Wake the Sleeper

Wake the Sleeper is the 21st studio album by the rock band Uriah Heep, released on 2 June 2008 in Europe and on 26 August 2008 in the United States. The announced September 2007 release was 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. 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.

Wake the Sleeper
Studio album by
Uriah Heep
Released2 June 2008
Recorded2007
StudioChapel Studios, Lincolnshire, UK
GenreHard rock
Length50:46
LabelSanctuary/Noise
ProducerMike Paxman
Uriah Heep chronology
Sonic Origami
(1998)		 Wake the Sleeper
(2008)		 Celebration – Forty Years of Rock
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blabbermouth.net8/10[2]
Metal Storm8.6/10[3]
Record Collector[4]
Rock Hard8.0/10[5]
World of Music[6]

This album was also be released as a 12" vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve.[7]

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.[8]

Wake the Sleeper was nominated by the British magazine Classic Rock as the Album of the Year.[9]

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

Personnel
Production
  • Mike Paxman – producer
  • Chris West – engineer
  • Will Bartle – assistant engineer
  • Mark "Tufty" Evans – mixing at Wispington Studios in Berkshire, UK
  • Denis Blackham – mastering at Skye Mastering
  • Ioannis – art direction, design, cover artwork, and digital art
  • CCPHOTOART – photography

Charts
Year Chart Position
2008 Swiss Albums Top 100[10] 55
Swedish Albums Chart[11] 55
UK Albums Chart 172

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Russia (NFPF)[12] Gold 10,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Rhulmann, William. "Uriah Heep - Wake the Sleeper review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  2. Anisoglu, Scott. "CD Reviews: Uriah Heep - "Wake the Sleeper"". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  3. "Uriah Heep - Wake the Sleeper review". Metal Storm. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  4. Jones, Tim (December 2016). "Uriah Heep - Wake the Sleeper". Record Collector. No. 461. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  5. Kühnemund, Götz (20 August 2008). "Reviews: Uriah Heep - Wake the Sleeper". Rock Hard (in German). No. 256. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  6. "Musik angehört". WOM magazin (in German). World of Music. 8 September 2008. p. 29.
  7. The Official Wake The Sleeper mini-site on Flash
  8. "Uriah Heep interview (10/2008)". Metal Storm. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  9. "Classic Rock Magazine Announces Nominees for 2008 Classic Rock Awards". VVN Music.com. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  10. "Uriah Heep – Wake the Sleeper". Hitparade.ch (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  11. "Uriah Heep – Wake the Sleeper (Album)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  12. "Russian album certifications – Uriah Heep – Wake the Sleeper" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF). Retrieved 28 August 2020.
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