To Hell with the Devil

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To Hell With the Devil
Studio album by Stryper
Released	October 24, 1986
Genre	Christian Metal
Length	41:10
Label	Enigma Records
Producer(s)	Stephan Galfas and Stryper
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Stryper chronology
Soldiers Under Command (1985)	To Hell with the Devil (1986)	In God We Trust (1988)

To Hell with the Devil is the fourth release, and third full-length album, from the Christian metal band Stryper, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music). It was both the first Contemporary Christian and Christian metal album to achieve Platinum status, selling over one million copies. It remains the best-selling Christian metal album of all time.

The album was listed at #88 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album was the only Heavy Metal album on the list.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Personnel 2.1 Stryper 2.2 Additional musicians 2.3 Singles 3 Production 4 Miscellanea

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Michael Sweet except as noted

1. "Abyss (To Hell With the Devil)" – 1:21
2. "To Hell With The Devil" (M. Sweet, Robert Sweet) – 4:08
3. "Calling On You" – 3:59
4. "Free" (M. Sweet, R. Sweet) – 3:44
5. "Honestly" – 4:10
6. "The Way" (Oz Fox) – 3:37
7. "Sing-Along Song" – 4:21
8. "Holding On" – 4:16
9. "Rockin' The World" – 3:30
10. "All Of Me" – 3:11
11. "More Than A Man" – 4:35

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Stryper

• Michael Sweet - Vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar
• Oz Fox - Guitar, background vocals
• Tim Gaines - Bass guitar
• Robert Sweet - Drums

[edit] Additional musicians

• Matt Hurich - Bass guitar
• Bradford Cobb - Bass guitar
• John Van Tongeren - Keyboards

[edit] Singles

• Free / Calling On You - Released February 10, 1987 (Enigma Records 75001)
• Honestly / Sing-Along Song - Released August 10, 1987 (Enigma 75009)

[edit] Production

• Stephan Galfas and Stryper - Producers
• Stephan Galfas and Dan Nebanzal - Engineers
• Stephan and Michael Sweet - Arrangers
• Eddy Schreyer - Mastering
• Robert Sweet - Cover design
• Brian Ayuso - Art direction
• Ray Brown - Costume design

[edit] Miscellanea

• The original cover of To Hell with the Devil caused a torrent of controversy, and was soon changed to an all-black design that was sold in the United States market. The original artwork (see left) consists of four angels--who resembled the band members--ripping a pentagram necklace off of Satan's neck. The album was released in Europe with the original cover. The cover was available in limited quantities in the United States, also.
• Throughout 1987, both music videos for Free and Honestly ranked #1 on Dial MTV, the nightly MTV list of most requested videos. With the video for Calling on You also making #5 on the show too.Success never seen before or since, by a Christian band.
• The tour for To Hell with the Devil was arguably Stryper's most popular with the band playing in bigger venues (arenas as opposed to theatres for Soldiers Under Command).