Petra - Farewell

Reviewed by Haydon Spenceley

Following the success of the 'Jekyll And Hyde' album, it was something of a surprise to learn that Petra were to disband, admittedly after 33 years as a serious touring band, which is certainly not to be sniffed at. This DVD is part of a pair of releases (the other is an audio CD) which were released to mark their passing. Recorded in Franklin, Tennessee on October 4th 2005, and featuring former members Greg X Volz (vocals) and John Lawry (keys), as well as mainstay Bob Hartman on guitar, alongside the latest (and as it turns out final) Petra line up, the concert showcases a selection of hits new and old, including "This Means War", "Jekyll And Hyde", "Grave Robber" (cited as a band favourite in the revealing accompanying interview documentary) and "He Came, He Saw, He Conquered". As well as those we are offered the Rock Medley and Acoustic Set, which provide glimpses of songs old and new. The concert is well shot, giving a good feel of the atmosphere of the event itself. Petra's good time rock 'n' roll sound and straightforward lyrics were not to everyone's taste, and after a while the repetitive nature of the material begins to show, as does the fact that John Schlitt has slightly less energy on-stage these days, but this is not to diminish 'Farewell' as a fine testament to a trailblazing band. A true piece of Christian rock history.