Against the Law

Infobox Album
Name = Against the Law
Type = studio
Artist = Stryper


Released = August 21, 1990
Recorded = USA
Genre = Christian metal
Length =
Label = Enigma Records
Producer = Tom Werman
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:r2kvikp6bb69~T1 link]
Last album = "In God We Trust"
(June 28, 1988)
This album = "Against the Law"
(August 21, 1990)
Next album = "Can't Stop the Rock"
(July 20, 1991)

"Against the Law" is the sixth release, and fifth full-length album, from the Christian metal band Stryper, released on August 21, 1990 (see 1990 in music).

This album marked a radical change in the musical and visual direction of the band. Gone were the bumblebee-colored spandex outfits, the bold evangelical lyrics and the familiar yellow-and-black band logo with Isaiah 53:5. In their place were leather outfits, and lyrics more focused on rock n' roll and relationships, although arguably from a Christian worldview. The album was praised by many critics as the band's strongest work to date, but a large percentage of Stryper's Christian fanbase felt betrayed by this unannounced creative metamorphosis, and many of them accused Stryper of selling out their image and message for greater mainstream acceptance. As a result, "Against the Law" sold poorly compared to the band's previous gold and platinum releases.

"Shining Star" is a heavy metal cover of the classic Earth, Wind and Fire song.

Track listing

All songs by Stryper except where noted
# "Against the Law" – 3:49
# "Two Time Woman" – 3:40
# "Rock the People" – 3:34
# "Two Bodies (One Mind, One Soul)" – 5:17
# "Not That Kind of Guy" – 3:59
# "Shining Star" (Bailey, Dunn, White) – 4:22
# "Ordinary Man" – 3:51
# "Lady" – 4:53
# "Caught in the Middle" – 3:48
# "All for One" – 4:31
# "Rock the Hell Out of You" – 3:35

Personnel

tryper

* Michael Sweet - Vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar
* Oz Fox - Guitar, background vocals
* Tim Gaines - Bass guitar
* Robert Sweet - Drums

Additional musicians

* Randy "The Emperor" Jackson - Bass guitar
* John Purcell - Keyboards
* Jeff Scott Soto - Background vocals
* Brent Jeffers - Drums, keyboards
* Tom Werman - Percussion

Production

* Tom Werman - Producer
* Eddie Delena - Engineer, Mixer
* Michael Bosley - Assistant engineer
* Lawrence Ethan - Assistant engineer
* Buzz Morrows - Assistant engineer, mixing assistant
* Rudy Tuesday - Art direction, design
* Patrick Pending - Art direction
* David Perry - Photography, photo printing
* Ed Colver - Photography
* Neil Zlozower - Photography
* Jeannine Pinkerton - Typesetting
* Kyle Tucy Sweet - Make-Up
* Fleur Thiemeyer - Clothing/Wardrobe

Miscellanea

* The limited-edition version of "Against the Law" also included a 14-minute interview with the band, presumably to explain their radical change in appearance and musical direction.
* Stryper has been the target of criticism for the lack of overtly Christian content on this album, when compared to previous albums. This album deals more with relationships and rock and roll, but from a decidedly Christian viewpoint.