
Here's a project that really could've met the worship needs of lots of rock and rollers out there. Instead, the final product seems to have met the needs of the record company or the band itself. This could've been a real rockin' worship tape, but the massive use of choirs and super slick production steals the possibility. Having said that, let me say that there are a few exceptions here. "I Love the Lord", the lead-off cut on the album, comes screaming out of the speakers at full-blown heavy metal tilt. The bass is thumping along with the drums and the guitars; and the guitars are distorted. This is, like, a first for Petra, which impressed me dramatically. The next tune, "King of Kings", comes on heavy, but the vocals are mixed in a pseudo-rock choir sound that strikes me more as conservative folks trying to rock out than it does rockers doing worship. The big Petra Praise packet includes an accompaniment track and a songbook, which might work great with youth choirs. As an album, though, this release doesn't work on the stereo as a hot listening album. "Friends (All in the Family of God)" is a 50's takeoff. Overall, this isn't really a Petra album, but a choral album accompanied by the band.