The Lost Archives Surfacing the reviews of our forgotten youth
    Heaven's Metal #34
    Heaven's Metal #34/Petra
    Petra — Unseen Power cover

    Petra

    Unseen Power

    Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt

    Listen on Apple Music
    Label DaySpring RecordsHeaven's Metal #34March 1992
    hard rockccm

    Early buzz about this record was that it was Petra's best and hardest rockin.' I would agree with the first statement, but not the second. There is some nice rockin' moments though, like the haunting (Boston-like) guitar lines in "Destiny". One thing that Petra can definitely be lauded for here is experimentation. This is not your typical Petra/John and Dino special. Just check out the Gospel choir-backed "Who Is On The Lord's Side", which locks into a groove and then Schlitt and Hartman trade off vocal and guitar licks. The soulful, Motown-ish "Hand On My Heart" is a bit too much of a departure from Rock 'n' Roll, if you ask me. It sounds like something off the new Charlie Peacock or Smokey Robinson albums. The song will probably do well in the small goldfish bowl (compared to top 40) of the Christian adult contemporary radio charts. One bridge in the song finds Schlitt semi-wailing over a background of Beatles-esque guitar lines. Decent album, but I still wish the band would cut loose with some screaming Metal. Anyone who's seen 'em in concert knows they could do it if they wanted to.

    More from Petra

    Petra — Beyond Belief (Video Album)Petra — Wake Up CallPetra — Petra Praise: The Rock Cries OutPetra — Back Stage Pass (Video)Petra — God FixationPetra — Petra Means RockPetra — Beyond Belief

    Also in Heaven's Metal #34

    Mortal — LusisVarious Artists — The Rock RevivalUlf Christiansson — The Lifestyle from AboveCrystavox — The Bottom LineFortress — Exhibit BRansom — Soul AsylumAsight Unseen — Circus of ShameRefuge — [demo]King's X — King's XMagdallan — Big Bang