Jekyll & Hyde

Petra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Inpop
• ASIN: B0000AM6HS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,669 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2003 release by the Christian rock legends. Produced by Peter Furler (Newsboys).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Petra's Return to Rock, August 28, 2003

By 

Michael Jones "TulsaMJ" (Tulsa, OK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jekyll & Hyde (Audio CD)

If you've been disgusted with the "modern rock" or "praise and worship" or other incarnations of Petra in recent years, today is your lucky day! This CD is ROCK 100%! Bob Hartman is back in a big way, writing or co-writing every song and handling guitar duties with a power and creativity that we haven't seen in any of Petra's earlier recordings. Even so, I hear lots of hints of Unseen Power in this CD; after a concert months before album release I was told by John Schlitt himself that this new CD is like Beyond Belief and On Fire! combined. I would have to say that John is underexaggerating... this is the rockiest Petra album EVER!

John himself did a great job at lead vocals; you can tell he was enjoying himself. The album was produced by Peter Furler of Newsboys, and in the wake of the departure from Petra of well-loved and missed drummer Louie Weaver, he also handled drum duties professionally and with style and class.

For those of us who care a lot about the lyrics, the songs on this CD are challenging, thought-provoking, and Bible-based. Scripture references are provided, in true Petra style, for every song, although if you know your Bible you can find things in the songs from areas of Scripture that are not even mentioned. The basic theme of the album is living your life for God, and the ups and downs of every Christian's walk.

This one is EXCELLENT! Don't wait... click "Add to cart" right away!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This time, Petra REALLY means rock!, October 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Jekyll & Hyde (Audio CD)

No band, especially one with members well into their 50s, written off and derided even by Christian media, should on paper come back sounding this loud, sing or play with such power and conviction. If the heavy, detuned, grinding guitar riff of "Jekyll & Hyde" doesn't get you pogo-ing around the house playing air guitar, nothing will. This is an instant classic, slightly reminiscent of tracks like "Secret Weapon" from the "Unseen Power" album but yet sounding fresh & contemporary.

"All About Who You Know" has a terric guitar riff & great lyrics, but the actual song & tune isn't that memorable.
"Stand" has a stomping, Aerosmith-esque blues-rock feel, (especially THAT great guitar riff). "Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda" is even better. Another air guitar intro (this time a dead ringer for ZZ Top), a typically "Petra" pre-chorus, and a hook which could have graced numerous Newsboys songs or albums all make unlikely bedfellows, yet Peter Furler works miracles with the production - another instant classic!
"Perfect World" isn't so clever. An excellent melody, which should have been less "produced" is crowded out by an un-necessary & ham-fisted attempt to make it heavy and of course, John Schlitt still tending to spoil slow songs by screaming them like 80s power ballads (just like he did on the "Double Take" and "Revival" albums.)
"Test of Time" - similar to the earlier songs. Strong intro, strong lyrics, good hook, strong song.

"I will Seek You." A very powerful chorus, sounding like an 80s Petra song with modern production (and of course, air guitar!)
"Life as We Know It." This is extremely catchy, another instant classic, mixing Newsboys (the intro riff and the chorus) with Unseen Power-era Petra (and yet more air guitar, in this case the Aerosmith-esque post-chorus.)
"Till Everything I Do." Probably a good choice for second or third single. Very melodic, radio-friendly and similar in sound to songs from the "Revival" or "God Fixation" albums. A nice breather & change of tempo.
"Sacred Trust." Sounds similar to the previous track - again, strong melody, great lyrics ie "you never tried to be politically correct" Slightly spoiled by over-indulgence in the air guitar department during the bridge.
A few minor niggles (notably the album's length at just over 31 minutes, and the occasionally over-zealous use of heavy guitars, hence 4 stars not 5) spoil a really enjoyable album. Highlights include some of Bob Hartman's best ever playing & writing, John Schlitt singing close to his best, and Peter Furler's production. Whatever your religious persuasion, if you like hard rock then go out and buy it - you won't be disappointed!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding CD from one of rock music's best bands (with one of rock's most underrated vocalists), August 30, 2005

By 

Just Bill (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jekyll & Hyde (Audio CD)

I've been a fan of Petra since the mid '80s. I saw them with former vocalist Greg X. Volz on their Beat the System tour (when was that - 1985? 1986?) and have followed them ever since. Like other Petra fans, when John Schlitt assumed lead vocal duties I was skeptical. But the minute he stepped out on stage (wearing a long white tie-and-tails coat, I believe) and belted out the songs all doubt vanished. The guy's voice was unreal then, and it's still unreal now.

John Schlitt is probably one of the most underrated vocalists in rock music -- Christian or otherwise. He has an expressiveness and a range that most vocalists would kill for. (And his front-man stage presence is second-to-none. They guy knows how to work an audience!)

On Jekyll & Hyde, Schlitt's voice remains just as powerful as it was 20 years ago -- and that despite the fact that he's now in his mid fifties.

I'm sorry to hear that Petra has called it quits after some 30-35 years in the business, but I'm glad they're going out on a high note like Jekyll & Hyde. Their farewell tour (which my wife and I saw in Muskegon, Michigan this month) features many of their hits and much of Jekyll & Hyde, which sounds as good live as it does on CD.

It's been a privilege to see Petra repeatedly over the past 20-odd years. They're a very talented, dedicated and committed bunch of Christian musicians -- who just happen to write some of the catchiest songs I've ever heard.

Thank you, Petra, for recording Jekyll & Hyde. And thank you for giving us so much pleasure (and inspiration) over the years!