Beyond Belief

The hard-rockin' Petra has been banging on guitars and drums for the Lord for more than 25 years. This 1990 release proved to be one of the band's most successful efforts and helped Petra win four Dove awards, including Group of the Year. Beyond Belief abounds with power chords, catchy hooks, and the kind of user-friendly rock that has made Petra a household name in the contemporary Christian music marketplace. When not shaking the walls, Petra slows it down for the title track and the wistful "Love," both handled ably by singer John Schlitt. Producers John and Dino Elefante (remember Kansas anyone?) let the boys go for the most part in rave-ups like "Armed and Dangerous" and "Underground," but listen closely to the Kansaslike keyboards on both tracks. --Michael Lyttle