Against the Law

Against the Law
Studio album by Stryper
Released	August 21, 1990
Recorded	USA
Genre	Heavy metal
Label	Enigma Records
Producer	Tom Werman
Stryper chronology
In God We Trust (1988) Against the Law (1990) Can't Stop the Rock (1991)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Against the Law is the fifth release, and fourth 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 yellow and black 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.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Personnel 2.1 Stryper 2.2 Additional musicians 3 Production 4 Alternative versions 5 References

Track listing

All songs by Michael Sweet except where noted

1. "Against the Law" – 3:49
2. "Two Time Woman" – 3:40
3. "Rock the People" – 3:34
4. "Two Bodies (One Mind, One Soul)" – 5:17
5. "Not That Kind of Guy" – 3:59
6. "Shining Star" (Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White) – 4:22
7. "Ordinary Man" – 3:51
8. "Lady" – 4:53
9. "Caught in the Middle" – 3:48
10. "All for One" – 4:31
11. "Rock the Hell Out of You" – 3:35

Personnel

Stryper

• Michael Sweet – Lead vocals, guitar
• Oz Fox – Lead guitar, background vocals
• Tim Gaines – Bass
• Robert Sweet – Drums

Additional musicians

• Randy "The Emperor" Jackson – Bass on "Shining Star"
• 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

Alternative versions

A limited edition version of the album was also released.  It included a 14-minute interview with the band, presumably to explain their radical change in appearance and musical direction.

Stryper Michael Sweet Robert Sweet Oz Fox Tim Gaines Tracy Ferrie Studio albums The Yellow and Black Attack Soldiers Under Command To Hell with the Devil In God We Trust Against the Law Reborn Murder by Pride The Covering Live albums 7 Weeks: Live in America, 2003 Extended Versions Compilations Can't Stop the Rock 7: The Best of Stryper The Roxx Regime Demos Related articles Discography

References