''Fallen'' is the sixteenth release and the eleventh studio album by 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 and heavy metal music, heavy metal band from La Mirada, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass), and Robert Sweet (musician), ...

, produced by the frontman

Michael Sweet Michael Harrison Sweet (born July 4, 1963) is an American musician; he is the co-founder, songwriter, guitarist and lead singer of the heavy metal music, metal band Stryper. He has also had a successful solo career and served as singer and gui ...

and released on October 16, 2015.

Background

''Fallen'' is an album featuring the band's signature sounds and style on mostly original songs and one

cover song In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song released ...

, unlike several of their previous albums which covered their own songs (2013's ''

Second Coming The Second Coming (sometimes called the Second Advent or the Parousia) is the Christianity, Christian and Islam, Islamic belief that Jesus, Jesus Christ will return to Earth after his Ascension of Jesus, ascension to Heaven (Christianity), Heav ...

'') and covers of others' works (2011's ''

The Covering ''The Covering'' is the thirteenth release and eighth studio album by American Christian heavy metal/hard rock band Stryper, released by Big 3 Records/Sony on February 15, 2011. The album is a collection of twelve cover songs from bands that insp ...

''). 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 Black Sabbath are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band ...

cover, "

After Forever After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death growls. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded. Singer Floor Jan ...

Critical reception

Awarding the album four stars from '' HM'' magazine, Charlie Steffens wrote, "another wonderful album from some of rock and roll's best songwriters." 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." 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". 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." 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''."

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.

Track listing

Personnel

- lead vocals, guitar * Robert Sweet - drums, percussion *

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 to ...

- lead guitar, 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 guitar, vocals

Additional personnel

* Paul McNamara - additional keyboards, synthesizer and Moog * Laura Manzi - additional vocals on chorus of "Yahweh"

Charts

References

{{Stryper, state=collapsed Stryper albums 2015 albums