Stryper

Stryper’s current string of tour dates is in support of their latest album titled “Second Coming” which features fourteen classics from the first three albums re-recorded, plus two new tunes. These dates also helped the band to reenergize the batteries for recording the forthcoming new album, “No More Hell To Pay”, by including ‘Marching Into Battle’, a mid paced slab of metal that would fit nicely on “Soldiers Under Command”. The set was full of the usual staples, the ones also played on the 25th anniversary tour in 2010, and “The Covering” tonight including ’Shout It Out Loud’ by Kiss, ‘Lights Out’ from UFO joined by Tony Harnell (from TNT) for a rousing rendition, and ‘Heaven and Hell’ by Black Sabbath’. ‘To Hell With The Devil’, ‘Free’, Calling On You’, ‘Honestly’, ‘Loud n Clear’, ‘Sing Along Song’, all the usual suspects. The guys sounded great, real tight, heavy. Michael Sweet still has a strong voice and range, multi tasks well between his vocal, riffs and audience interaction, locking in with Oz for melodies, with original bassist Tim Gains and Robert joining in for the heavy rhythm section and vocal harmonies. Just wish they would switch up the songs, I don’t know how and why they include nothing from “In God We Trust” like the single ‘Always There For You’ or the title track, or something else from the underrated “Against The Law” besides ‘All For one”, like ‘Two Time Woman’? Complaints aside, great show and band, glad they are still making new music.

Setlist:
To Hell with the Devil
Sing-Along Song
Loud 'N' Clear
Reach Out
Calling on You
Free
More Than a Man
Marching Into Battle
The Rock That Makes Me Roll
Shout It Out Loud
Lights Out
All for One
Honestly
Heaven and Hell
Soldiers Under Command
The Way