Fallen (Stryper album)

Fallen is the sixteenth release and the eleventh studio album by the Christian metal band Stryper, produced by the frontman Michael Sweet and released on October 16, 2015.

Fallen
Studio album by
Stryper
ReleasedOctober 16, 2015
Recorded2014–2015 at Sprinthouse Studios, Northampton, Massachusetts
GenreChristian metal,[1] Christian rock,[2] hard rock,[1] glam metal,[3] power metal[4]
Length52:22
LabelFrontiers
ProducerMichael Sweet
Stryper chronology
Live at the Whisky
(2014)		 Fallen
(2015)		 God Damn Evil
(2018)

Background

Fallen is an album featuring the band's signature sounds and style on mostly original songs and one cover song, unlike several of their previous albums which covered their own songs (2013's Second Coming) and covers of others' works (2011's The Covering). 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
SourceRating
CCM Magazine[2]
HM Magazine[6]
Jesus Freak Hideout[1]
The Phantom Tollbooth4/5[3]
4/5[7]

Awarding the album four stars from HM magazine, Charlie Steffens wrote, "another wonderful album from some of rock and roll's best songwriters."[6] Andy Argyrakis, giving the album four stars at CCM magazine, said, "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 said, "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, in a four out of five review for The Phantom Tollbooth, responded, "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] In a four star review at Jesus Freak Hideout, Bert Gangl described, "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 sold over 10,000 copies in its first weeks, which is 400 more copies than No More Hell to Pay in 2013.[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Michael Sweet, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Yahweh"Michael Sweet, Clint Lowery6:21
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 Fox3:53
7."All Over Again" 3:50
8."After Forever" (Black Sabbath cover)Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler5:51
9."Till I Get What I Need" 2:41
10."Let There Be Light" 4:32
11."The Calling"Michael Sweet, Oz Fox3:54
12."King of Kings" 4:13
Total length:52:22
Japanese edition
No.TitleLength
13."All Over Again" (acoustic version)3:49

Personnel

Additional personnel
  • Paul McNamara - additional keyboards, synthesizer 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. Gangl, Bert (October 15, 2015). "Stryper, "Fallen" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  2. Argyrakis, Andy (October 15, 2015). "Stryper: 'Fallen' album review". CCM. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  3. Saraco, Bert (August 13, 2015). "Stryper - Fallen (Saraco)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  4. Allmusic.com Review
  5. "STRYPER's Cover Version of BLACK SABBATH's 'After Forever' Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  6. Steffens, Charlie (October 16, 2012). "Stryper – Fallen". HM. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  7. Walker, Derek (October 1, 2015). "Stryper - Fallen (Walker)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  8. "'Fallen' chart performance". Blabbermouth. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  9. "STRYPER's 'Fallen' Cracks U.S. Top 50". Blabbermouth. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  10. "Swisscharts.com – Stryper – Fallen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  11. "Stryper Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  12. "Stryper Chart History (Digital Albums)". Billboard.
  13. "Stryper Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  14. "Stryper Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard.
  15. "Stryper Chart History (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard.
  16. "Stryper Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard.


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