stryper_2010_01

» Stryper 2010 01 27

Reviewed by David
----------------------
Special guest: Audiovision
City: Malmö, Sweden
Venue: KB
Date: 27 January 2010
Audiovision set length: 25 minutes
Stryper set length: 80 minutes

Audiovision

Audiovision is the band of former Narnia singer Christian Liljegren (a.k.a. Rivel). He actually released a record, The Calling, under that moniker already in 2005, but then with a totally different set of musicians. None of those songs were played this evening either. Instead we got three numbers from the coming album Focus and two Narnia classics.

It is hard to make a fair judgement of only five songs. I had perhaps hoped for 20 minutes or so more playing time and a couple of old Modest Attraction (Christian's band before Narnia) tunes, but they did what they had with the opportunities available I guess. Christian did as always an energetic and entertaining live appearance with a great voice. The new songs sound promising, more straightforward heavy metal than Narnia or the first Audiovision album.

6 chalices of 10

Setlist:

Invitation
(new song)
The Lost Son (Narnia)
Long Live The King (Narnia)
Keep The Fire Burning

Stryper

Stryper are professionals in every detail. Although it was a rather small crowd who had entered KB this evening, partly due to an ongoing snowstorm, the band put on a performance worthy a stadium. Michael Sweet still sings breathtakingly loud and clear. His brother Robert Sweet had as usual parked his drum kit with the side against the audience. I still don't get that, really, but it's a thing as good as any I guess…

The band treats their own classics as if they never have been anything other than the hardest of hard rock. The soft glam sound from the records is far-gone. The sound is massive, almost to the limit when you wish that the guitars were put higher in the mix so that you could recognise the riffs clearer.

Songs to be missed were perhaps In God We Trust and Honestly. In fact no ballad was played at all. But the setlist was actually a perfect mix of old and new. I was especially happy with my favourite song, All For One, from my favourite record, Against The Law. I never expected that one to come, which made it an even greater experience.

New songs like Murder By Pride and 4 Leaf Clover stood out as strong as the old material, although with a bit chilly response from the crowd. Otherwise six songs were taken from the magnum opus To Hell With The Devil.

The only point when something went wrong was when Michael started to talk about Judas Priest being a big influence, asking if the audience wanted to hear a Judas Priest song. The crowd said yes and guitarist Oz Fox seemed to be on, but then Michael changed his mind and we got Boston's Peace Of Mind instead.

Two songs later, they played Breaking The Law anyway. That is a choice of cover (if any such is necessary for a band that has been around for 25 years) that is just dull and predictable. What is the point with every other band playing this song over and over again? You were all influenced by Judas Priest, we got it now…

Anyway, I left happy and satisfied, glad that we chose to face the snowstorm to get to Malmö this evening. It was worth every effort.

8 chalices of 10

Setlist:

Soldiers Under Command
Murder By Pride
Loud 'n' Clear
The Rock That Makes Me Roll
I Reach Out
Calling On You
Free
More Than A Man
Peace Of Mind (Boston cover)
4 Leaf Clover
Breaking The Law (Judas Priest cover)
Open Your Eyes
All For One
My Love (I'll Always Show)
The Way
--------
Sing-Along Song
--------
To Hell With The Devil