| Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Girder Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2026 | Artist Website: Petra |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 35:14 |
Petra is a name synonymous with Christian melodic hard rock, and its latest album Hope deserves to rank among its finest efforts. No small measure in such regard attributes to manner in which the group’s January of 2026 Girder Records released first album in over twenty years features the classic core lineup of founder and guitarist Bob Hartman, vocalist John Schlitt and keyboardist John Lawry, whom started working together in the mid-eighties. Rounding out the Hope roster are long-term members Greg Bailey (Petra bassist since 2002) and Cristian Borneo (drummer starting in 2013).
Musically, Hope might lack the metal muscle to 2003 predecessor and nineteenth album Jekyll & Hyde, Petra’s most consistently heaviest work, but is also not without its share of forthright moments that point to the eighties hard rock of 1988 eleventh album On Fire! Outside of that, Hope finds Petra revisiting its signature AOR and melodic rock roots but with forays into befitting ballad territory. That said, the listener will also encounter some outside the box musical moments that while surprisingly un-Petra like are exceedingly well done.
Album in my opinion includes six great songs starting with the opening five. First “Filthy Lucre” is a traditional Petra style hard rocker, emboldened with aspiring metal arrayed guitar riffs and groove assured low end but also advocating the group’s innate sense of melody found in quite the forthright hooks to rise above the surface. This one would fit quite well on On Fire!
The same applies to “Kiss The Coals”, also heavy hitting but standing apart with gritty blues signatures aligning with Schlitt’s earthy and raspy vocal abilities- the former Head East front man has not lost anything over the decades. In between song exudes of an emphatic bass line alongside classic rock tinged organ to make a fitting laid back if not reticent statement. Abbreviated instrumental run finds Hartman not to be the flashiest soloist, but his playing is melodic and stays true to the strength of the song. Lyric snippet;
In the heart of the fire
The flames refine the soul
Every broken life,
You make the pieces whole
Through the trials and the pain
You’re forging me anew,
In the midst of the furnace,
I am drawn closer to You
“Oxygen” embodies those as noted outside the box musical moments with a reggae influenced sound. Bailey takes center state with a prominent bass line as offbeat but distinctive rhythms and slow but steady groove empower the distinguishable backbone. No, not heavy as some here but also resoundingly catchy- credit Petra for pushing its musical and creative boundaries and pulling things off with a ton of class and professionalism.
Back to hard rock with “Skin In The Game”. With Lawry’s burnished keyboard solo to start, song bursts of thickset guitars and powering rhythms to the point I am reminded of Jekyll & Hyde in that this is heaviest far as Petra are concerned. Equally notable is the time signature over the final thirty seconds to a polished outlining of piano and acoustic guitar ahead of closing to a final hard rock outburst. Lyric snippet:
On the cross, he breathed forgiveness
With His final, sacred breath
Breaking chains, embracing sorrow,
Conquering the sting of death
In the echoes of His suffering
Lies the hope of life renewed
In His wounds, we find our healing
In His pain, our souls our soothed
“We Rejoice In The Hope” takes a commercial melodic rock orientating. No, not albums most guitar driven - keyboards play a forthright albeit flattering role - but essential all the same. Song delivers its share of variances, slow and moody for its tranquil verse sections only to abruptly pick up for the wonderfully rollicking pop-tinged refrain (one of albums most enlightening).
Closer “Deliver Us” is another choice cut. Song embodies quintessential Petra melodic hard rock, catchy with its immediately engaging riffs and harmonies (the infectious manifesting is commercial but not to fault) but also atypical as Schlitt sings in a fitting lower register. Rounding things out is Hartman’s best stretch of riveting lead guitar. Lyric snippet:
We for deliverance from evil
We pray every stronghold
Will come down
We bind every power that opposes
Until every freedom
Will abound
Through God’s own Son
You keep us from
The evil one
In my opinion, the remaining four might take a slight step down but are still very good all the same. First “Miracle Maker” embraces the Petra eighties influenced AOR incentive, imparting equal parts commercial - verse sections slowly drift to brushed harmonies - and that on the substantial side, pre-chorus and chorus divulge a regal arena rock like bearing. Keyboard solos open and close the song.
Spotless ballad “There Will Still Be A Dawn” opens to classical instrumentation that gives way to the acoustic guitar and key boards that burnish its expanse. Song divulges a pleasing sing along quality, residing in a relaxed and reserved bearing with down to earth vocal melodies. Accenting fiddle emanates a country western flair. Lyric snippet:
Through valley’s shrouded in sorrow
Where tears like rivers flow,
There blooms a quiet courage,
In the heart’s eternal glow
Each trial, a redefining fire,
Each heartache, a sacred song,
For in the arms of mercy,
We find where we belong
“Thorns” returns to heavier territory. The immaculate piano and keyboards covering the opening seconds leaves impression as another ballad, but an immediate about face is made for the expansive rhythm guitar that cuts in to make a durable hard rocking statement. Seventies style organ envelopes the curtly woven ‘thorns - got to break away’ refrain.
Ballad “Looking Back” delivers a wonderful faith based message but musically does not rate among my album favorites. Song also makes use of fiddle but this time to fault in that the country western themes while far from bad are to the point of distraction, with such catalyst working well on one song but a second comes across overdone. I would much rather heard a hard rock ballad instead. Lyric snippet:
Looking back – now I know
You planted me where I could grow
Looking back – I can see
The way You shaped my destiny
Filled my thoughts, inspired my mood
Looking back…
I have such gratitude
Hope equates to a very good Petra comeback album. Give the group accolades for literally hitting the ground running subsequent to a break of over twenty years. Hartman remains in top form songwriting wise, while the same applies to Schlitt and Lawry in terms of vocals and keyboards, respectively. Musically, I find the album a consistent blend of traditional Petra style hard rockers (akin to On Fire! in terms of heaviness) and more reserves melodic rock and ballad type pieces with some outside the box moments thrown in. Long-term Petra fans and those new to the group would be well-served to make Hope a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Filthy Lucre” (3:18), “Kiss The Coals” (2:59), “Oxygen” (3:03), “Skin In The Game” (3:39), “We Rejoice In The Hope” (3:27), “Miracle Maker” (3:37), “There Will Still Be A Dawn” (3:23), “Thorns” (3:50), “Looking Back” (4:05), “Deliver Us” (3:53)
Musicians
John Schlitt - Lead Vocals
Bob Hartman - Electric & Acoustic Guitars
John Lawry - Keyboards, Piano & Synths
Greg Bailey - Bass, Cello & BGV’s
Cristian Borneo - Drums
