Reviewed by David Cranson

Oh, brilliant I Thought, another unplugged album – how original …I was right, and wrong.
Like – only a wee bit like – the ‘Ampendectomy’ album by Resurrection Band, this has its moments, only not as many as its peer. Whilst ‘Amp…’ works most of the time, this one doesn’t. It’s what they’ve done with the songs that’s the problem. To these ears, which have heard a LOT of Petra, they’ve got most of the arrangements wrong. Too negative in fee, too minor rather than major. The strings lend a depressive feel to the tracks they appear on. The only tracks which really work are the two new ones, probably written with a “live in the studio…sound” (quote, unquote) in mind; especially “The Longing”, very good and reminiscent of the quieter feel on the “No Doubt” album. I remember “Beyond Belief”, “He Came, He Saw…”, “Beat The System” and “Dance” etc the first time round; they were uplifting and inspiring, now they’re flat and very uninspiring. “This Means War” was a battle cry, now it’s boring and repetitive. Even “Just Reach Out” is not quite what it once was. If they set out to redefine old songs, they’ve done it. If they set out to positively redefine old songs, they’ve failed. Sorry.