Post by falsetokaiba on Sept 23, 2019 16:00:13 GMT
Michael Harrison Sweet (4 July 1963 -)Years Active: 1975 - present
Associated Acts: Stryper (1984 - 1992, 2003 - present), Boston (2007 - 2011), Sweet and Lynch (2015 - present), Solo (1992 - present)
Voice Type: Tenor- An extremely bright, almost quasi-feminine voice in his youth; nowadays his tenor has darkened to some degree with an overall weightier and more masculine sound.
Vocal Range: G♯2 - C♯6 (3 Octaves + 5 Semitones)
{Vocal Analysis}In his youth, Sweet was well-known for his extremely high tessitura, probably placed comparably to a young Geddy Lee; his voice carried an extremely bright, almost feminine tone, and it was entirely common for whole albums to not feature any singing below the mid third octave. From the beginning of his professional recording career in the early 1980s, Sweet was able to form a comfortable belting register, reaching up to around C♯5 without sounding challenged at all. His technique gradually progressed as the 80s went on, becoming more accomplished at blending in a slightly headier sound allowing him to belt in lengthy passages up as high as E5 (the 1988 track 'The Reign' is a very good example of this era of his voice.) Sweet was also well-known for his signature head voice/'reinforced falsetto'; though he rarely attempted to sing entire passages in this register, he displayed the ability to hit climactic 'screams' as high as C6, and regularly sustained lengthy vibrato-laden notes around F5-G♯5, displaying an impressive ability to flip from his belting register into his head voice, and the versatility particularly around the early 1990s to switch between a more piercing, cleaner sound comparable to Eric Adams and a more gritty one more reminiscent of Ian Gillan or Ted Neeley.
With the passage of time, Sweet's voice has gradually changed; noticeably since returning to Stryper for the band's second stint, his mid and belting range have acquired a more weighty and masculine tone. The years in between on his solo albums were a chance for him to experiment with different features of his voice, including some more Halford-ish headily mixed, gritty notes around D5-E5, and even to take a slightly closer look at his lower register, which at least by the 1990s saw him capable of singing fairly comfortably down to the beginning of the second octave in both lead and backing vocals. Though he dispensed with his signature 'screams' in this period, these have returned to his repertoire since the late 2000s in Stryper's second era, still regularly reaching up to the mid-fifth octave and even remarkably pulling out an all-time high C♯6 in 2021. Sweet's belting range has also matured with age, displaying increased versatility and stylistic variation from cleaner, almost crooner-esque fourth octave singing such as on his 2007 album Touched to even some impressively distorted belting on more recent releases. Although he is somewhat less nimble around D5-E5 where his mix began to grow more heady in his youth, he can still produce some strong notes in this area and has consistently done some of his best ever singing around A4-C♯5 in the last decade and a half.
Overall, Sweet is one of the most talented and hard-wearing vocalists from the 1980s heavy metal scene, still sounding really good for a guy in his mid-fifties, having both adapted his voice with time and conserved the best of his classic chops in addition.
With the passage of time, Sweet's voice has gradually changed; noticeably since returning to Stryper for the band's second stint, his mid and belting range have acquired a more weighty and masculine tone. The years in between on his solo albums were a chance for him to experiment with different features of his voice, including some more Halford-ish headily mixed, gritty notes around D5-E5, and even to take a slightly closer look at his lower register, which at least by the 1990s saw him capable of singing fairly comfortably down to the beginning of the second octave in both lead and backing vocals. Though he dispensed with his signature 'screams' in this period, these have returned to his repertoire since the late 2000s in Stryper's second era, still regularly reaching up to the mid-fifth octave and even remarkably pulling out an all-time high C♯6 in 2021. Sweet's belting range has also matured with age, displaying increased versatility and stylistic variation from cleaner, almost crooner-esque fourth octave singing such as on his 2007 album Touched to even some impressively distorted belting on more recent releases. Although he is somewhat less nimble around D5-E5 where his mix began to grow more heady in his youth, he can still produce some strong notes in this area and has consistently done some of his best ever singing around A4-C♯5 in the last decade and a half.
Overall, Sweet is one of the most talented and hard-wearing vocalists from the 1980s heavy metal scene, still sounding really good for a guy in his mid-fifties, having both adapted his voice with time and conserved the best of his classic chops in addition.
Significant High Notes:
C♯6 ("Better End", "Blackout", "Sunbomb")
C6 ("In God We Trust", "Interview- 'Michael Sweet teaches how to scream'", "Shining Star" Live 1991, "Winter Wonderland" Live Minneapolis 1991)
B5 ("Against the Law" Live Minneapolis 1991, "Impromptu scream" Live Sioux Falls 1991, "Makes Me Wanna Sing" Live Tokyo 1989, "Not That Kind of Guy")
B♭5 ("Caught in the Middle", "Jesus is Just Alright", "Love You Like I Do", "Marching Into Battle", "Sing-Along Song" Live Seoul 1989, "Shining Star")
A5 ("Ain’t No Safe Way" Live unplugged 1994, "End of Days", "Highway Star", "Loud ‘N’ Clear", "Set Me Free", "The Calling", "Trinity")
G♯5 ("Ain’t No Safe Way", "Blackout", "Come to the Everlife", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil", "Give What You’ve Got", "God", "Golden Age", "Heaven and Hell", "King of Kings", "Lay It Down", "Lost", "Marching Into Battle", "Mercy Over Blame", "More Than a Man", "Not That Kind of Guy", "On Fire", "Rock That Makes Me Roll", "Rock the People", "Saved By Love", "Sunbomb", "The Reign", "The Writing’s On the Wall", "Together Forever", "To Hell With the Devil", "Unsuspecting", "Walk", "Yahweh")
G5 ("Co’mon Rock", "From Wrong to Right", "Imperfect World", "Makes Me Wanna Sing", "Peace of Mind", "Promised Land", "Shout It Out Loud", "The Way", "When We Were Kings", "You Don't Even Know Me", "You Know What to Do")
F♯5 ("4 Leaf Clover", "Afterlife", "Against the Law", "Always There for You", "Better End", "Better Part of Me", "Caught in the Middle", "Forget, Forgive", "Give What You’ve Got", "God", "How Long Can Michael Sweet Hold a High Note?", "I Think You Hear Me Knockin’", "Interview- 'Michael Sweet teaches how to scream'", "Legacy", "Lost", "Love You Crazy", "Murder By Pride", "No More Hell to Pay", "Only to Rise", "Ordinary Man", "Recover", "Renewed", "Rock the Hell Out of You", "Rock the People", "Saved By Love", "Shining Star", "Soldiers Under Command", "Sunbomb", "Surrender", "Take It to the Cross", "Ten", "The Cause", "The Devil Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "The Trooper", "The World of You and I", "Tourniquet", "Two Time Woman", "Unsuspecting", "Winter Wonderland")
F5 ("Ain’t No Safe Way", "All I Wanna Do", "All You’re Missin’ is a Heartache", "Anybody Else", "Can’t Take This Life", "Eclipse for the Sun", "End of Days", "Everything", "From Wrong to Right", "In God We Trust", "J.E.S.U.S.", "Loud ‘N’ Clear", "Loving You", "More Than a Man", "On Fire", "Reach Out", "Run in You", "Son of Man", "The Plan", "Ticket to Freedom", "Together", "Two Bodies (One Mind, One Soul)", "(Waiting For) A Love That’s Real")
E5 ("Come to the Everlife", "Co’mon Rock", "Find Your Way", "From Wrong to Right", "Golden Age", "Highway Star", "I Believe in You", "IGWT", "King of Kings", "Oh Holy Night", "Ordinary Man", "Set Me Free", "Shining Star", "Still", "Stone", "The Reign", "You Know What to Do")
E♭5 ("All For One", "Baby Doll", "Blue Bleeds Through", "Come to the Everlife", "Fallen", "Forget, Forgive", "God Damn Evil", "Heart of Fire", "Honestly", "I Think You Hear Me Knockin’","Keep the Fire Burning", "Love is Why", "Love You Crazy", "Makes Me Wanna Sing", "Make Your Mark", "Mercy Over Blame", "Not That Kind of Guy", "One Sided War", "Peace of Mind", "Rock the Hell Out of You", "Rock the People", "Saved By Love", "September", "Sing-Along Song", "Son of Man", "Surrender", "Sympathy", "Take Me Home", "The Devil Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "The Reign", "The Trooper", "The Way" "Together Forever", "Two Bodies (One Mind, One Soul), "Two Time Woman", "Unsuspecting", "Yahweh", "You Know What to Do")
D5 ("Achilles Heel", "Always There for You", "Bridge of Broken Lies", "Come to the Everlife", "Gilead", "I Am Adam", "Immigrant Song", "It’s Up 2 U", "Loud ‘N’ Clear", "Never Alone", "Prayer", "Reach Out", "Trinity", "Voices in the Night", "You Don't Even Know Me")
C♯5 ("Ain’t No Safe Way", "All For One", "All I Wanna Do", "Anybody", "Beautiful", "Bizarre", "Blackout", "Calling on You", "Can't Live Without Your Love", "Come to the Everlife", "Comfort Zone", "Distracted", "Dying Rose", "Everything", "Find Your Way", "First Love", "Forget, Forgive", "Free", "Give What You’ve Got", "God", "Heaven", "I Believe in You", "IGWT", "In God We Trust", "J.E.S.U.S.", "Jesus is Just Alright", "Keep the Fire Burning", "King of Kings", "Lady", "Let it Be Love", "Lift My Head", "Live Again", "Lonely", "Lost", "Love Stays", "Love You Crazy", "Make Your Mark", "Mercy Over Blame", "More Than a Man", "Murder By Pride", "No More Hell to Pay", "Now or Never", "One Sided War", "Only to Rise", "Own Up", "Passion", "Pride", "Reason for the Season", "Recover", "Ricochet", "Rockin’ the World", "Rock That Makes Me Roll", "Shine", "Shining Star", "Someday", "Sticks and Stones", "Strong", "Sympathy", "Take Me Home", "Taking On the World Tonight", "Ten", "The Calling", "The Cause", "The One", "The Reign", "The Trooper", "The Valley", "The Wish", "The World of You and I", "The Writing’s On the Wall", "This Time", "Till I Get What I Need", "Together As One (‘Touched’ version 2007)", "Two Bodies (One Mind, One Soul), "Water Into Wine", "When Did I See You Cry", "When I’m Lonely", "Yahweh")
C5 ("After Forever", "All I Wanna Do", "All of Me", "All Over Again", "All That’s Left (For Me to Prove)", "Always There For You", "Blind Man’s Bluff", "Bridge of Broken Lies", "Can’t Take This Life", "Color Blind", "Coming Home", "Divided by Design", "End of Days", "Every Hour", "Gilead", "Grateful", "I Am", "I Believe", "If I Die", "Immigrant Song", "Imperfect World", "It’s Up 2 U", "Keep the Fire Burning", "Lay It Down", "Live to Die", "Loves Symphony", "Loving You", "Makes Me Wanna Sing", "Miles Away", "More Than a Man", "Never Alone", "On Fire", "Open Your Eyes", "Over the Mountain", "Peace of Mind", "Promised Land", "Raptured", "Remember Me", "Rhyme of Time", "Ricochet", "Sorry", "Sticks and Stones", "Stone", "Taking On the World Tonight", "The Cause", "The River", "The Way", "The World of You and I", "Together", "Tried and True", "Trinity", "Two Bodies (One Mind, One Soul), "Unforgivable", "(Waiting For) A Love That’s Real", "When I’m Lonely", "When Love is Hated", "When We Were Kings", "With You Till the End", "You Are So Beautiful", "You Don't Even Know Me")
B4 ("Achilles Heel", "Alive", "All for One", "All This and Heaven Too", "Beautiful", "Betrayed by Love", "Better End", "Better Part of Me", "Big Screen Lies", "Bizarre", "Blackout", "Breaking the Law", "Calvary", "Carry On Wayward Son", "Comfort Zone", "Co’mon Rock", "Dying Rose", "Eclipse for the Sun", "Find Your Way", "First Love (‘Touched’ version 2007)", "Free", "Give What You’ve Got", "God Damn Evil", "Grateful", "Heart of Fire", "Heaven", "Heaven and Hell", "Highway Star", "Holding On", "I Believe in You", "IGWT", "I’m Not Your Suicide", "I Think You Hear Me Knockin’", "Keep the Fire Burning", "King of Kings", "Legacy", "Let it Be Love", "Let There Be Light", "Lift My Head", "Lonely", "Love You Like I Do", "Marching Into Battle", "Me Without You", "Murder By Pride", "My Love I’ll Always Show", "No More Hell to Pay", "Not That Kind of Guy", "Oh Holy Night", "One Sided War", "One Way Up", "Only to Rise", "Only You", "Onward to Freedom", "Ordinary Man", "Own Up", "Passion", "Prayer", "Pride", "Radio", "Rain (‘Truth’ version 2000)", "Real", "Reborn", "Rescue Me", "Renewed", "Revelation", "Rock That Makes Me Roll", "Rock the People", "Saved By Love", "Second Chance", "September", "Set Me Free", "She’s Got a Way", "Shine", "Someday", "Son of Man", "Still", "Strength In Numbers", "Strong", "Sunbomb", "Surrender", "Surrender (from ‘Him’ album)", "Sympathy", "Take My Life", "Te Amo", "The Calling", "The Devil Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "The One", "The Plan", "The Reign", "The Rose", "The Valley", "This One", "Ticket to Freedom", "Time Will Tell", "Together As One", "To Hell With the Devil", "Tomorrow", "Tomorrow, Tonight", "Unforgivable", "Unified", "Water Into Wine", "Without You")
B♭4 ("4 Leaf Clover", "10,000 Years", "After Forever", "Afterlife", "Against the Law", "Ain’t No Safe Way", "Alive", "All for One", "All I Wanna Do", "All Over Again", "All That’s Left (For Me to Prove)", "Anybody Else", "Baby Doll", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", "Better End", "Better Man", "Better Part of Me", "Breaking the Law", "Bridge of Broken Lies", "Calling on You", "Can't Live Without Your Love", "Carry On Wayward Son", "Caught in the Middle", "Color Blind", "Coming Home", "Co’mon Rock", "Distracted", "Divided by Design", "Divine", "Everything", "Fallen", "Forever Yours", "Forget, Forgive", "Golden Age", "Heart of Gold", "Heaven", "Heaven Waits for You", "Honestly", "I Believe in You", "If I Die", "Imperfect World", "It’s Up 2 U", "Jesus is Just Alright", "Lady", "Lay It Down", "Let There Be Light", "Lights Out", "Love is Why", "Love Stays", "Loves Symphony", "Love You Crazy", "Love You Like I Do", "Make You Mine", "More Than a Man", "Now or Never", "One", "Ordinary Man", "Over the Mountain", "Passion", "Raptured", "Reach Out", "Reason for the Season", "Recover", "Renewed", "Rhyme of Time", "Rockin’ the World", "Run in You", "Sea of Thieves", "September", "Shout It Out Loud", "Sing-Along Song", "Soldiers Under Command", "Sorry", "Sunbomb", "Surrender", "Take It to the Cross", "Take Me Home", "Ten", "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face", "The Plan", "The River", "The Trooper", "The Way", "The Wish", "The World of You and I", "The Writing’s On the Wall", "Ticket to Freedom", "Till I Get What I Need", "Together", "Together Forever", "Tomorrow, Tonight", "Tried and True", "Trinity", "Two Time Woman", "(Waiting For) A Love That’s Real", "Wait For You", "Walk", "When Did I See You Cry", "When Love is Hated", "When We Were Kings", "Who Am I", "Why", "Winter Wonderland", "Yahweh", "You Know What to Do")
A4 ("Alleluia", "All I’m Thinking of (Is You)", "All of Me", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", "Betrayed by Love", "Big Screen Lies", "Blind Man’s Bluff", "Calvary", "Divided by Design", "End of Days" "Ever After", "Every Hour", "First Love", "From Wrong to Right", "Grateful", "How to Live", "I Know", "I Need You Now", "Live Again", "Loud ‘N’ Clear", "Loves Symphony", "Loving You", "Me Without You", "Miles Away", "My Love I’ll Always Show", "My Love, My Life, My Flame", "Never Alone", "One", "Raptured", "Real", "Remember Me", "Rhyme of Time", "Save Me", "Second Chance", "She’s Got a Way", "Still", "Surrender (from ‘Him’ album)", "Together As One", "Tomorrow", "Trinity", "Unforgivable", "When I’m Lonely", "Without You")
Significant Low Notes:
F♯3 ("4 Leaf Clover", "Alive", "All of Me (‘Touched’ version 2007)", "Breaking the Law", "Carry on Wayward Son", "Distracted", "Dying Rose", "Every Hour", "I’ll Remember You", "I’m Not Your Suicide", "Let it Be Love", "Love is Why", "Murder By Pride", "One Sided War", "Passion", "Prayer", "Run in You", "Still", "Ten", "The Rose", "This Time", "Walk")
F3 ("10,000 Years", "All Over Again", "Hero Zero", "Immigrant Song", "I Need You Now", "Lay It Down", "Live to Die", "Ordinary Man", "Passion", "The Cause", "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face", "The River", "When I’m Lonely", "Who Am I")
E3 ("All I’m Thinking of (Is You)", "Gilead", "How to Live", "I Am Adam", "Loud ‘N’ Clear", "Oh Holy Night", "Real", "Second Chance", "She’s Got a Way", "Stone", "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face", "Tomorrow", "Without You", "Wool and Chiffon", "Unified")
E♭3 ("Afterlife", "Against the Law", "All for One", "Better Man", "Blue Bleeds Through", "Can’t Take This Life", "Coming Home", "Fallen", "Give What You’ve Got", "Heart of Gold", "Heaven Waits for You", "I Believe in You", "If I Die", "Let it Be Love", "Lift My Head", "One-Sided War", "Open Your Eyes", "Rain (‘Truth’ version 2000)", "Shining Star", "Take Me Home", "Take My Life", "Together", "Tomorrow, Tonight")
D3 ("Achilles Heel", "Always There for You (‘Real’ Version 1995)", "Calvary", "How to Live", "My Love, My Life, My Flame", "Prayer", "Real", "Save Me", "Strong", "Take My Life", "Tourniquet", "Truth")
C♯3 ("Big Screen Lies", "Forever Yours", "Reborn", "Take It to the Cross", "Tomorrow", "Without You")
C3 ("All I’m Thinking of (Is You)", "Save Me", "You Don't Even Know Me")
B2 ("Achilles Heel")
B♭2 ("I Believe", "Love You Crazy")
G♯2 ("Yahweh")
Range-iest Song "Yahweh" (G♯2-G♯5, 3 Octaves)
{Questionable Notes}B5 "Caught in the Middle"[1a]
B♭5 "Take It to the Cross"[5]
G♯5 "Son of Man" [1a]
G5 "Reach Out"[4]
F♯5 "Taking On the World Tonight"[2]
E5 "Ticket to Freedom"[2]
C♯3 "Carry on Wayward Son"[2]
C3 "Always There for You (‘Real Version 1995’)"[1]
A2 "Heaven and Hell"[2]
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
(a.) Really wide vibrato from a slightly lower note that briefly touches on this pitch.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
B♭5 "Take It to the Cross"[5]
G♯5 "Son of Man" [1a]
G5 "Reach Out"[4]
F♯5 "Taking On the World Tonight"[2]
E5 "Ticket to Freedom"[2]
C♯3 "Carry on Wayward Son"[2]
C3 "Always There for You (‘Real Version 1995’)"[1]
A2 "Heaven and Hell"[2]
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
(a.) Really wide vibrato from a slightly lower note that briefly touches on this pitch.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
{Bio}Michael Sweet is a vocalist and guitarist from California. He played guitar and sang in several smaller groups with his older brother, drummer Robert Sweet, before the two eventually formed Stryper in the early 1980s, a Christian heavy metal band, for whom Michael sang lead vocals and played guitar, as well as being the band's principal songwriter and lyricist. Sweet's Christian faith, wider Christianity and the Bible have been the main theme of most of Stryper's music throughout the band's history, as well as much of his other releases. After a demo release in 1984, Stryper released four albums from 1985 to 1990, proving popular in the hard rock and glam metal scene as well as having a sizeable fanbase in Christian contemporary music. Their popularity eventually waned with some fans unhappy with the production and changing lyrical themes of some of their music, coupled with the general decline of the popular rock and metal musical scene, and in 1992, Michael left Stryper who disbanded shortly after and began a solo career. After releasing a short demo in 1992, Sweet released three solo albums from 1994 to 2000, gradually airing more towards softer rock than the initial hard rock and metal themes. He has continued his solo career in the 21st century with four more releases from 2006 to 2016, ranging in style from pop ballads and easy listening to hard rock and traditional heavy metal. In 2005, Stryper returned with a new album, with Michael returning as lead singer and guitarist as well as continuing as the band's chief writer. Stryper have released four more albums of original material since returning, with the most recent being God Damn Evil in 2018, as well as 2011's The Covering featuring covers of artists that influenced the band, and 2013's Second Coming, which featured new recordings and arrangements of some of the band's classic hits. In 2007, Michael released the solo album Touched, in tribute to his wife Kyle who was suffering from stage four ovarian cancer, which she eventually passed away from. Sweet has been remarried since 2010 to his wife Lisa. From 2007 to 2011, Michael was also lead singer and guitarist for Boston. Starting in 2015, Michael also embarked on a collaboration with guitarist George Lynch; Sweet and Lynch have released two albums with the most recent being 2017's Unified.
{Vocal Timeline}1984-89: At the beginning of his career, Sweet is already comfortable with belts up to the early fifth octave with some headier connected notes around E♭5-E5, as well as his trademark powerful screams up as high as C6. His agility navigating his different registers improves as this period goes on with the entire In God We Trust album being a particularly strong showing. He has an extremely bright, almost feminine timbre to his voice and almost never dips below the middle of the third octave.
1990-1994: In this period Sweet takes a different stylistic approach, going for distortion and wider vibrato most notably on his more head-resonant notes, particularly with some Ted Neeley-esque screams in the fifth octave. His mid-range, however, sounds unchanged, suggesting no physical change in his voice.
1995-2003: In the more mellow stage of his solo career, Sweet focuses more on mid-range and even broaches his lower register a little more- he sounds comfortable at the entry point to the second octave, suggesting he possibly could have gone at least a little lower if he’d chosen to. He also at this time makes use more clearly of a soft falsetto register. However, he still at times showcases his strong upper register, with 'Achilles Heel' featuring both strongly belted and Halford-ish gritty head voice D5s.
2004-2008: In this period, Sweet focuses particularly on his belting, including grittier belts with Stryper’s reunion album, Reborn, as well as more crooner-esque singing on his solo albums. By this stage, Sweet’s voice has noticeably deepened with a somewhat more masculine timbre (though still undoubtedly remaining a tenor.) His belts sound richer than previously, though he still sounds totally comfortable up to around C♯5.
2009-present: Sweet’s signature screams return to his repertoire- he still frequently sustains notes up to G♯5 and on 2021's "Better End" even sets a new career high of C♯6. His belts still sound great with it still seemingly being no trouble whatsoever to scale up the fourth octave, and he still sustains belts up to C-C♯5. He is a little less agile entering and leaving the D5-E5 region of his voice, but still capable of hitting strong notes in this territory. Sweet still seldom explores his lower register but sounds comfortable in his mid-range which has benefited from the change in his voice. Overall his voice has aged extremely well.
1990-1994: In this period Sweet takes a different stylistic approach, going for distortion and wider vibrato most notably on his more head-resonant notes, particularly with some Ted Neeley-esque screams in the fifth octave. His mid-range, however, sounds unchanged, suggesting no physical change in his voice.
1995-2003: In the more mellow stage of his solo career, Sweet focuses more on mid-range and even broaches his lower register a little more- he sounds comfortable at the entry point to the second octave, suggesting he possibly could have gone at least a little lower if he’d chosen to. He also at this time makes use more clearly of a soft falsetto register. However, he still at times showcases his strong upper register, with 'Achilles Heel' featuring both strongly belted and Halford-ish gritty head voice D5s.
2004-2008: In this period, Sweet focuses particularly on his belting, including grittier belts with Stryper’s reunion album, Reborn, as well as more crooner-esque singing on his solo albums. By this stage, Sweet’s voice has noticeably deepened with a somewhat more masculine timbre (though still undoubtedly remaining a tenor.) His belts sound richer than previously, though he still sounds totally comfortable up to around C♯5.
2009-present: Sweet’s signature screams return to his repertoire- he still frequently sustains notes up to G♯5 and on 2021's "Better End" even sets a new career high of C♯6. His belts still sound great with it still seemingly being no trouble whatsoever to scale up the fourth octave, and he still sustains belts up to C-C♯5. He is a little less agile entering and leaving the D5-E5 region of his voice, but still capable of hitting strong notes in this territory. Sweet still seldom explores his lower register but sounds comfortable in his mid-range which has benefited from the change in his voice. Overall his voice has aged extremely well.
{Notewatched Material/Album Ranges}Stryper:
The Yellow and Black Attack (1984) E3-A5
Soldiers Under Command (1985) A3-G♯5
To Hell with the Devil (1986) G3-G♯5
In God We Trust (1988) E♭3-C6
Against the Law (1990) E♭3-B5
Reborn (2005) C♯3-E5
Murder by Pride (2009) B♭2-G♯5
The Covering (2011) F3-A5
No More Hell to Pay (2013) G♯3-B♭5
Fallen (2015) G♯2-B♭5
God Damn Evil (2018) C3-G♯5
Solo:
Unstryped (1992) B♭2-G♯5
Michael Sweet (1994) C♯3-G♯5
Real (1995) D3-F5
Truth (2000) B2-E5
Him (2006) D3-E5
Touched (2007) C♯3-C♯5
I’m Not Your Suicide (2014) D3-G♯5
One Sided War (2016) E♭3-G♯5
Ten (2019) E♭3 - G♯5
Sweet and Lynch:
Only to Rise (2015) F3-F♯5
Unifiied (2017) E♭3-G♯5
.......................................................The Yellow and Black Attack (1984) E3-A5
Soldiers Under Command (1985) A3-G♯5
To Hell with the Devil (1986) G3-G♯5
In God We Trust (1988) E♭3-C6
Against the Law (1990) E♭3-B5
Reborn (2005) C♯3-E5
Murder by Pride (2009) B♭2-G♯5
The Covering (2011) F3-A5
No More Hell to Pay (2013) G♯3-B♭5
Fallen (2015) G♯2-B♭5
God Damn Evil (2018) C3-G♯5
Solo:
Unstryped (1992) B♭2-G♯5
Michael Sweet (1994) C♯3-G♯5
Real (1995) D3-F5
Truth (2000) B2-E5
Him (2006) D3-E5
Touched (2007) C♯3-C♯5
I’m Not Your Suicide (2014) D3-G♯5
One Sided War (2016) E♭3-G♯5
Ten (2019) E♭3 - G♯5
Sweet and Lynch:
Only to Rise (2015) F3-F♯5
Unifiied (2017) E♭3-G♯5
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.
