Godlyke Inc. | 1 decade ago

Triskelion Pedal Info: http://www.godlyke.com/totally-wycked-audio-effects-pedals/triskelion
PisdiYAUwot Pedal Info: http://www.godlyke.com/emma-effects-pedals/pisdiyauwot-metal-distortion

We're pleased to announce that Michael Sweet of STRYPER is using the TWA Triskelion Harmonic Energizer pedal, as well as the Emma PisdiYAUwot Metal Distortion pedal. We caught up with Michael Sweet on the last leg of the STRYPER tour for their latest album release, The Covering. Michael was gracious enough to talk about his experience with our guitar pedals. We were blown away by his comment, "you saved my tone", referring to equipment issues he had on the first half of the tour, where Michael had difficulties producing the desired signature Stryper tone on guitar until he put our guitar pedals to use. Both of these boutique guitar pedals are from the guys at Godlyke Distributing. The Triskelion is handbuilt in the United States by Godlyke's house brand, Totally Wicked Audio a/k/a TWA, which has made it's mark in the guitar effect pedal industry by building some of the sexiest looking and best sounding guitar pedals available on the market. The PisdiYAUwot pedal is made by Emma Electronics in Denmark, a brand known for their their advanced circuits, beautiful appearance, and amazing sound quality. Other notable musicians currently using the TWA Triskelion pedal, include Phil Caivano of Monster Magnet, and Dweezil Zappa. Dweezil actually runs three Triskelions in his effects rig! Incidentally, the Triskelion pedal is referred to by some as the Systech Harmonic Energizer clone. The original Systech Harmonic Energizer was a 70's vintage pedal which owes some, if not most of its popularity to guitar legend Frank Zappa, an avid user of the Systech Harmonic Energizer. Similar guitar pedals are: Maestro Parametric Filter, Systech Harmonic Energizer. Interesting Stryper Facts: Stryper is recognized as the first openly Christian heavy metal band to gain recognition in the mainstream music world. Mark Joseph states "The Yellow and Black Attack was propelled by the group's success in Japan, which was largely due to an endorsement of the band by famed rock critic Masa Itoh, the man who ruled the Japanese hard rock/metal scene, who many fans looked to for his evaluation of bands. Itoh had heard of Stryper, gotten in touch with their manager Daryn Hinton, and liked what he heard. When he gave the band a positive review in Japan's heavy metal bible Burrn! Magazine and played the album on his radio show, Stryper suddenly found themselves at the top of the metal heap in Japan with a record that was outselling Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, and every other metal band." This led to the band signing with CBS Sony in Japan. Stryper has not been free of controversy. Many Christian critics did not approve of the group's association with the heavy metal subculture, which has often been associated with Satanic imagery. Other Christian detractors viewed the band's flashy costumes as incongruous with the modesty in dress often associated with sincere practitioners of devout Christianity. Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart was a particularly prominent critic, likening Stryper's practice of distributing the New Testament at their shows to "casting pearls before swine". A 1985 CCM magazine article by Chris Willman, who was also writing for the Los Angeles Times, stated that "Stryper was the target of scattered picketing, boycott threats, and righteous denunciations". For example, concert-goers were often greeted by protesters armed with bullhorns and distribution of Gospel tracts. "It was just like if Ozzy Osbourne was there. They gave us the same treatment, laughs Daryn Hinton." In 1990, Rolling Stone magazine reported that the band had become disillusioned with Christian music. This, combined with a notable shift in tone in the band's lyrics, led to Against the Law being banned from many Christian bookstores. The Benson Company, Stryper's sole tie to the Christian market, dropped this album from distribution. Swaggart's condemnation may not have been a surprise, however, as Stryper was supported by the rival Jim Bakker ministries, who are thanked on several Stryper albums. Stryper has sold over 10 million recordings worldwide, and it is estimated that two-thirds of their albums were bought by non-Christians. 2011 Stryper won the readers choice award for Best Christian / Gospel Artists & Bands. Ian Christe, author of the heavy metal history book Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal, mentions the album To Hell with the Devil in his book as one of the landmarks of the glam metal movement. The song To Hell with the Devil appears on the Rhino Records release The Heavy Metal Box, a compilation mainly of secular Classic Metal bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Metallica, as well as hair bands like Twisted Sister and Poison.