Bands That Are Better Now

What are some bands who were active back in the day that you feel are putting out better music now than they did back then? Two come to my mind: 

Stryper: From NMHtP on, they’ve just killed it. Any new Stryper is a blind buy for me.

Trytan: I like all 3 albums, but Blood of Kings just blew me away. I didn’t think they’d top Sylentiger, but they did!

What say you?

I will totally echo Stryper.  I think from probably NMHTP onward their output has been just as good or better than their 80's work.

In the same vein, Michael Sweet's solo work.  I'm not a big fan of most of his earlier albums, however his last three albums have been some of his best work (I'm Not Your Suicide, One Sided War & Ten)

While Bloodgood's "Dangerously Close" might not be better than Detonation, it is certainly just as good IMHO

Not that they broke up or anything like that but I would also claim that the last few Lordchain albums have been some of their best work.

Dangerously Close is one of those albums that’s always kind of puzzled me. It’s a good album (Run Away is an all-time Bloodgood best and I actually quite like Crush Me), but I don’t find it quite as compelling overall as the first 4, which are absolutely favorites of mine. (And Father, Father is the worst song in their catalog). I did give it another listen recently and liked it more than I have previously.

It’s still a well-done album, of course, and I can’t wait for more music from them!

I have to agree with Staybrite about Lordchain. They are killing it nowadays!

Stryper is a good call.  While their music is more mature, it has matured in a positive way.  They are rocking harder than ever.

While many would disagree, I like Saint more with their comeback years than I did their early material.

Trytan is okay, but I can't get into them anymore.  The extra long songs, for me, seems like they are just playing to be playing instead of really adding something to the songs. It takes away from the strength of the song for me, so that's a disagree for me.

I love Saint’s post-2000 output and I’d say it’s overall equal to their 80s work, but I doubt anything will top Time’s End for me.

Pethead wrote:

What are some bands who were active back in the day that you feel are putting out better music now than they did back then? Two come to my mind: 

Stryper: From NMHtP on, they’ve just killed it. Any new Stryper is a blind buy for me.

Trytan: I like all 3 albums, but Blood of Kings just blew me away. I didn’t think they’d top Sylentiger, but they did!

What say you?

Stryper
Kansas
Trytan - Blood of Kings is my Album of the Year!
The Brave
PJ Bostic
Neal Morse

Welcome EricLovesVinyl !

I have to agree with everyone on Stryper. IMO their last 4 have been stellar albums that rival their original 80s material. I wouldn't say the material is "better" than the original 5 albums, but in their advanced years, they have matured into a better band, that's for sure.

I’m probably alone in this, but I think Waiting in Darkness is the best thing Sacred Warrior ever did. In general, I think they’re a band who got better with each album.

Pethead wrote:

I’m probably alone in this, but I think Waiting in Darkness is the best thing Sacred Warrior ever did. In general, I think they’re a band who got better with each album.

That is just crazy talk! 

But seriously the album is really good, but I would have a hard time rating it above most of the band's catalog (except for Wicked Generation).  I think Eli sounded fantastic as the replacement singer, but something seemed a little off with the production on the album.  I hope their next recording (regardless of who sings) comes out sounding more professionally recorded/produced.

I kinda like the rougher sound. Too much modern metal sounds sterile to me.

I think the last Bloodgood album is better because the vox are better. Yeah, shoot me now.

Black Rider wrote:

I think the last Bloodgood album is better because the vox are better. Yeah, shoot me now.

I can see that. Les sounds amazing on it. The songwriting just doesn’t hit me quite as hard as the classics.

Definitely have to agree with Stryper and Michael Sweet's solo work. Can't agree with Bloodgood, Saint or Sacred Warrior though.