God Fixation

Description

God Fixation is the seventeenth studio album by the American rock band Petra, released on Word Records in April 1998, a division of Word Entertainment. Also manufactured and distributed by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music. The album was recorded and mixed by J.R. McNeely and Richie Biggs at the Sound Kitchen in Franklin, Tennessee; with John and Dino Elefante producing for Pakaderm Productions. God Fixation was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999.

God Fixation came to be after another major lineup change within the band. The album features three new members: guitarist Pete Orta, guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Brandow, and bassist Lonnie Chapin. The new members worked closely with band founder Bob Hartman in the writing and recording of the album for six weeks, contributing heavily to the sound of this album, which is more modern and less driving than most of their previous work.

Perhaps there should be a Christian classic rock category, and if so, Petra would qualify for the genre’s crown on two fronts – longevity (26 years and counting) and unbending dedication to ministry on stage and record.

Musically, the steady-rocking ‘God Fixation’ recalls Kansas, early Phil Keaggy and Styx; the lush vocals on “Falling Up” and “Shadow of a Doubt,” anchored by singer John Schlitt, sound like sweet swipes from Dennis DeYoung’s tape vault. Yet Kansas alum John Elefante and brother Dino keep Petra’s production up to date. The swirling, growling guitars on “Hello Again” and “A Matter of Time”‘ should please Grover Levy and Collective Soul fans.

Play this crisp, strident disc back-to-back with one of Petra’s more sophomoric efforts from the ’70s, and it’s easy to imagine them as albums from two entirely different bands – which is, in fact, the case. Three of Petra’s members only joined last year, and while they keep things sounding fresh, their addition raises a pointed question: Is Petra now more of a musical franchise than a bona-fide band? Of Petra’s original members, only Bob Hartman remains, and he works behind the scenes on ‘God Fixation’ as songwriter and executive producer. To be sure, Hartman’s still straightforward approach to ministry harkens to Petra’s earliest work. But his lyrics scan more like sermonettes than songs, and his choruses (particularly on the title cut) can sound heavy-handed. The lack of subtlety could have easily been tempered by more poetry, paradox and imagination – though ‘God Fixation’ remains a fine album to crank up loud.

Still, painting spiritual truth in such literal terms, while biblically sound, is artistically rigid. And it leaves Petra at least partially rooted in Christian music’s past. [Lou Carlozo, CCM, May 1998]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/god-fixation/1165979182)

CD tracklist:

01. If I Had To Die For Someone
02. Hello Again
03. A Matter Of Time
04. Falling Up
05. Over The Horizon
06. God Fixation
07. Set For Life
08. Magnet Of The World
09. Shadow Of A Doubt
10. St. Augustine’s Pears
11. The Invitation

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Word Records.

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