Wake the Sleeper

Wake the Sleeper
Studio album by Uriah Heep
Released 2 June 2008
Recorded 2007 at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, UK
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 50:46
Label Sanctuary Records/Universal Music
Producer Mike Paxman[1]
Uriah Heep chronology

Sonic Origami
(1998)		 Wake the Sleeper
(2008)		 Celebration
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
World of Music [3]

Wake the Sleeper is the 21st studio album by the progressive rock band Uriah Heep. It is their first studio album since 1998's Sonic Origami. It is also their first album since 1980's "Conquest" without long-time drummer Lee Kerslake, who had to withdraw from the band due to ill health in 2007, putting an end to the band's longest-lasting lineup (which existed for 21 years).

The album was released on 2 June 2008 in Europe, after having the September 2007 release rescheduled (initially to March 2008) as a result of the purchase of Sanctuary Records by Universal Music. This was to allow proper promotion of the album, rather than it be 'lost' during the changeover and, although frustrating for them, was something the band members supported.

Wake the Sleeper was released in the U.S.A. on 26 August 2008.

This album will also be released as a 12" vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve.[4]

The song "What Kind of God" was inspired by the book "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown (1970), which refers to the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Wake the Sleeper was nominated by Classic Rock Magazine as the Album of the Year.

On the supporting tour the band would generally play all songs from the album, interspersed with songs from their past releases.

Track listing

All songs written by Mick Box and Phil Lanzon, except where noted.

  1. "Wake the Sleeper" - 3:33
  2. "Overload" - 5:58
  3. "Tears of the World" - 4:45
  4. "Light of a Thousand Stars" - 3:57
  5. "Heaven's Rain" - 4:16
  6. "Book of Lies" - 4:05
  7. "What Kind of God" - 6:37
  8. "Ghost of the Ocean" - 3:22
  9. "Angels Walk With You" (Trevor Bolder) - 5:24
  10. "Shadow" (Lanzon) - 3:35
  11. "War Child" (Bolder, Tony Gallagher) - 5:07

Chart performance

Chart Position
Swiss Albums Top 100 55
Sweden Albums Top 60 55
UK Albums Chart 172

Personnel

Additional personnel

References

  1. ↑ Wake the Sleeper @ metalstorm.ee
  2. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Wake the Sleeper review allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2009-11-22.
  3. ↑ "musik angehört". WOM magazin (in German) (World of Music) (8 September): 29.
  4. ↑ The Official Wake The Sleeper mini-site on Flash