Conspiracy No. 5

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Conspiracy No. 5 is the second major-label studio album by American Christian rock band Third Day. It was released on August 26, 1997, by Reunion Records and Silverstone Records and produced by Sam Taylor, who urged the band to explore different musical styles. The album marks a shift from the more pop‑friendly sound of their debut toward a heavier alternative rock and grunge influence, with guitar work that’s louder and more aggressive.

The songs tackle the sinful nature of humanity and the need for redemption, but with less direct religious wording than the first album. The title comes from the band’s interest in conspiracy theories and a dictionary definition describing conspiracy as people gathering to achieve a common goal; the packaging features imagery tied to conspiracies. Musically, the band members sing backing vocals on many tracks, and producer Sam Taylor pushed them to try unusual sounds and avoid fade‑outs. Tracks like Peace, Alien, Have Mercy, and My Hope Is You blend acoustic moments with hard guitar, and several songs reference Bible themes in a more subtle way (for example Psalm 146 in Alien, Psalm 25 in My Hope Is You, and Hosea in Gomer’s Theme).

Conspiracy No. 5 received strong reviews, won Rock Album of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards, and was nominated for Best Rock Gospel Album at the Grammys. In its first week it sold about 23,000 copies and reached number 50 on the Billboard 200, while peaking at number two on the Christian Albums chart. Eight singles were released to Christian radio, all reaching the top five on CCM Update charts. Despite critical praise, it didn’t sell as well as the debut, and some fans preferred the earlier Southern rock sound, prompting the band to return to that style on Time (1999). By 2007, Conspiracy No. 5 had sold about 305,000 copies, making it Third Day’s lowest‑selling studio album up to that point. Lyrics are by Mac Powell for most songs, with Alien co‑written by Powell and Mark Lee; all music is by Third Day.