STYLE: Rock RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 2490-179 LABEL: DaySpring DAYCD4218 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £11.22
Reviewed by Les M Wilkes
In this album Petra display a versatility which will raise a few eyebrows. Just as Carman fans will be shocked by Petra's anvil heavy riff when they guested on 'Addicted To Jesus', so Petrafied enthusiasts will be stunned by "Hand On My Heart" here. For here's a track a ringer for a Smokey Robinson-style Motown oldie and seemingly light years from the power chords and smoke machines of past Petra triumphs. But lovers of the most successful AOR band in Christendom should fear not. In the main here they still lay down thunderous drums and axe sounds like on the urgent opener "Destiny" and the raunchy blues-rocker "Ready, Willing And Able". John Schlitt has never sounded in better voice, the hooks are as unassuredly catchy as ever, and the John and Dino Elefante's production is greatly assisted by a high-octane mix from Niel Kernon. Petra arent just any old rock band. These guys bring together a bouquet of their best music, seasoned with a pinch of the unusual (check out the album's atmospheric introduction and conclusion), a work which has individuality and class stamped right through it. My own favourite track on the album is "I Need To Hear From You", a real cry from the heart to our Glorious Saviour. This is rock at its most refined, all in all a priceless piece of purest Petra that no rock collection will be complete without.
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Unseen Power for me is Petra's finest arena rock album. And
yet there were some delicious surprises along the way for me
within this album. The album opens with the brilliant anthem
of Destiny, and then comes the first surprise, a re-invented
southern gospel type of tune with Who's On The Lord's Side?
The brilliant Ready Willing And Able thunders along too, and
Bob's guitar solo here is seriously incredible. And then
theres the soul track, never a song quite like this before
in Petra history. Hand on My Heart is still one of my
favourite Petra songs of all time. I need to Hear From You
is a really beautiful plea from the heart. Secret Weapon has
another penetrating message at its core, and Hey World is a
splendidly frank and honest lyric. The album than closes
with John Lawry's beautiful In The Likeness of You, which
always leaves me stirred and a bit tearful too. The ironic
thing about Unseen Power is that the power of the album is
NOT Unseen at all, its eveident from the word go. A
fantastic record!
Unseen Power for me is Petra's finest arena rock album. And yet there were some delicious surprises along the way for me within this album. The album opens with the brilliant anthem of Destiny, and then comes the first surprise, a re-invented southern gospel type of tune with Who's On The Lord's Side? The brilliant Ready Willing And Able thunders along too, and Bob's guitar solo here is seriously incredible. And then theres the soul track, never a song quite like this before in Petra history. Hand on My Heart is still one of my favourite Petra songs of all time. I need to Hear From You is a really beautiful plea from the heart. Secret Weapon has another penetrating message at its core, and Hey World is a splendidly frank and honest lyric. The album than closes with John Lawry's beautiful In The Likeness of You, which always leaves me stirred and a bit tearful too. The ironic thing about Unseen Power is that the power of the album is NOT Unseen at all, its eveident from the word go. A fantastic record!