s going to come out next year. It’s going to be a metal album. There is not going to be any poppy stuff. It’s going to blow people away I’m going to try to steer clear of the Styper sound.”

On his thoughts on the new Iron Maiden album ‘Book of Souls’

“I have heard bits and pieces of it and in my opinion it’s not as good as Maiden of old but it is certainly a lot better than some of the things they done in the past 15 years. I think they are getting on track and I would like to see the next album get back to the fire they had like Run to the hills and The Trooper.”

On his least favorite album in the past years

“I’m going to go with the Van Helen-A Different Kind of Truth. I am a huge Van Halen fan about as big as they come. I just feel like the last album you know when you feel like a band is going through the motions and they are not just giving it their best and trying, that’s what I felt about this album. It’s got some good reviews. People are saying this is great. I am just sitting here reading I must be hearing something completely different. I didn’t get it. I would love to get a hold of those guys and take them in the studio and take them back to the old school days and help them make an album that basically is comparable to Van Halen one and two.”

Watch the full interview here: