Fallen (Stryper album)
| Fallen | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Stryper | ||||
| Released | October 16, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2014–2015 at Sprinthouse Studios, Northampton, Massachusetts | |||
| Genre | Christian metal,[1] Christian rock,[2] hard rock,[1] glam metal,[3] power metal,[4] | |||
| Length | 52:22 | |||
| Label | Frontiers | |||
| Producer | Michael Sweet | |||
| Stryper chronology | ||||
| ||||
Fallen is the sixteenth release and eleventh studio album by Christian metal band Stryper, produced by frontman Michael Sweet and released in October 16, 2015.
Background
Fallen is an all-original album featuring the band's signature sounds and style. However, the sound of the album is heavier, but still retains the band's melodic pattern. Five singles from the album have been released per month, "Yahweh", "Fallen", "Big Screen Lies", "Let There Be Light", and Stryper's second Black Sabbath cover, "After Forever".[5]
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| CCM Magazine |   [2] |
| HM Magazine | [6] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [1] |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | 4/5[3] 4/5[7] |
Awarding the album four stars from HM Magazine, Charlie Steffens writes, "another wonderful album from some of rock and roll's best songwriters."[6] Andy Argyrakis, giving the album four stars at CCM Magazine, states, "Arguably the most game-changing Christian rock band in history, Stryper continues to excel with a steady stream of new music that fits right alongside a ten million-album selling catalogue."[2] Rating the album a four out of five by The Phantom Tollbooth, Bert Saraco says, "Stryper marches on with Fallen – exactly what you want to hear from the iconic pop-metal band with a few surprises on the side".[3] Derek Walker, signaling in a four out of five review for The Phantom Tollbooth, responds, "It may not quite reach the heights of the previous release, but Fallen shows great ambition for a band this far into its career."[7] Indicating in a four star review at Jesus Freak Hideout, Bert Gangl describes, "the presence of the last few songs does ultimately render Fallen marginally less impressive than No More Hell to Pay."[1]
Commercial performance
The album has sold over 10,000 copies in its first weeks, which is 400 more copies than 2013's No More Hell to Pay.[8]
Track listing
All tracks written by Michael Sweet, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yahweh" | Michael Sweet, Clint Lowery | 6:21 |
| 2. | "Fallen" | 3:46 | |
| 3. | "Pride" | 4:32 | |
| 4. | "Big Screen Lies" | 4:29 | |
| 5. | "Heaven" | 4:20 | |
| 6. | "Love You Like I Do" | Michael Sweet, Oz Fox | 3:53 |
| 7. | "All Over Again" | 3:50 | |
| 8. | "After Forever" (Black Sabbath cover) | Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler | 5:51 |
| 9. | "Till I Get What I Need" | 2:41 | |
| 10. | "Let There Be Light" | 4:32 | |
| 11. | "The Calling" | Michael Sweet, Oz Fox | 3:54 |
| 12. | "King of Kings" | 4:13 | |
Total length: |
52:22 | ||
Personnel
- Michael Sweet - lead vocals, guitar
- Robert Sweet - drums, percussion
- Oz Fox - lead guitar, vocals
- Tim Gaines - bass, vocals
Additional personnel
- Paul McNamara - additional keyboards, synth and moog
- Laura Manzi - additional vocals on chorus of "Yahweh"
Chart performance
| Chart (2015)[9] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] | 87 |
| US Billboard 200[11] | 44 |
| US Digital Albums (Billboard)[12] | 29 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[13] | 5 |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[14] | 2 |
| US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[15] | 2 |
| US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[16] | 2 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gangl, Bert (October 15, 2015). "Stryper, "Fallen" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Argyrakis, Andy (October 15, 2015). "Stryper: 'Fallen' album review". CCM Magazine. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Saraco, Bert (August 13, 2015). "Stryper - Fallen (Saraco)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ↑ Allmusic.com Review
- ↑ "STRYPER's Cover Version of BLACK SABBATH's 'After Forever' Available For Streaming". www.blabbermouth.com. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- 1 2 Steffens, Charlie (October 16, 2012). "Stryper – Fallen". HM Magazine. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- 1 2 Walker, Derek (October 1, 2015). "Stryper - Fallen (Walker)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ↑ "'Fallen' chart performance". www.blabbermouth.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
- ↑ "STRYPER's 'Fallen' Cracks U.S. Top 50". www.blabbermouth.com. blabbermouth.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Stryper – Fallen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ↑ "Stryper – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Stryper.
- ↑ "Stryper – Chart history" Billboard Digital Albums for Stryper.
- ↑ "Stryper – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Stryper.
- ↑ "Stryper – Chart history" Billboard Christian Albums for Stryper.
- ↑ "Stryper – Chart history" Billboard Top Gospel Albums for Stryper.
- ↑ "Stryper – Chart history" Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums for Stryper.