The Yellow And Black Attack Is Back !!! It's been well over 20 years since the Stateside soldiers last came crusading to these shores, throwing bibles at anyone who looked the least bit intruiged. And as the sole British date on their 25th Anniversary Tour (featuring all four original members) tickets were as sought after as a warm stable on Christmas Eve.

Was it fate that Stryper's second UK coming just happened to fall on a Sunday? Why did they choose Islington as the backdrop to their return? Was it the angel angle they were playing for? And what better omen could you possibly have ahead of a night of classic 80s based rock than to get off at a tube stop just over the road from WHITE LION STREET. The shining stars were aligned over London, Something wonderful was about to happen.

Draven are the band to whom it falls to open the procedings. A hard riffing rock band currently touting their much acclaimed, Kevin Shirley produced, debut album 'Eden'. Claiming not to have played together since Halloween I must admit they were very tight and played a smooth set. Also good to see that they had pretty much full use of the lights, including strobes and smoke, none of the "one bulb for the support band" way of thinking from the Stryper guys. Who, by the way, Draven said were very nice guys even though they had laughed at their little English amplifiers. Asking if anyone had their album, a solitary cheer comes back from a guy near the bar, suitably impressed they carry on eager to convert more of tonight's Islington soldiers to their cause.

The wait for the headline act seems unending, The disciples of the yellow and black watch getting more restless by the minute. Finally the Academy is plunged into darkness and the crossed beams of two spotlights fall across the smoke drenched stage illuminating an enticing sideways drum kit. The human lion takes his seat as Michael, Tim and Oz walk out onto the stage. Yellow and black guitars primed to go and with mainly black clothes embroidered with golden crosses, they open with the classic 'Soldiers Under Command'. The noise of the crowd as soon as that momentous chorus hits is truly staggering and the grins across the faces of those onstage speak volumes.

'Murder By Pride' second, the title track from the latest album, shows Stryper are here to rock, and to rock hard, heavy and loud. And that's something that's evident from the start, this is a LOUD gig. Stryper mean business, there will be no ballads tonight. No, not even hairspray hit 'Honestly' gets a look in, or indeed anything from the hugely successful but somewhat limp wristed 'In God We Trust' album. This is heavy fucking metal just the way God intended, literally.

'Loud And Clear' gets halted halfway through and Michael looks out concerned. "Are you guys tired?" he quips, hinting that the recent European audiences were louder. They pick up where they stopped off then roll out 'The Rock That Makes Me Roll' and 'Reach Out' before the first of no less than six songs to be played from the classic 1986 album 'To Hell With The Devil'.   'Calling On You', 'Free' and the phenomenal 'More Than A Man' form a Holy Trinity of tunes from THWTD that has the crowd bouncing in heavenly glee. Taking a quick breather Michael takes a moment to enlighten us on some of the early musical influences that shaped their younger years, Iron Maiden, Scorpions.... Judas Priest. "You guys heard of Judas Priest?" The answer he gets raises the academy roof a couple of inches before a tribute to British Steel in the shape of 'Breaking The Law' takes everyone by surprise. Boston get the cover treatment too, 'Peace Of Mind' following on from The Priest.

'4 Leaf Clover' precedes the only offering from 'Reborn', 'Open Your Eyes', but between the two Robert is allowed out from behind the drums for just a few moments to help distribute some leather bound reading material. For most of the night he's nothing more than two twirling sticks and a mass of blonde hair, every so often grinning inanely sideways like he's just checking everyone is still there. If any of you remember an old 80s TV show with Linda Hamilton called 'Beauty And The Beast' you'll know what I mean when I thought to begin with it was Vincent up there hitting the kit. But as he approaches the front of the stage we can see it is actually Robert, he's just a few years older than when he was here last. Bible throwing over, he resumes his seat and the show goes on.

'All For One' from the criminally underrated 'Against The Law' album kicks in which now means I can die a very happy man. Sometimes your prayers do get answered it seems. And 'The Way' brings about a triumphant close to the set. Michael's voice simply faultless thoughout. Notes so high and long I'm sure the bar staff were glad they only had plastic glasses to worry about. Four huge yellow balloons bounce out from the stage getting knocked back and forth between the crowd and the band during the encore of 'Sing A Long Song'. Then there's just one song left to come. 'To Hell With The Devil' is the big one everyone has been waiting to hear, and it shows, because the sheer volume of the final sing a long of the night could have brought down the very walls of Jericho itself.

Stryper Fucking Rocks!!! This is the gospel according to Über Röck.