Where do I even begin to create a comprehensive list of Petra songs? The band has recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and released its first new album in over 20 years. While that leaves only about 30 years of actively making new music, one must understand that for most of those years, it was common for bands to drop a new album nearly every year. In the age when seeing three to five years between full-lengths is common, this feels almost unheard of. But the result is that Petra quickly amassed a vast collection of full-length albums during that initial 30-year run.
There are over 20 full-length albums from the band and two major frontmen. This means there are literally a couple of hundred songs to their name. No list can possibly narrow that down without leaving out important classics. I can (and probably will) make several lists of different "best ofs" from the band. But I figured I'd start with the most personal: my own (at least current) Top 10. Out of the boatload of classic rock goodness Petra produced during their half-century in the music business, these are my personal favorites, in no particular order.
Honorable Mention:"We Rejoice In Hope"
It's a little too soon to say where the songs from Hope, Petra's first new album in over 20 years, will land. All I can say is that all of them are incredibly solid, and it's a welcome return for the Christian rock legends. As of now, my favorite from this new album seems to be "We Rejoice in Hope." The song's upbeat and anthemic melody is a reminder of just why Petra has enjoyed the longevity they have. But there's also a case to be made for several other cuts, including the jubilant lead single "Deliver Us," the rocking opener "Filthy Lucre," the Good Friday anthem "Skin in the Game," and the radio-ready "Kiss the Coals."
"Life As We Know It"
A deeper cut from the band's 2003 Jekyll and Hyde album, this song is probably not well-known enough to crack the top of many Petra lists. And yet I find it an underrated gem. It has such a strong, soaring gem of a chorus, and the rocking groove on that album elevated several cuts. You might not be that familiar with this one, but it's definitely a deeper Petra song worth your time.
"Jekyll & Hyde"
One of Petra's hardest songs of their career. The guitars are rawer and dirtier than the often crisp and clear sounds of the band's 1980's output. Lead singer John Schlitt still sounds incredible in the song and goes hard on the soaring chorus. The band still sticks to its tried-and-true, uncompromising lyrical themes, singing about "two men are fighting a war inside" as our sinful nature does battle with the part of us that desires to follow Christ.
"Grave Robber"
One of the band's more emotionally raw songs, "Grave Robber," is both a sobering meditation on death and an expression of hope. The hope that Christ, the "grave robber," will bring us from death into heaven. The song's tone shifts from somber and reflective to jubilant and triumphant. It stands as one of the highlights of Petra's era with Greg Volz (another lead singer).
"He Came, He Saw, He Conquered"
Petra's quintessential Easter song. The band's signature style has often applied biblical takes on popular phrases. This one's play on the old Latin "Veni, Vidi, Vici," often attributed to Julius Caesar. The band instead applies it to Christ, showing how He came to earth and conquered even death itself. The song has been a staple of my Easter listening since I was a kid, and even just hearing it reminds me of the eternal message of the Resurrection.
"Voice in the Wind"
Another lesser-known song on this list. A deeper cut of the Greg Volz era of Petra, this song wasn't one of their biggest signature hits. Tucked away in the middle of Volz's final album with the band, it's often overlooked. Yet it's got one of the band's catchiest 1980s melodies around, and its slow-building synth beat is just so infectious.
"Adonai"
The final song on Petra's 1984 Beat The System album, this song (with the exception of a subsequent live album) serves as a conclusion to the (initial) Greg Volz era of Petra. And what a conclusion it is. Starting with one of the band's most epic hooks ever, it transitions into one of the band's catchiest rock songs.
"King's Ransom"
I grew up hearing this on Holy Week, and it's grown into a darkhouse contender for one of Petra's best songs. The song's emotional delivery helps cement both the sorrow and the glory of Christ's sacrifice for us. It's a stark reminder that Christ paid the ultimate price for us, noting the ironies of how "the master of the earth/became a servant of no worth/and paid a king's ransom for my soul."
"Minefield"
One of On Fire's truly blazing rock numbers, this song finds Petra at one of their heaviest moments. It's even got a signature John Schlitt 1980s scream. Its melodic chorus doesn't detract from the all-out rock approach this song takes. It's one of the best examples of just how rocking the band could get in their heyday.
"Just Reach Out"
One of the band's few hits was not written by guitarist Bob Hartman, but rather by frontman John Schlitt. This song is everything you love about both Petra and early 1990s contemporary Christian music. Hopeful melodies, encouraging lyrics pointing toward Christ, soft and memorable hooks, and a vocal style that seemed bigger and more cinematic. The song sings to the hurting and the broken, telling them to just reach out for Christ. One of Petra's most beloved ballads, this song is a perennial favorite of mine in their vast discography.
"Beyond Belief"
If there is a "Don't Stop Believing" in Christian music, it's this. The title track from Petra's RIAA Gold-Certified album is everything you'd want in a Christian rock anthem. Bold message, big sound, soaring passionate vocals, iconic chorus, and instantly recognizable hook. This song is quintessential Petra. And it's impossible not to get caught up in the feel of it from the first note. That's why this one is my personal favorite of theirs.
J.J. Francesco is a longtime contributor to the NRT Staff. He's published the novel 'Because of Austin' and regularly seeks new ways to engage faith, life, and community. His new novel, 'When Miracles Can Dream,' is out NOW!
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