Depeche Mode released their seventh studio album, “Violator,” on March 19, 1990. The group had endured an onslaught of media criticism early in their career, but finally broke through to international success with the album.In their early days, Depeche Mode suffered a continual battering from media sources for their choice to use only synthesizers and keyboards. They managed to build a loyal fan base, however, and broke into the top ten in the U.S. and U.K. with the album’s lead singles, “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy the Silence.”Within a few months, “Violator” became Depeche Mode’s highest-charting album ever, hitting number seven on the Billboard 200 chart. It reached its peak position during the first week of May, 1990, during the same time Sinéad O'Connor’s album “I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got” held the number one spot for five weeks. She was followed by MC Hammer’s “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt `Em.” Since its release, “Violator” has gone on to sell over four million copies in the U.S. alone. It is widely considered a cornerstone for later electronic artists, including Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor.