When Petra began its career in the early ‘70s, the idea of a Christian rock ‘n’ roll band was still a controversial notion in some church circles. It’s not surprising, then, that the group’s self-titled 1974 debut album is more restrained and polite than later efforts. In those days, the band was heavily influenced by Southern rock and favored the twin-guitar attack employed by the Allman Brothers and similar groups. What set Petra apart, of course, was their heartfelt devotion to Christ, expressed plainly in songs like “Get Back to the Bible,” “Wake Up” and “Walkin’ In The Light.” The generally boogie and blues-rocking thrust of the album is seasoned with some tasty banjo and mandolin picking, courtesy of Bob Hartman and Greg Hough. At their best, Petra achieves a back-porch chemistry on tracks like “I’m Not Ashamed” and “Storm Comin’,” where their Sunday morning testifying and Saturday night guitar heroics meld together naturally. A few years later, the band would add vocalist Greg X. Volz and aim for a meatier arena-rock sound. The Petra album captures them in their early Jesus Music days, when their approach was less strident and more unaffectedly down-home.