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- 6 Panel Fold out
- 2021 Girder Records (GR1092)
- Originally Release in 1987
- Remastered by Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound)
When Petra regathered for their second project with new vocalist John Schlitt and producers John and Dino Elefante, they ditched the flying spaceship guitar, pushed the keyboards way back in the mix in deference to highly processed and crunchy guitars, and embraced a militaristic lyrical and visual theme that was perfectly in step with the Reagan era. On This Means War The Elefante's brought the rock in a big way, with monster drums, stacked vocals, and everything sounding like it was born for arenas. Hartman’s fist-in-the-air, slogan-ready lyrics continued to define the Christian rock template and Schlitt’s vocal found the perfect balance between sneer and smile. It all came together perfectly and a new era was born for the band. Petra meant rock after all.
PRODUCED BY: DINO ELEFANTE & JOHN ELEFANTE
Engineered by: Dino Elefante, John Elefante and Mike Mireau
Recorded and Mixed at
PAKADERM Studio, Los Alamitos, CA
- Bob Hartman Lead Guitar
- Mark Kelly Bass Guitar
- John Lawry Keyboards
- John Schlitt - Lead Vocals
- Louie Weaver- Drums
Computer Programming by: John Lawry
Additional Programming by: John Elefante, Tim Heitz, Bob Hartman & Louie VWeaver
Background Vocals by: John Lawry, John Elefante, Mark Kelly, John Schlitt
This Means War! Drum Section: Tom Hrbacek, Los Alamitos High School Marching Drummers
TRACKS
- This Means War 3:30
- He Came, He Saw, He Conquered 4:10
- Get Down On Your Knees And Fight Like A Man 4:32
- I Am Available 4:27
- Kenaniah 3:43
- You Are My Rock 4:21
- The Water Is Alive 3:48
- Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened 3:41
- Dead Reckoning 3:23
- All The King's Horses 4:17
PETRA
Petra got its start in 1972 as one of the pioneers of Christian Rock. Now 20 albums later with 4 Grammys™ and 10 Dove Awards™, they are the World’s Most Popular Christian Rock Band. It didn't matter if you were listening to Deliverance, Amy Grant, and Michael W. Smith, one thing is for certain, you knew who Petra was. Even Stryper fans would never enter into a debate on who the greatest Christian Rock Band of all time was. Although Stryper may have been large in the mainstream, no one came close to Petra in the Christian circuit selling 10 MILLION records and selling out large capacity arenas. Their impact was monstrous and their music was explosive. Their albums More Power to Ya, Beat the System, and This Means War! rock like none other and were clear defining moments for a band that just a few albums earlier had everyone convinced that they would be a status-quo CCM act. Nothing was further from the truth.
As Petra soared to new heights with Greg X. Volz, Bob Hartman and Louie Weaver, More Power to Ya was THAT defining album that broke down all the barriers of what an effective ministry focused rock band could be, embracing backward masking (If you know, you know). Look no further than the powerful rockers “Second Wind” and “Judas’ Kiss” for songs that defined a generation.
By the time Beat the System hit the speakers, fans knew that these guys had no interest in just another record, they embodied an attitude that said, "Let's break down barriers and do something relevant" by moving more towards a keyboard driven rock act. With songs like “Computer Brains,” “Witch Hunt,” and “It Is Finished,” the band included sampling and effects not found on their other records along with a sense of urgency in every song, slowing the heavy tempo for only two songs: “Adonai” and “Hollow Eyes.”
This Means War! dropped four years later, ushering in a new era, with new vocalist John Schlitt (formerly of the rock band Head East) in his prime. The band knew after their debut record with Schlitt, when everyone thought they were on their way out, that a hard rock/arena rock record was want everyone wanted and exactly what producers John and Dino Elefante could deliver and did they ever. Just speaking with John Elefante a few days ago, he reminded me that they had a top hit on all 4 major charts at the same time which helped them amass a large following of converts, Dove Awards, and Grammys.
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