Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock	Produced By: John & Dino Elefante
Record Label: Star Song	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 1988	Artist Website: Petra
Tracks: 10	Rating: 75%
Running Time: 43:38

With a bold new sound, Petra adds a dose of metal to its signature melodic hard rock and AOR basis with the 1988 release to its Star Song Records tenth album On Fire!.  Dating to its early Greg X. Volz fronted material, Petra has not been without its share of heavier moments.  Never Say Die from 1981, for instance, included the hard rocking duo “Chameleon” and “Angel Of Light” in addition to praise rock piece “Praise Ye The Lord”, while 1982 follow up release More Power To Ya featured heavy hitters “Judas Kiss” and “Second Wind” and another praise rocker, “Let Everything That Hath Breath”.  Not Of This World took things to the next level in 1983 with the powerhouse trio “Bema Seat”, “Blinded Eyes” and “Pied Piper”. 

Starting with new vocalist John Schlitt (Head East) Petra backed from some of its previous heaviness for the gritty melodic rock of Back To The Street and AOR infused arena rock to This Means War from 1986 and 1987, respectively.  With On Fire!, however, Petra rebounded by recording some of its most guitar driven (borderline metal) material since its Greg X. Volz days.  Lone caveat is that only half the albums songs takes such a heading, which while not necessarily bad, I would rather have heard two to three additional heavier cuts to provide better balance with those mirroring the Petra commercial side.  Still, credit the group for musically branching out when it could have played it safe and stuck with a similar AOR and melodic rock formula.

Good news is that in 2021 Girder Music re-mastered (by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) and reissued On Fire! as part of the Legends Of Rock series.  An eight-page CD booklet with lyrics and liner notes in an easy to read front attributes to Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics.  Added bonus comes in the form of a flaming LTD collector’s card.  I always felt the original production (courtesy of John and Dino Elefante) was quite good, but the Girder re-mastering provides an added dose of polish realized in further low-end depth, sturdier rhythm guitar and greater clarity in terms of vocal melodies and keyboards.

“All Fired Up” is first of three heavy hitters to open the album.  It sets the tone with its staunch rhythm guitar, leaving no doubt as to the groups buffeting intentions with its harrying mentality but also not backing from a melodic benchmark, unveiled in the forthrightly exuberant refrain.  Founding member Bob Hartman might not be the flashiest lead guitarist, but his playing is melodic and stays true to the strength of the song.  Lyric snippet:

When the weight of the world begins to show
When the flames of faith begin to die before I know
Time to be rekindled by the everlasting Source
The all Consuming Fire, illuminating Force
Like a blacksmith bellows aim
He fans the embers to a flame

I'm all fired up - I'm all fired up
There's a flame burning in my soul

“Hit You Where You Live” starts to a drum solo ahead of delivering ample low end groove alongside thickset guitar proclivity.  Main difference, however, is a heightened keyboard presence, referencing the skilled work of John Lawry.  Refrain particularly stands out with its fathomless ‘hit you where you live, you can’t hold back’ appeal.

“Mine Field” ranks with albums heaviest.  Song delivers the type of metal edge and bite that it would not sound out of place on a Whitecross album, although a contrasting commercial component reveals in the glossy backing vocals hinting of Stryper.  Schlitt complements the arresting scene with his trademark gritty and raspy but always heartfelt vocal abilities.  Lyric snippet:

Think the grass is greener?
You'd better look around
Everywhere you look another casualty is found
The enemy is waiting
For you to start to run
Waiting like an itchy finger on a loaded gun

Better leave the navigation to the One who knows the Way
He will bring illumination
He will light your path each day

Ballad “First Love” is solid with its gracious melody but trends melodic hard rock and AOR territory.  Hence, piano, spotless keyboards and pristine vocal harmonies convey its length.  That said, I cannot help feel a distinct rhythm guitar track or guitar solo would allow the song to better align with the albums heavier rocking formula.

“Defector” also touches upon metal.  It ups tempo to a more contentious angle, the keyed up timekeeping of Louie Weaver lends to the expeditious flair, as an anthem like compositing of focused momentum and radiant energy leads the authoritative way.  Fleet backing vocals lend a refining touch.  Perhaps it is the grainy feel to vocals, but Bloodgood is a point of reference.  Lyric snippet:

Defector - you broke the chains away
Defector - a higher power you obey
Now they have no hold on you - you've broken through
But don't forget to read the signs 'cause
You still live behind - enemy lines
Defector

You got away clean but it don't come free
Another man paid with His on agony for...
Freedom

“Counsel Of The Holy” starts albums second side as a hard rock ballad, and a very good one at that!  It commences to a warm aligning of rhythm guitar and keyboards, with guitar dropping from the mix for the piano-laced verse sections only to return and shoulder the demonstrative - and quite engaging - refrain.  Offshoot is albums most immediately radio friendly melody- and one of Petra’s finer ballads.

“Somebody’s Gonna Praise His Name” ensues in underscoring the Petra worship rock tradition.  It begins slowly in angelic fashion to restful harmonizing, not gaining initiative until understated guitar takes over and impels things forward in mirroring a pop-based form as opposed to hard rock.  No, not good as some here and somewhat predictable, but it is essential all the same.  Lyric snippet:

Lord I lift my voice to You
And I magnify Your name
You are Alpha and Omega
You are everyday the same
As long as I draw breath my lips will praise You
As long as I have strength I want to praise Your name

And it's gonna be me
It's gonna be me
Somebody's gonna praise Him
And it's gonna be me

“Open Book” is good in concept - noting the abundant melody - but a too prominent keyboard mix (almost to the point of techno) holds things back.  Yes, I appreciate Ronny Cates’ distinguished bass line, and as always Schlitt performs admirably, but I tend to pass regardless.  Perhaps if (once more) a rhythm guitar track or at very least a guitar solo had been included I might step to the plate.

“Stand In The Gap” returns to a heavier rocking form akin to albums first half.  Guitar plays a conspicuous role, particularly for the substantial refrain, while keyboards correspondingly drift to the backend with a ‘seen and not heard’ feel so to speak (quoting a Petra song title of the same name).  A nice guitar solo rounds things out.  Lyric snippet:

Stand in the gap
Coming boldly to His throne of grace
Stand in the gap
He will hear you when you seek His face
Put your weapon to its use
And believe it will produce
Stand in the gap
Until all hell...
Until all hell breaks loose

I am on the fence with closing cut “Homeless Few”.  On one hand, it is solid musically with piano and buoyant bass aligning with a neatly placed melody; on the other, similar to “Open Book”, fact rhythm guitar does not make a more decisive statement leaves me somewhat wanting.  At the very least, we get a guitar solo as opposed to keyboard solo.

One Fire! features its share of choice material, with “All Fired Up”, “Hit You Where You Live”, “Mine Field”, “Defector”, “Stand In The Gap” and “Counsel Of The Holy” ranking with my favorites.  Albums remaining cuts I find hit and miss in that while musically solid, keyboards play too forward a role for my taste.  As previously noted, a few more borderline metal cuts in my opinion would allow for a better-rounded listen.  Still, if a fan of Petra (or melodic rock and AOR in general) pick up the upgraded Girder Music reissue to take advantage of the improved re-mastering and packaging.

Review by: Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “All Fired Up” (4:30), “Hit You Where You Live” (4:20), “Mine Field” (4:28), “First Love” (4:10), “Defector” (4:30), “Counsel Of The Holy” (3:37), “Somebody’s Gonna Praise His Name” (4:02), “Open Book” (4:28), “Stand In The Gap” (4:10), “Homeless Few” (4:33)

Musicians
John Schlitt – Lead Vocals
Bob Hartman – Guitarist
John Lawry – Keyboards
Ronny Cates – Bass
Louie Weaver – Drums

Guest Musicians
John Andrew Schreiner – Keyboards