The Petra Zone

I like doing a review this way. So here it is!

1. All About Who You Know: Never really cared much for this song. IMO the weakest one on JAH, and it does nothing for me live either. I feel they could have picked a better song with maybe some type of long intro.

2. Dance: Great song to get the crowd going everyone knows this one by heart. Maybe it should have been first?

3. Amazing Grace: A lot better live than on Revival; Man this thing rocks! One of my favs on the album.

4. Test Of Time: I really like this cut off of JAH and sounds good live.

5. Creed: The intro guitar work is awesome and sets the mood for the song. I really like this version alot better. The ending jam is great but could have went a little longer.

6. Right Place: I don't like this song either here or on ND. I wish they would have put Judas' Kiss here in its place; Hopefully they will include Judas' on the DVD.

7. Rock Medley: Highlights of this is It Is Finished! Mine Field and This Means War! Bob's guitar tone on this whole thing is awesome, and John's vocals on Mine Field are metalish. When he sings Mine Field I can see him singing for AC/DC in the secular realm.
Lowlights: Think Twice is so out of place here I really don't know why they included this song. Many other songs would have been a better fit. Midnight Oil I really like off of WUC, but really doesn't do it here for me.

8. JAH: I love this song either way. I got to see them perform this cut in Irving last week and there were 1,100 people jumping in unision when they heard that guitar come up. I don't like the bells on this though.

9. Acoustic Medley: This part is really special for me. These songs hit you in the emotional spot everytime. I feel there is not a lowlight here.

10. Grave Robber: This is a special song but for some reason I've always liked the original best over CITAS and nothing has changed here. I like songs to flow melodic wise and the 2 live versions don't compare to the original.

11. John Lawry: Great to hear him once again but could've been a bit longer in my mind.

12. Beyond Belief: This one of Petra's theme songs and always is a favorite to hear.

13. Bob's Solo: This guy is so underated nobody has ever given him credit for being a great guitar player, just a great song writer.

14. He Came, He Saw: Good fitting finale for them to do and it sounds great live. I wish they could've extended the song some and put a little bit of a jam at the end. HE AROSE! HE AROSE!

All in all a great finale for Petra. IMO this album showcases Bob's guitar playing and really shows what we Petheads have known for years. The drums are also very upfront just the way I like them. We all want our favorites in there and I think most of us got what we wanted for the most part. I do feel the production quality is lacking in some areas, but it is a live album and it can't be polished as much as a normal CD. This will be in my changer for very long time.

executioner wrote: 13. Bob's Solo: This guy is so underated nobody has ever given him credit for being a great guitar player, just a great song writer.

I like your assessment. I agree with a lot of it, though I don't feel as strongly as you do about certain songs you don't care for, but I understand.

I think you are dead on in your statement about Bob's guitar work. But that has always been where my admiration of him comes from. He could have written songs that featured his ability more, but instead often placed himself in the backseat and featured the keys or something else.

It always seemed to me that Bob's writing conveyed that the song itself was the most important thing -- rather than the musicians.

But watching Bob be sooo spot on, and then hearing the cd and hearing EVERY note seem just flawless -- Bob is definately a guitar player to be reckoned with.

1. All About Who You Know: I agree that this is an odd choice for the opening number. Lyrically, the song is excellent, but musically, it just doesn't blast out of the gate like an opening number should.

2. Dance: Great song! I really like the harmonies at end.

3. Amazing Grace: This is a solid live cut. Works very well with just the three instrument arrangement and has a lot more energy than the album version.

4. Test Of Time: I love the growling guitar intro. Not much to say about this one as it pretty much sounds like the album cut.

5. Creed: Interesting to hear this song without keyboards, but Bob makes it work. Interestingly enough, they cut the bridge and guitar solo, jumping right from the second chorus to the end.

6. Right Place: This one is a lot of fun. Bob's blistering guitar work is a wonder to behold, and Greg Baily gets an opportunity to shine with a bass solo at the end. Great cut!

7. Rock Medley: Pretty good for the most part. Some of the arena rock anthems like I Am On The Rock and This Means War sound a bit muted without a fourth instrument, but all in all, it's a solid collection of tunes. I especially like the guitar/bass rendetion of John Lawry's keyboard driven It Is Finished outro.

8. JAH: Awesome song. Again, just like the album.

9. Acoustic Medley: This is very similiar to the slow set from Captured in Time and Space, hitting many (if not all) of the same songs with obvious the addition of John Schitt's anthems like No Doubt and Love. While I enjoyed hearing Greg X. Volz singing Petra again, it's a little disheartening to hear just how much his voice has changed. On CITAS, he sang with authority, effortlessly hitting every note. Here, he obviously strains to hit some of those same notes. I realize Greg is 20 years older, but it's still bittersweet. Regardless, it's still a fun set to listen to.

10. Grave Robber: I don't know why they couldn't have picked a different track here. We already have the definitive live version on CITAS, and here again, Greg struggles to hit the high notes and doesn't even bother in some instances. A powerful song, to be sure, but this isn't the best version I've heard.

11. John Lawry: It's John Lawry, so what's not to love? But couldn't it have been longer? As it is, it's like, "Wow, this is grea--oh, wait, it's over."

12. Beyond Belief: With the John Lawry on keys, this cut is the closest to sounding like "classic" Petra. One of my favorites on the album!

13. Bob's Solo: Awesome, awesome cut. Unlike other guitar solos I've heard from other players, Bob wasn't simply showing off his raw speed but actually playing music! Maybe he'll put out a solo album in the future?

14. He Came, He Saw: Great way to end the album. I absolutely love how the guitar comes up under the crowd, then the song slowly builds until it takes off and races to the end.

I think John Schlitt says it best, "Thank you for 33 wonderful years." Indeed.

I WISH THEY COULD OF ADDED A SECOND ROCK MELODY . I WAS THINKING OF A GREAT OPENING SONG COULD OF BEEN "ON FIRE!"

Yea, I was thinking the same thing about Bob potentially doing an instrumental record. I love the Celtic flavor of the guitar solo. He could extend it and give it an Irish-sounding name.

Mark

Greg X Volz sounded a little bit weak to me on the high notes. Age has caught up with him. It was great to hear him again though.

I can't really add anything to what's been said. Highlights for me: The mellow medley. It was good to hear Greg V. singing those old songs again, and him and the Schlittmeister on stage together? Never thought I'd see that happen. And of course Johnny L. doing "Jesus Loves You." I think I'd have bought the CD just to hear Paul and Greg B. play though, they rock.

To me it was odd for them to introduce John Lawry one song before his solo. For someone to pick up the CD and not know the artist names that seemed out of place. A new listener might think he was singing the next song and not playing the keyboards. I realize you could pick up the CD cover and read it, but your not always doing that by the time your more then 30 minutes into the CD.

It may be me, but I just thought it was odd.

I think John Lawry is awesome. Of Course John Schlitt is too... well i like all of them anyway. They all rock.

Petrapraise wrote:To me it was odd for them to introduce John Lawry one song before his solo. For someone to pick up the CD and not know the artist names that seemed out of place. A new listener might think he was singing the next song and not playing the keyboards. I realize you could pick up the CD cover and read it, but your not always doing that by the time your more then 30 minutes into the CD.

It may be me, but I just thought it was odd.

The reason why he was introduced right there was because he came on and played keys on "Grave Robber" It was the proper introduction for the time.

Except the introduction could have been made a little clearer. John Lawry is introduced, but the next voice you hear is Greg Volz's. It took me a moment to realize that it wasn't Lawry talking, and that's only because I'm familiar with Volz's speaking voice. I imagine someone not as familiar with Petra would find this confusing.

I agree with the review.Toss out the 2 songs(All about who you know)(Right Place)I never liked either one of them. Amazing Grace is like a different song on this album,Paul and Bob I think killed this song and was great Live In Irving Tx.I think the Bass and Kick Drum are lacking on this album and needed alittle more Punch to it.I'm having to adjust the EQ to dial it in better because it just seems to Distort easily.Overall a good review and Good Album.