By the time 1981 came and Petra released their 4th studio album Never Say Die, the band was in a rejuvenated state. Greg X. Volz, after making guest appearances on their previous two records, signed on as full-time lead vocalist. Meanwhile, bassist Mark Kelly and keyboardist John Slick were also brought aboard. While the drum slot remained open for the recording of this album, the rest of the group felt more settled. They also found a producer they would go on to work with for their next run of albums in Jonathan David Brown. Aside from these factors, the lone original member, guitarist and songwriter Bob Hartman, no longer felt the need to soften the group's sound and cater to the pop crowd. He had a renewed sense of purpose and a renewed fervor to make rock 'n' roll music for Jesus.

At first, it may not seem like much has changed between this album and their previous pop effort, Washes Whiter Than. "The Coloring Song" feels more like a leftover from Washes, with its pipe sounds and soft acoustic guitar. Any misconceptions, however, are dissipated with the fast opening riff of "Chameleon." From there, it's a solid run of rock songs, including the fan favorite "Angel of Light". Side A even ends with a Southern Gospel flavored worship song in the Volz-penned "Without Him We Can Do Nothing". Side B shows the softer side of the band as the title track, "I Can Be Friends With You," and "Father of Lights" carry a beat, but don't feel as rockin' in spirit. "For Annie" is the tear-jerking, piano-driven radio ballad at the center of this side, but "Praise Ye the Lord" (also by Volz) ends the album with a bang and another rollicking worship track.

While some might feel the musical elements of the album are unbalanced, the message feels more focused this time around. The evangelistic zeal of the band remains in tracks like "The Coloring Song" or "For Annie," but the lyrics make a more drastic shift toward any Christians listening in. "Chameleon" warns against acting like the world; "Angel of Light" warns of the ways Satan can trick us in the modern era. "Killing My Old Man" offers a fighting alternative, while the title track encourages the believer to keep going. "I Can Be Friends With You" and "Father of Lights" highlight the special union we have with the God we serve. The praise tracks that end each side also feel like intentional choices. If Side A focuses on the challenges we have living Christian lives today, "Without Him We Can Do Nothing" centers the believer's mind on Who can ultimately win the victory. Then, if Side B is more about encouragement for the Christian in his walk, "Praise Ye the Lord" guides the listener to the place where he or she should end up.

Never Say Die was a monumental album for Petra. "The Coloring Song" was a massive hit, which helped, but more importantly, the band found a balance when it came to crafting an album: have a couple radio-ready singles and then let the other songs rock. It was a winning formula that Petra would re-create on albums throughout the rest of their career. For all of these positive strides forward, the album suffers slightly in the production department (Hartman's guitar tone sounds terrible, for instance). Also, as noted above, the record can feel unbalanced between the two sides in terms of tone. In spite of these critiques, Never Say Die holds a beloved spot in many a Pethead's heart, and for good reason. The band feels focused, finally hitting a stride, and with the next record after this one, they strike gold.

- Review date: 4/18/24, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com