Stryper/TX, USA 2020

One year after their wonderful performance in Japan, STRYPER is touring the world on their “HISTORY TOUR” in 2020. The latest live album is now available. This work was recorded at “Dallas performance on February 15, 2020.” It is a super best audience recording that contains the whole story. Currently, they are mainly touring as STRYPER, but at the same time they are also carrying out Michael Sweet’s solo activities. First of all, let’s check the show’s position from the summary of activities in 2019/2020 in order to know the latest situation. [2019]・January 31st – February 10th: North America #1/Japan (5 performances) April 5th – 7th: Michael solo (3 performances) “HISTORY TOUR”・May 10th – 6th June 17th: North America #2 (24 performances) June 28th: ​​Michael’s solo performance July 17th – August 3rd: North America #3/Korea (4 performances) September 11th – October 19th : South America/North America #4 (10 performances) November 14th-16th: Michael’s solo (4 performances) [2020] ・February 7th-24th: North America #5 (10 performances) ←★Here★ ・April 30th – May 3rd: North America #6 (3 performances) May 19th – 30th: Michael’s solo (16 performances) June 5th: SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL performance September 11th + October 15th Japan: North America #7 (2 performances) This is the schedule announced so far. Last year’s performance in Japan was a hot topic with the reenactments of “LIVE IN JAPAN” and “TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL,” but in terms of the activity schedule, this was the final stage of the “GOD DAMN EVIL TOUR.” After that, “HISTORY TOUR” started with Michael’s solo performance in between. Under such circumstances, the Dallas performance of this work was the fifth concert of “North America #5”. This work recorded at such a show is truly a masterpiece with the “super” rating. The famous machine “Schoeps MK41’s” used by masters is used, but it is thick, thick, and very close-up. It must be an audience recording because the recording artist himself released it, but there is no sense of distance, and the separation of each instrument is exquisite. And, despite the direct feeling, it also has a great sense of stability, which is awe-inspiring. Even when the band comes together and becomes fortissimo, it doesn’t freak out at all, it’s powerful yet still glossy. It is a type of so-called “sound board” that goes on the ground, and in Japan it is like a recording by “the strongest taper in western Japan”. What is depicted with such a high-quality direct sound is a full show that is similar to last year’s performance in Japan. The main focus is clearly “TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL”, but it is not a reproduction of the album, but rather a panoramic view of the career, as the tour title suggests. Let’s organize the contents here. TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL (7 songs)・Calling on You/Free/More Than a Man/Honestly/The Way/Sing-Along Song/To Hell With the Devil Other classics (6 songs)・THE YELLOW AND BLACK ATTACK: Loving You・SOLDIERS UNDER COMMAND: Surrender／Soldiers in Command・IN GOD WE TRUST: In God We Trust／Always There For You・AGAINST THE LAW: All For One Numbers after reunion (2 songs)・FALLEN: Yahweh・GOD DAMN EVIL: The Valley…and it looks like this. Opening with two recent songs “Yahweh” and “The Valley”, after that they played a large number of golden classics. The main track, “TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL,” features 7 out of 11 songs, and in between, they insert famous songs from other albums. Therefore, the show progresses with the overall image of “TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL”, but there is no planned harmony such as “the next song is ○○”. “All For One” from “AGAINST THE LAW”, which was not performed at last year’s performance in Japan, was also performed. Although the show is different from the Japanese performance where the entire show was conceptual, the performance brings back the performance from a year ago. The band that performs the greatest hits of yesteryear is dignified and tight. The mood of the venue was wonderful with a huge chorus, and you could feel that both the performers and the listeners were thoroughly enjoying the masterpieces. The latest “HISTORY TOUR” is a rush of famous songs reminiscent of the performance in Japan one year ago, but is a bit different. This is a blissful two-disc set that allows you to be present at the scene with the best sound. A masterpiece of a wonderful live album that I can’t help but hope to see again in the near future. Gas Monkey Live, Dallas, Texas, USA 15th February 2020 ULTIMATE SOUND Disc 1(54:30) 1. Yahweh 2. The Valley 3. MC 4. Calling on You 5. Free 6. More Than a Man 7. MC 8. Loving You 9. Surrender 10. Honestly 11. In God We Trust 12. Always There For You 13. All For One Disc 2(26:21) 1. Band Introductions 2. The Way 3. Soldiers in Command　 4. Sing-Along Song 5. To Hell With the Devil Michael Sweet – lead vocals, guitars Robert Sweet – drums, percussion Oz Fox – guitars, backing vocals Perry Richardson – bass, backing vocals