| One Sided War | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 26, 2016 | |||
| Genre | Christian rock, Christian metal, hard rock | |||
| Length | 46:35 | |||
| Label | Rat Pak | |||
| Producer | Michael Sweet | |||
| Michael Sweet chronology | ||||
| ||||
One Sided War is the seventh studio album from the Christian musician and Stryper frontman Michael Sweet, who helmed the production on the album. The album released on August 26, 2016 by Rat Pak Records. This album charted at No. 77 on the Billboard 200 and it was awarded a five star rating by CCM Magazine .
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| CCM Magazine |  [1] |
| Classic Rock Revisited |  [2] |
| Cryptic Rock | [3] |
| Hardrock Haven | 8.75/10 [4] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |  [5] |
| The National | [6] |
| New Release Today | [7] |
| Today's Christian Entertainment | [8] |
At CCM Magazine , Andy Argyrakis rated the album a perfect five stars, stating that the release "is most definitely his heaviest individual offering thus far". At Jesus Freak Hideout, Bert Gangl rated the album three-point six stars out of five, saying that "Sweet absolutely deserves credit for being one of the few artists from the '80s still convincingly practicing the classic metal idiom, which debatably places him head and shoulders above the lion's share of his hard-rocking contemporaries -- too many of whom have long since stopped writing material that equals, or betters, that of their heyday".
At Hardrock Haven, John Kindred rated the album eight-point seven-five out of ten, writing "It's brilliant". Jay Heilman of Today's Christian Entertainment rated the album 4.8 out of five, saying it is a "record any true rock rock fan will need to pick up". At Classic Rock Revisited, the editor rated the album a B (buy it), stating "Michael is a talented singer, guitarist and an interesting songwriter. So much so, I am starting to believe his solo efforts are much more intense and unique than anything he ever did while in the black and yellow bee outfit."
Alfie Vera Mella of Cryptic Rock rated the album four stars out of five, writing that "Sweet's songwriting prowess stretches back to the humble beginnings of his band Stryper – most of the songs of which show Sweet and his comrades' penchant for the serious, edgy side of glam metal coupled with the cool playfulness of pop rock music. In Sweet's latest offering, this combination shines very well."
For the Billboard charting week of September 17, 2016, One Sided War was the No. 77 most sold album in the entirety of the United States via the Billboard 200, and it was the No. 1 most sold of the Christian Albums. Also, the album was the No. 4 most sold album of the Rock Albums, and it was the No. 1 most sold of the Hard Rock Albums. Lastly, the album was the No. 6 most sold of the Independent Albums.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bizarre" | 3:28 |
| 2. | "One Sided War" | 3:28 |
| 3. | "Can't Take This Life" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "Radio" | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Golden Age" | 3:56 |
| 6. | "Only You" | 4:08 |
| 7. | "I Am" | 4:15 |
| 8. | "Who I Am" | 4:54 |
| 9. | "You Make Me Wanna" | 3:50 |
| 10. | "Comfort Zone" | 3:09 |
| 11. | "One Way Up" | 4:14 |
| 12. | "Can't Take This Life" (featuring Moriah Formica) | 3:36 |
| Total length: | 46:35 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Not to Be Me" |
Guest musicians
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 [10] | 77 |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard) [11] | 1 |
| US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [12] | 1 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) [13] | 6 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [14] | 4 |
Michael Harrison Sweet is a singer and guitarist from Whittier, California; he is the co-founder, songwriter, guitarist and lead singer of the Christian metal band Stryper. He's also had a successful solo career, and briefly served as singer and guitarist for Boston from 2007 to 2011.
To Hell with the Devil is the third studio album by the Christian metal band Stryper, released in 1986. It was the first Christian metal album to achieve platinum status, selling over one million copies. It remained the best-selling Christian metal album until P.O.D.'s Satellite in 2001.
The Yellow and Black Attack is the debut EP by American Christian metal band Stryper. It was originally released in 1984 as a six-song EP, and fewer than 20,000 copies were pressed, as their label, Enigma Records, was unsure of the potential market for Christian metal. CCM Magazine was slightly critical, citing production quality and the short length of the release, but commented that "Stryper has the promise of a major success story." According to Michael Sweet's autobiography, the album was re-recorded and released as an official album, after their first manager, Daryn Hinton, loaned them $100,000 to re-produce the record. The album initially sold 150,000 units in the first three weeks.
Reborn is the sixth album from the Christian metal band Stryper, and the first full-length album of new material since Against the Law in 1990. Reborn was slated to be a Michael Sweet solo record, but after their reunion tour, Sweet played it for the other members, at which time Oz Fox suggested it should be a Stryper record. So the other members came in and learned their parts from the original demos. Sweet says in his autobiography, Honestly: My Life and Stryper Revealed, that he convinced Big3 Records, which had signed him for a solo release, to make it a Stryper record deal. Thus, Reborn became the first all-original Stryper record in 15 years.
The Reckoning is the fourth album from Christian rock group Pillar. It was released on October 3, 2006. Included on the new release are displays of the softer side of Pillar, the pop side ("Sometimes") and the much heavier/screaming side. The album debuted at No. 70 on the Billboard 200.
Murder by Pride is the seventh studio album by Stryper. It was released on July 21, 2009 by Big 3 Records. The first single for the album, "Peace of Mind", debuted at No. 27 on Christianrock.net on October 24, 2008 and peaked at 1 on February 22, 2009. The track is a cover version, originally performed by rock band Boston on its debut 1976 self-titled album. Michael Sweet was a touring member of Boston for several years, before parting ways amicably in 2011.
Stryper is an American Christian metal band from La Mirada, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet, Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson, and Robert Sweet (drums).
Blue Mountain is the fourth studio album by contemporary Christian musician Brandon Heath. It was released on October 9, 2012, through Reunion Records. The album has had success on the chart, as has the song "Jesus in Disguise".
Miracle is the eleventh studio album by Christian rock band Third Day. This album released on Essential Records label, and it was produced by Brendan O'Brien. The album sold 29,000 copies in its debut week. The lead single from this album is "I Need a Miracle", which has had chart success.
Release the Panic is the fourth studio album by American Christian rock band Red. It was released on February 5, 2013 through Essential Records and Sony Music. It was produced by Howard Benson. The first song released from the album, "Release the Panic," was released on Friday, November 9, 2012 on their official VEVO channel on YouTube. The first single from the album, "Perfect Life," was released on November 29, 2012 on their official VEVO channel on YouTube.
Almería is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Lifehouse, released on December 11, 2012, by Geffen Records. The title refers to the Spanish city of Almería, where many classic western films were filmed. The album was produced by Jude Cole, who has worked with Lifehouse on previous albums. The lead single off the album was released in September, and is titled "Between the Raindrops", a duet with British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield.
Inland is the eleventh full-length studio album by rock band Jars of Clay, which was released on August 27, 2013, by Gray Matters label. The album was produced by Tucker Martine at Flora Recording & Playback in Portland, Oregon. It has seen significant charting successes, and has garnered critical acclamation. It was nominated for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year by the GMA Dove Awards.
The Neverclaim is the eponymous debut studio album from contemporary Christian music band The Neverclaim, which was released on September 24, 2013 by Essential Records, and it was produced by Jason Ingram and Paul Moak. The album has seen commercial charting successes, as well as, it has received critical acclamation by Christian reviewers.
No More Hell to Pay is the fifteenth release and tenth studio album from Christian glam metal band Stryper, produced by band frontman Michael Sweet and released on November 5, 2013 by Frontiers Records. The album garnered positive critical reception from music critics as well as commercial success.
All This for a King: The Essential Collection is the only compilation album and greatest hits and twelfth and final album overall by contemporary Christian music group the David Crowder Band, released on May 21, 2013 by sixstepsrecords. The album was produced by the band. This album received critical acclamation and commercial viability.
From Water to War is the third studio album by the American Christian rock band Nine Lashes. The album was released on January 21, 2014, through Tooth & Nail Records. It was produced by Jasen Rauch and Aaron Sprinkle.
I'm Not Your Suicide is the sixth studio album from the Christian music musician and Stryper frontman Michael Sweet, who helmed the production on the album. The album released on May 6, 2014, by Big3 Records. This album charted at No. 154 on the Billboard 200 and it was awarded a five star rating by CCM Magazine and a four star rating from HM.
Only to Rise is the debut studio album by the duo Sweet & Lynch. Frontiers Records released the album on January 27, 2015.
Fallen is the sixteenth release and the eleventh studio album by the Christian metal band Stryper, produced by the frontman Michael Sweet and released on October 16, 2015.
God Damn Evil is the seventeenth release and twelfth studio album by Christian metal band Stryper, produced by frontman Michael Sweet and released on April 20, 2018. Bass guitar was played by John O'Boyle as current bassist Perry Richardson could not due to scheduling conflicts.
