A couple years ago, classic Christian rock band Petra pulled together for a special 50th anniversary tour. It brought back founding guitarist/songwriter Bob Hartman with powerhouse vocalist John Schlitt, along with their longest-tenured keyboardist John Lawry and a rhythm section composed of bassist Greg Bailey (who was with the band when they initially retired) and drummer Christian Borneo. As they traveled the globe and kept playing show after show, apparently something clicked and they decided to write and record a new studio album. When the news broke, many fans were surprised. It had been over 20 years since their last studio album of all-original material. There had been several reunion tours with different iterations of the band since (as well as an album of re-recorded hits called Back to the Rock), but as the years went on, many lost hope that Petra would ever release another all-new record.

Fittingly titled, Hope has arrived. Using the 50th anniversary band as the lineup, Petra returns with 10 new tracks to add to their already impressive catalogue. Their last new album, 2003's Jekyll & Hyde, was a return to the band's stripped-down rock roots. Thankfully, the heavier, crunchier guitar tone remains, along with the slick bass and snappy drums. Added to the mix this time is Lawry's synthesizer. I worried whether the band could maintain their hard edge with the presence of keyboards, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it works. Lawry's synth work feels like a throwback to the early '90s (consider "Skin in the Game"), while also incorporating more modern sensibilities (such as with "Filthy Lucre"). In comparison to previous albums, Hope feels like a cross between Jekyll & Hyde and Wake-Up Call. There's also an experimentation with genres Petra hasn't dealt with before. "We Rejoice in Hope" has a slightly pop-punk feel to its sound. "Looking Back" has a Beatles-esque bop to its string section. "Oxygen" is the boldest experiment, completely transforming into a reggae-inspired track. It's an odd choice that the band kind of pulls off (it's perhaps more strange that it's track 3 when it should probably be on the back side of the record).

While fans are excited to hear Petra rock again, they're also eager to hear what Bob Hartman has to say after 20 years of silence. Given the title of the album, it's not surprising to hear themes of hope woven throughout the track list. Petra has never shied away from boldly proclaiming Christ, and the listener will know by the end of this album that the hope Petra sings about is rooted in Jesus ("We Rejoice in Hope," "Deliver Us," "Miracle Maker"). Hartman has never shied away from challenging the listener as well. "Filthy Lucre" is the most bold, critiquing our culture's knack for greed. "Skin in the Game" uses the example of Christ's selfless sacrifice to challenge Christians to also be willing to sacrifice. Of course, songs of encouragement are here for the believer as well. "Kiss the Coals" and "Thorns" call out for holy living, while "There Will Still Be a Dawn" is the radio-ready ballad that will encourage the listener to hold out through the night. With Hartman at the pen, the songs have an inherent quality to the lyrics. That said, it does feel like Hartman is shaking off some rust. There's an overuse of "-ole" rhymes in the first two tracks, and while the other songs are well-written, they don't quite reach the heights of Petra's classic hits, or even the color of what Jekyll & Hyde gave us.

In considering expectations for this record, the high end is another great album on par with Beyond Belief or even Jekyll & Hyde. The low end is that it's a misstep comparable to Double Take or Revival. Hope falls in the middle of that spectrum. I compared its sound earlier to Wake-Up Call, and I think, on the whole, the albums are similar. Wake-Up Call has some of the best musical arrangements in Petra's discography, while the lyrics feel a little more vanilla. Hope has a similar makeup. That doesn't make it a bad album by any stretch, however. These songs are earworms that will pop up in your head long after listening. It's also impressive how much Hartman and company were willing to experiment with their sound and try new things. They could have easily rested on their laurels and churned out another Jekyll & Hyde or some throwback to their late '80s/early '90s sound. Instead, they pressed forward as if there wasn't a 20-year gap between records. That speaks to the artistic standard Hartman has held the band to for 50 years. Heck, compare Hope to albums other legacy Christian rock bands have recently put out, and Petra is the clear winner. It may not instantly become a top tier album for some long-time fans, but Hope is another solid entry in Petra's legendary catalogue.

- Review date: 1/9/26, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com