It’s been 23 years since Petra’s last studio record- Jekyll & Hyde– their heaviest record. From there, they did a final farewell tour and we all thought the book had closed on Petra. Over the years, they’d do a few one-shot shows or small tours, followed by their 50th anniversary tour a few years back.
In 2013, Petra released a single for their 40th anniversary, then rumblings began last year of a new Petra album. Fast forward to 2026 and we have it- Hope.
Hope isn’t quite as heavy as previous records but still packs a punch. It’s also hard to compare it to other records because Petra have always changed things up from album to album, with each one having a different and unique feel, vibe, energy and identity.
This Means War!, On Fire, Beyond Belief, Unseen Power, Wake Up Call all sounded completely different, and the band has always reinvented themselves with each record.
Petra have also always had a strong message intended to make you think to go along with the music and Hope is no different.
“Filthy Lucre” opens with a hard-hitting track that rocks hard and warns about the dangers of money and greed, reminding you how it can take over your life and soul while “Kiss the Coals” is a little bit softer rock song but still rocks hard.
Featuring a grungy, bluesy guitar open from Bob Hartman explains the process of embracing the warmth of Christ’s love while His forgiveness washes over you and changes you from the inside out. “Kiss the Coals” is definitely one of the standout tracks on the record.
“Oxygen” is one of the tracks that will get people talking- purely for how different it is than anything Petra have ever done. It sees them channeling their inner Santana.
“Skin in the Game” is one of the heaviest of the record and goes hand-in-hand with “It Is Finished” but heavier and purely addictive while “We Rejoice in Hope” would have fit perfectly on Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out with the fast-paced tempo we got on some of those classics.
“There Will Still Be a Dawn” is a gorgeous ballad that reminds you of “No Doubt,” reminding you that, no matter how dark things get, it will get better and God will help you through it.
“Thorns” is yet another standout track. It’s got a theatrical and cinematic vibe and is an epic of a track, building and has some of the strongest lyrics on the track- especially the line of “In the garden of my heart, I find the weeds have grown. Tangled up in heart’s desire, I can’t do this alone.”
Closing out with “Looking Back” and lead single “Deliver Us,” Hope is almost impossible to compare to previous Petra records as there are tracks that would have fit on multiple eras of their 50-plus year career.
If you combined Jekyll & Hyde, Revival and No Doubt, you might be close but, just like the rest of their career, Petra have created an album that stands on its own and has its own life and identity.
While Hope isn’t heavy as you might expect, it’s still one of the best records they’ve written post-90’s era. Lyrically, Bob Hartman hasn’t lost a step as Hope delivers on every level. Musically, one thing’s for sure after a few listens to Hope– Petra’s back and they’ve still got it.
Rating: 9/10
-Reggie Edwards