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
Released	2 June 2008
Recorded	2007
Studio	Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire, UK
Genre	Hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal
Length	50:46
Label	Sanctuary/Noise
Producer	Mike Paxman
Uriah Heep chronology
Sonic Origami (1998) Wake the Sleeper (2008) Into the Wild (2011)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Blabbermouth.net	8/10[2]
Metal Storm	8.6/10[3]
Record Collector	[4]
Rock Hard	8.0/10[5]
World of Music	[6]

Background

This album was also 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]

Track listing

All songs written by Mick Box and Phil Lanzon, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
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

Uriah Heep

• Mick Box – guitars, backing vocals
• Trevor Bolder – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals
• Bernie Shaw – lead vocals
• Russell Gilbrook – drums, backing vocals

Production

• Mike Paxman – producer
• Mark Evans – mixing
• Denis Blackham – mastering

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[10]	265
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11]	55
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[12]	55
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[13]	24

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Russia (NFPF)[14]	Gold	10,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.