Against the Law (album)

Against the Law is the fifth release, and fifth studio album, from the Christian metal band Stryper, released on August 21, 1990. Three singles and videos were released for this album including "Shining Star" (an Earth, Wind & Fire cover), "Two Time Woman" and "Lady" but received minimal airplay.

Against the Law
Studio album by Stryper
Released	August 21, 1990
Recorded	1989
Genre	Glam metal, hard rock, heavy metal
Label	Enigma
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]

This album marked a change in the musical and visual direction of the band. Gone were the yellow and black spandex 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

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 guitar
• Robert Sweet – drums

Additional musicians

• Randy Jackson – bass guitar 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

The limited-edition cover artwork for Against the Law

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."[2] In other words: in response to the criticism from Christians protesting against them.

References

1. Against the Law at AllMusic
2. "Timothy Gaines Interviews". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.