Wake the Sleeper

Wake the Sleeper is the 21st studio album by the progressive rock band Uriah Heep. 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. The album was released on 2 June 2008 in Europe, after having the September 2007 release rescheduled 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. Wake the Sleeper was released in the U.S.A. on 26 August 2008. This album will also be released as a 12" vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve. The song "What Kind of God" was inspired by the book "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown, which refers to the Wounded Knee Massacre. Wake the Sleeper was nominated by Classic Rock Magazine as the Album of the Year. On the supporting tour the band would generally play all songs from the album, interspersed with songs from their past releases.