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Stryper celebrated their 40th anniversary and new album When Were Kings at the Starland Ballroom in New Jersey on November 8. The show was split into two sets, with a half hour break to change clothes and to also give guitarist Oz Fox rest (he was seated most of tonight's show) as he continues to recover from brain surgery for a tumor this past summer. 

Singer/guitarist Michael Sweet with his brother Robert behind the drums, Oz, 3/4th the original lineup from the ‘80s joined by Perry Richardson on bass. So, a couple interesting things about this tour, the setlist, while split into two, starts chronologically from the first album up to Against The Law while set two includes at least one song from each post-2005 album Reborn to When We Were Kings. You'd think it's the other way around, end with the classics the fans know best to keep everyone in the building, however Stryper was confident in their newer music and it paid off as the crowd did not thin out during the course of the night.

Going back in time to 1984, The Yellow and Black Attack were represented by "Loud n Clear" and "You Know What To Do", with album cover on the video screen behind Robert. Followed by the classic album anthem Soldiers Under Command and "The Rock That Makes Me Roll", and three hits from To Hell With The Devil (title track), "Free" and "Calling On You", both got so much airplay on MTV in 1986. But ballad "Honestly" is conspicuously absent. Ok, they kept the set heavy. 

In God We Trust’s title track follows the original tempo, but starts off slower building, heavier as the songs are tuned down probably both to accommodate Sweet's voice which has naturally matured over the years, and the newer post 2000's albums. Fox takes the solo, and still does play his parts throughout the set regardless of healing, smiling at the fans, singing backup vocals, raising his fist in the air, what a trooper! 

Set two the stage clothes change to more blacks, Michael and Oz out of their retro yellow and black boots, Sweet wearing a black skull cap to go with the modern chugging riffs to the title track of the album Reborn. Title track to the 2013 album No More Hell To Pay, while another slower song is more to their familiar ‘80s arrangements. "Yahweh" is the winner though, back to the upbeat tempo, dual guitars, and big hook. While set one included album artwork, set two features more graphics on the three screens. Michael teases surprise local guests Jon Bon Jovi and Springsteen which gets some laughs (and boos), asking if there were any Priest fans was more positive, jamming a bit to "Breaking The Law". In the timeline, by the 2018 album God Damn Evil, songs "Sorry" and "The Valley" again favor slower darker guitars but not without the solos and vocal harmonies. "This I Pray" from Even The Devil Believes the ballad, "Divider" from said album picks up the pace again. 

It's the title track to the latest album, with "Sing Along Song" the exception to close the night.