WITHOUT A PRAYER

“TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL,” Stryper. Enigma. Stryper’s born-again Christian stance represents such a departure from heavy metal’s usual themes that discussion of the quartet seldom centers on the music itself. Just as well. Though the Orange County band’s latest LP is making a surprisingly strong chart showing, it simply doesn’t pack a very potent attack. The sub-Boston soft-metal tracks, which make up most of the album, are awkwardly delivered. And the few attempts at rocking the house to the ground result in only a few minor tremors. Michael Sweet doesn’t have the voice needed to enliven this toothless material.