''Against the Law'' is the fifth release, and fifth studio album, from the

Christian metal Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...

band

Stryper Stryper is an American Christian metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass guitar), and Robert Sweet (drums). Formed in 1983 as Roxx ...

, released on August 21, 1990. Three singles and videos were released for this album including " Shining Star" (an

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million re ...

cover), "Two Time Woman" and "Lady" but received minimal airplay. This album marked a change in the musical and visual direction of the band. Gone were the yellow and black

spandex Spandex, Lycra, or elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It is a polyether-polyurea copolymer that was invented in 1958 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPont's Benger Laboratory in Waynesboro, Virginia, US. The ge ...

outfits, the bold evangelical lyrics and the original 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 sold poorly compared to the band's previous gold and platinum releases.

Track listing

All songs by Michael Sweet 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" (

Philip Bailey Philip James Bailey (born May 8, 1951) is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers (along with group founder Maurice White) of the band Earth, Wi ...

, Larry Dunn,

Maurice White Maurice White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016) was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter, and producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and served as the ...

) – 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

Stryper *

Michael Sweet Michael Harrison Sweet (born July 4, 1963) is a singer and guitarist from Whittier, California; he is the co-founder, songwriter, guitarist and lead singer of the Christian metal band Stryper. He's also had a successful solo career, and briefly ...

– lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars *

Oz Fox Richard Alfonso Martinez (born June 18, 1961), better known by the stage name Oz Fox, is the lead guitarist of the Christian glam metal band Stryper. Martinez' high school friends called him ''Oz'' in honor of Ozzy Osbourne due to his ability t ...

– lead guitars, backing vocals *

Tim Gaines Tim Gaines (born Timothy Hagelganz; December 15, 1962) is an American bass guitarist best-known as the long-time bassist for the Christian metal band Stryper until his departure in 2017. Biography Early life Gaines was born in Portland, Ore ...

– bass (1-5, 7-11), backing vocals * Robert Sweet – drums Additional musicians *

John Purdell John Purdell (July 8, 1959 – July 10, 2003) was an American musician and multi-platinum rock music record producer who is credited on such albums as Ozzy Osbourne's ''No More Tears'' (1991) and Dream Theater's ''Awake (Dream Theater album), ...

– keyboards * Brent Jeffers – additional keyboards *

Randy Jackson Randall Darius Jackson (born June 23, 1956) is an American record executive and television presenter, perhaps best known as a judge on ''American Idol'' from 2002 to 2013. Jackson began his career in the 1980s as a session musician playing bas ...

– bass (6) *

Tom Werman Tom Werman (born 1945) is an American former record producer responsible for many hard rock and Heavy metal music, heavy metal albums. Early life and education Werman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, Newton ...

– percussion *

Jeff Scott Soto Jeff Scott Soto (born November 4, 1965) is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for being the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and (briefly) the lead vocalist for Journey in 2006–2007. Soto also sa ...

– backing vocals

Production

* Tom Werman – producer * John Guarnieri – A&R direction * Jacqui Randle – A&R administration * Eddie DeLena – engineer, mixing * Mike Bosley – assistant engineer * Lawrence Ethan – assistant engineer * Buzz Morrows – assistant engineer, mix assistant * Patrick Pending – art direction * Rudy Tuesday – art direction, design * David Perry – special photo printing * Ed Colver – still life photography * Neil Zlozower – band photography * Jeannine Pinkerton – typesetting * Kyle Tucy Sweet – make-up * Fleur Thiemeyer – wardrobe Studios * Recorded at Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood, California) and Devonshire Sound Studios (North Hollywood, California). * Mixed at

Record Plant The Record Plant is a recording studio established in New York City in 1968 and currently operating in Los Angeles, California. Known for innovations in the recording artists' workspace, it has produced highly influential albums, including Blon ...

(Hollywood, California).

Alternative versions

A limited edition version of the album was also released that included a 14-minute interview with the band.

Title of the album

Tim Gaines said the album was titled ''Against the Law'' because it was, "our response to these religious folks who Christ said "They swallow a camel and strain on a gnat." In other words: in response to the criticism from Christians protesting against them.

References

{{Authority control 1990 albums Stryper albums Albums produced by Tom Werman Enigma Records albums