The new Stryper album, "Murder By Pride" sold just shy of 6,000 copies in its first week to land at No. 73 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The album was released on July 21st on Big 3 Records. It will make its European debut August 28th on Frontiers Records. Click Here for dates and venues.



The band's singer Michael Sweet had this to say: "After years of speaking to fans and hearing comments like 'more guitars,' 'more solos' and 'more screams,' I decided to keep those comments in mind as I wrote each song. It was important to me to try to get back to that early sound of Stryper yet at the same time, to remain relevant today. It's certainly not an easy thing to do but as I listen to 'Murder By Pride', I think that was accomplished.

"I got the idea of the title 'Murder By Pride' from seeing pride consume dreams, goals and many times, lives. We all deal with pride and it can be crippling, so I wanted to write a lyric and a theme that would be a constant reminder of that. This record has been in the works for a long, long time and I can only hope that it was worth the wait!"

The band is set to begin a US tour in September, then head overseas to continue touring early next year. Their 25th anniversary tour will consist of two sets. The first set will be new material and will feature new Stryper bassist Tracy Ferrie. During the second set, original bassist Tim Gaines will join Robert and Michael Sweet and Oz Fox to play Stryper's classics. Michael Sweet, Jr.'s band will open the shows.