Search - Petra :: This Means War

A Christian Rock Classic

Michael Janke | San Diego, CA | 07/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1987 Petra was coming off of a year of transition. They had just released BACK TO THE STREET, their first album with new lead vocalist, John Schlitt, and new producers, the Elefante's, in place. The new blood brought with it a slightly new sound that reflected the popular styles of the later 1980's. It was a decent release, but it was also clear that the group was in the process of finding its footing with all of the new members on board.What a difference a year made. THIS MEANS WAR! shed the freshman jitters that plagued BACK TO THE STREET and presented the world with a new, mature, forceful sounding Petra. From the very first second of the album you realize that something's different. Big drum beats, courtesy of the Los Alamitos High School Marching Drummers, open the title track, in a "Boom! Chuck! Boom! Chuck!" rhythm, immediately leading into John Schlitt with the first verse, who sounds much more confident and sure of his talent than he did on his first outing. There is a grit and an aggressiveness present in his voice that is immediately evident and sets the tone for the entire album. Everything about this song screams "BIG," and it is obviously an instant classic."He Came, He Saw, He Conquered" perhaps best typifies the style for most of the project. It's a driving tune with a solid rock beat but it is clear that the keyboards are the dominant instrument, with guitars enhancing the sound. Because of that, THIS MEANS WAR! isn't, technically, as heavy as some of Petra's later projects would be although because of the vocals and percussion it is sometimes hard to realize; this is still a rockin' album. "Get On Your Knees And Fight Like A Man" is my favorite song that Petra ever recorded. Schlitt shines on lead, with the background vocals perfectly placed, and the production is outstanding. Hartman's guitar solo rocks and Weaver gives an inspired performance on the drums. Lyrically, the song is obviously about the power of prayer, and it was "Get On Your Knees" that was the track that would define and kick of the group's Prayer Warriors campaign, which was designed to inspire youth to... do what the song title says."I Am Available" and "Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened" are classic Petra ballads, with the latter being especially memorable. "Kenaniah" is a strange little song about the Israelite worship leader of the same name. "You Are My Rock" has a seductive keyboard opening, soon backed by a riffing Hartman. The song explodes into rock/praise event on the chorus, with the words "you are my rock" packing a huge Petrafied punch."Dead Reckoning" is another unique Hartman lyric, about dying daily to our sin and trading the old for the new: "on a hill long ago, where the blood runs below, died a King, two thieves, and you." "All the Kings Horses" is a fantastic closer for the album. With most of the tracks containing a spiritual warfare focus, it's appropriate that the end message is one about the final triumph of Christ's return. The song is written in a high register, so Schlitt's vocals on this difficult track are particularly memorable.On THIS MEANS WAR! Petra proved to the world that they could survive just fine, thank you, without Greg X Volz around. They sounded as legit, and GOOD, as any mainstream rock band out there. This album kick started Petra's second, and most intense, period of popularity, which would peak at BEYOND BELIEF, and run through WAKE UP CALL. Schlitt found his groove here, as did the Elefante's. The project spawned multiple hits at radio, and their next album, ON FIRE!, is generally considered to be the sister album to this one. Out of Petra's string of great albums, THIS MEANS WAR! is one of their best. FOUR 1/2 STARS"

Awesome!

Ted | Chicago, IL | 05/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the pounding drums that start the title song "This Means War!" to the last song "All The King's Horses", this album rocks and is still my favorite Petra album. "He Came, He Saw, He Conquered" is an awesome song talking about Jesus dying and rising from the dead, plus the song absolutely rocks. "Kenaniah" is awesome song about a story from the old testament and rocks out. "You Are My Rock" is perhaps my favorite song on this album and I think is very underrated. John Schlitt does a great job with the vocals, the music is great and the message is very powerful about Jesus being our rock during all of the ups and downs of life. "The Water Is Alive" is a fun song to listen to and I like the message of this song as well about Christ quenching our thirsty hearts. To me "This Means War!" ranks just above "Beyond Belief" and rocks second only to "Jekyll and Hyde."

Sure it had that 1987 sound but I still love it as much today as I did when I first heard it back then."