STRYPER have put out "Here In Your Heart", the second song to surface from "Throne Of Thorns", the album that lands on September 25 via Frontiers Music Srl. It will be their eighteenth.
Vocalist and guitarist Michael Sweet framed the track as a summary of where the band currently stands. "This song is the perfect representation of who we are now as a band," he said. "We work hard to retain our classic sound, but also mix in some modern flairs here and there. The message is always the same: God is always there. No matter what. We may not be, but he is."
Drummer Robert Sweet was more interested in the number on the spine. "Soon our new STRYPER record will be out, and can you believe it? It's album number 18! I really believe you're all going to love it. Michael worked incredibly hard writing these songs and bringing everything together. Oz [Fox], Perry [Richardson] and I also worked hard to make this what I feel is our best record yet."
The title track went out in June with a video of its own. Michael Sweet described it then as a distillation of the band's four decades: "Christ is on the throne, and we are redeemed because of the crown of thorns that He endured. This song is a perfect representation of our 43 years and who we were, and who we are. Heavy yet melodic, classic yet modern, and 100% STRYPER!"
Bassist Perry Richardson, for his part, located the record in difficulty rather than comfort. "The best music doesn't come from comfort. It comes from living, struggling, growing, and refusing to quit. I hope these songs find you exactly when you need them."
Guitarist Oz Fox closed out the round of statements by pointing at the other three: "Michael continues to pour everything he has into the music and the message; Robert brings the power and energy that has always been the pulse of STRYPER; Perry's musicianship, vocal talents, and dedication are second to none."
"Throne Of Thorns" track listing:
- Throne Of Thorns
- Here In Your Heart
- Falling
- I'm Alright (I'm Okay)
- Waiting For You
- Carry The Flame
- Hollywood
- Beautifully Broken
- Ashes To Roses
- Alone Again
- Shadowbreaker
STRYPER took their name from Isaiah 53:5 — "and with his stripes we are healed" — when they formed 43 years ago, and the lineup has stayed Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, Oz Fox and Perry Richardson. Their Christmas album "The Greatest Gift Of All" appeared in November 2025, and Michael Sweet's solo record "The Master Plan" followed in April 2026, both through Frontiers.