RockMusicStar.com recently caught up with STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet to discuss the band's new album, The Covering. An excerptis available below:

RMS: Did you have any difficulties as a musician trying to perform any of the songs?

Sweet: "Vocally, I had a bit of difficultly with 'The Trooper' (IRON MAIDEN). That one was a butt kicker. It’s so intense vocally. Bruce has such a unique voice. And for some reason, in my head, I thought that I had to sound just like Bruce. But when I realized that I didn’t, that’s when I was able to relax and sing it like Michael Sweet. Some of the solos were also a bit difficult. I like to work out solos, and try to come up with different ideas, and different licks and different structures. So it’s not just the same old thing rehashed. I spent quite a bit of time on that, working those out. For example, the solo on 'The Trooper'. I did the first half of the solo, the second half was Oz. It took a lot of thought because I wanted it to stand out and be different."

'The Trooper'

RMS: Have there been any repercussions from the Christian community in response to this CD? When you did a non-secular CD before, with Against The Law it marked the beginning of the end for the band.

Sweet: "No, that CD had nothing to do with the band coming to an end. It had more to do with that point in history when music was changing. NIRVANA hit the scene and changed music. It was the decline of, not just Stryper, but every '80s rock band that you could think of. That was the key player in it, and why we lost a lot of popularity. Also, Against The Law was a little more edgy, and had a little more rebellion to it, and angst. A lot of our fans were not ready for that. It was also a period of time when we were going through our own struggles, and that came through in the music, and photos and interviews. That period is what it is. We were going through some struggles then, and we pulled out of that, and we learned a lot since then. And by the grace of God, we are still here together again, and doing it.

But I think that Against The Law was a really cool album. It’s not my favorite Stryper album by any means. But it’s a cool album, and a lot of fans really like that album. I’m very proud of our last album, Murder By Pride. We also plan on doing another all original album, and maybe a few more. We don’t have any plans to disband, or go our separate ways in the near future, that’s for sure."

Go to this location for the complete interview. Click here to check out BW&BK;'s recent interview with Sweet.

The Covering was released via Big 3 Records on February 15th. Check out full-length versions of the band covering KISS' 'Shout It Out Loud', LED ZEPPELIN' 'Immigrant Song', SWEET's 'Set Me Free', UFO's 'Lights Out', VAN HALEN's 'On Fire', SCORPIONS' 'Blackout', OZZY OSBOURNE's 'Over The Mountain' and the new song 'God' below:

KISS' 'Shout It Out Loud':

LED ZEPPELIN' 'Immigrant Song':

SWEET's 'Set Me Free':

UFO's 'Lights Out':

VAN HALEN's 'On Fire':

SCORPIONS' 'Blackout':

OZZY OSBOURNE's 'Over The Mountain':

'God':