On Fire!

Description

On Fire! is the tenth studio album by the American rock band Petra, released on StarSong Records in 1988, distributed by Sparrow/StarSong Distribution. The album was recorded and mixed by Dino Elefante, John Elefante and Mike Mierau at Pakaderm Studios in Los Alamitos, California; with the Elefante brothers producing. The album garnered a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance.

This is the first album to feature Ronny Cates on bass who would remain with the band until 1995. With his addition to the line-up, the band started their more stable period in terms of line-up. John Schlitt (lead vocals), John Lawry (keyboards), Bob Hartman (guitar), Ronny Cates (bass), and Louie Weaver (drums) would remain together for seven years and six albums.

Petra gained “The Big Mo” (as in momentum), in the year 1988. Petra’s political achievements – and endorsement pact with Thomas Nelson Publishers and a national School Prayer Amendment petition drive – nearly overshadowed the group’s fine musical work on last year’s release, ‘This Means War‘. But, after all, it was wartime, rock mobilization on a grand scale, of which the songs were only a part.

This time out, with ‘On Fire’, the attention is on the music, and for good reason. This is one of the best Petra albums to date. In fact, the back-to-back attack of «All Fired Up» and «Hit You Where You Live» are perhaps the most exciting eight minutes of rock Petra has ever put to tape. While the “prayer warrior” campaign will continue to be part of the group’s ministry, ‘On Fire’ places its focus on blazing musicianship and spiritual issues of renewal and revival.

John and Dino Elefante’s production shows the effects of many hours spent recording Christian metal albums – this is the crunchiest Petra sound yet, as Bob Hartman’s guitars strike a proper tension with John Lawry’s arty, expressive keyboards.

John Schlitt continues to be one of the finest rock vocalists around, bar none. On these songs, Schlitt reaches up to a consistently high standard, combining grace, grit, passion and accurancy in one stunning performance after another.

‘On Fire’ also marks the debut of new bassist Ronny Cates, who steps in for the departed Mark Kelley and teams up with drummer Louie Weaver to keep a solid foundation under the mix.

Bob Hartman shares songwriting credits with John Lawry and others in a collection of songs moving from the familiar Petra word games on military/spiritual warfare images («Mine Fields») to more personal, confessional subjects («First Love»). «First Love» also proves that Petra can out-schmaltz Stryper any day.

Again, the main emphasis here is on revival and renewal within the church, from the celebration of «All Fired Up» to «Somebody’s Gonna Praise His Name» and «Stand in the Gap». But where to take all this renewed energy? The album’s last song points to social concerns by addressing the issue of homelessness in a sensitive ballad, «Homeless Few». Reminiscent of «Hollow Eyes» (from ‘Beat the System‘), the song closes the album with a reminder that inner renewal should lead to outward expression. [Mark Eischer, CCM, November 1988]

Girder Music Promo, 2022

On Fire!, originally released in 1988, is by far the heaviest of all Petra albums with the exception of Jekyll and Hyde. A true hard rock masterpiece if there ever was one. On Fire! was nominated for a Grammy and won a Dove award for their music video. It was also the first album to include their new bassist, Ronnie Cates. It was PETRA IN THEIR PRIME and deserving of all the awards bestowed on them by the critics and fans. After This Means War dropped in 1987 with such success, no one would ever go on record saying that Petra would be able to top it. That thought would have been ludicrous. But the band, engineers, and producers had other plans, forging an entirely new album that would go down as one of the band’s all-time great albums, and for most, their absolute favorite. As much as this album rocks, it also checks all the boxes for a spiritual warfare attack on the kingdom of darkness. Make no mistake about it, this is one album that is a threat to the enemy or anyone that thinks that Petra won’t go down fighting. They were absolutely on fire (pun intended). It’s a true representation of what a rock album should be. Just one listen and you’ll quickly understand why Petra was everyone’s favorite Christian Rock band.

Remastered from original sources with an 8-page booklet with lyrics in a jewel case. It also comes with a very special flaming LTD collector’s card inside.

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/on-fire/724564367)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “All Fired Up” – 4:30
A2. “Hit You Where You Live” – 4:20
A3. “Mine Field” – 4:28
A4. “First Love” – 4:10
A5. “Defector” – 4:30

Side Two
B1. “Counsel Of The Holy” – 3:37
B2. “Somebody’s Gonna Praise His Name” – 4:02
B3. “Open Book” – 4:28
B4. “Stand In The Gap” – 4:10
B5. “Homeless Few” – 4:33

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by StarSong Records. Remastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound and re-issued on both 12-inch vinyl LP (pressed on Fire Splatter Vinyl) and CD in 2022 by Girder Music (through Limited Run Vinyl/Limited Run Music).