Back to the Rock [Import]

Let me just start off by saying, Yes, Greg X. Volz isn't the same that he used to be. He's way better. His voice is stronger than ever, seems to have even more of a range than before and sings with a lot of passion. As for the rest of the band, the same is true for them instrumentally as well.

Bob Hartman's guitar is amazing, like always. He abandoned the "New Petra" sound and went back to the classic rock sound of the Petra us old folks grew up with. Saying that, his guitar no longer sounds like he is trying to emulate Tom Sholz, which is a good thing. There are a few songs where Bob came up with slightly "new and improved" guitar bits, but for the most part, he stayed true to the original, without sounding like Boston (or Toto). The new and improved bits are likely things he did in concert after getting bored of the original ways, but I have no complaints at all. He's still amazing.

Mark Kelly is back on bass, and while he has never really been a "lead bass" player (ala Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnel), he really adds to the Classic Petra sound. He's solid. He's precise. He throws in a few treats that I don't recall from the original days. If the picture on the album is relatively current, he kept his 80s mullet. Makes me wonder if he still wears his Space Boots in concert.

Louie Weaver is back as well! This was an incredible treat. He has always been one of my favorite drummers of all time. For the most part, he plays acoustic drums exclusively on the album, though there are a few places where he throws in some electronic sounds for enhancement without changes the overall sound of the CD. Most notable on More Power To Ya where he uses an electronic "soft" snare sound. As for his drum kit sound, it's the best sound Petra has ever come up with, without a doubt. The bass drum is powerful without sounding triggered and "fake" and the snare has that snap sound that so many drummers seek, but never find. Louie is as tight as ever and I can just visualize watching him with that goofy Louie smile that only he could pull off, making it look effortless as he hammered away on the skins.

It seems John Lawry is going for more of a "Dream Theater" sound on his leads than before. While his leads stay close to true to the originals, it's the sounds he chose on his keyboards that make me think of Dream Theater. They are gritty. They are distorted (in a good way). At times, they almost sound like guitars. This isn't to say he made the band sound like Dream Theater. No, they sound like Petra. Classic Petra. Not the new Petra. His non lead sounds are excellent as well, though he seems to favor piano and B3 at times when I remember a more distinct 80s sound, but that's probably a good thing.

As a whole, the band sounds like a classic rock band that was able to take advantage of top notch modern production (which is no surprise as John Lawry was behind the production) without making the mistake of over-producing that so many bands do. It doesn't sound like tried to "reinvent" the wheel, yet it's fresh at the same time. You can sing along with the 10 "remakes" right off the bat without having any problems at all. Unfortunately, the weakest point on the album are the two new songs. While they aren't bad at all, they don't seem to fit the rest of the album. The first of the new songs, "Back To The Rock" sounds like a Greg X Volz solo project song which leans towards praise and worship. While this isn't bad at all, and the song is extremely catchy, it's missing the classic rock sound of Classic Petra. The second new song, "Too Big To Fail" is better, but the chorus is just...really hard to sing along with. It's very syncopated. It'll probably grow on me as there is an "ear candy note" in the chorus that is just too fun to listen to.
In spite of the 2 new songs not being my favorite (and they may grow on me), I'm still giving this CD a 10 out of 10. It's really that good.

It's fresh. It's new. It's familiar. It's classic. Paradoxical, perhaps, but a fact none the less.

I couldn't have been more pleased than to see Petra back in the studio together. I have been a huge fan since my early teens and went to see Petra during their "Not of this World" tour. Bob Hartman, Greg Volz, and the other original members of the band are in top form. The music is spot on, Bob Hartman's guitar is still screaming, the drums, bass, and keyboards are out of this world. My brother and I will be checking in on classicpetra.com to get tour information because we are definately going to see these men in concert. Thank you Petra! I love you guys!! I want you to sell a million albums so a new generation can hear your music. Please get back in the studio as soon as possible!! Please!!!

This cd is a great collection of remastered work
and also two new songs.

Greg is back with the oringial men
Personally i feel he sounds better
then in the 80's.

If you are a die hard Petra fan like myself
this is a must.