Beat the System is the seventh studio release of the Christian rock

Christian rock

Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...

 band, Petra

Petra (band)

Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...

. It was released in 1985.

It is the first album to feature John Lawry

John Lawry

John Lawry is a Christian musician, composer, producer, and songwriter. He is most remembered for being the keyboardist of Christian rock band Petra during their most prolific years.-Biography:...

 on keyboards

Keyboard instrument

A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...

. He is featured prominently in it, veering the sound of the album more in the techno-rock genre of music. It is also the last studio album to feature the vocals of Greg X. Volz

Greg X. Volz

Gregory Xavier Volz is a Christian singer. He is most noted for being the former lead singer of Christian rock band Petra from 1979 to 1985 and is currently the lead vocalist of the reunited lineup.-Biography:...

.

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Hartman

Bob Hartman

Robert Hartman is a Christian artist, guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of Christian rock band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972 to its end in 2005. He took a break from touring in 1995, but continued to write most of the band's songs,...

, except where noted.

1. "Beat the System" – 4:22
2. "Computer Brains" – 4:01
3. "Clean" – 3:01
4. "It Is Finished" – 3:52
5. "Voice in the Wind" – 4:30
6. "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (Words & Music by Russ Ballard
   Russ Ballard
   Russell Glyn Ballard is an English singer, songwriter and musician.-Career:Ballard was initially a guitarist with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on piano and Bob Henrit on drums...
   
   ) – 3:54
7. "Witch Hunt" – 4:34
8. "Hollow Eyes" – 4:03
9. "Speak to the Sky" – 4:16
10. "Adonai" – 4:42

Track Information

The album includes the band's second cover of "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", the first being on 1977's Come and Join Us

Come and Join Us

Come and Join Us is the second studio release of the Christian rock band Petra. It was released in 1977.The album continues with a style similar to the one of their previous album, which is something between country and southern rock. However, the music is more rock-oriented, and the lyrics show...

. While the album credits Argent

Argent (band)

Argent are an English rock band founded in 1969 by keyboardist Rod Argent, formerly of The Zombies.-Career:The first three demos from Argent, recorded in the autumn of 1968 featured Mac MacLeod on bass guitar though he was not meant to become a member of the group.Original members of the band were...

's Russ Ballard

Russ Ballard

Russell Glyn Ballard is an English singer, songwriter and musician.-Career:Ballard was initially a guitarist with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on piano and Bob Henrit on drums...

 as sole songwriter this version, like the earlier version, contains lyrics not heard in the original Argent version.

Guitarist Bob Hartman

Bob Hartman

Robert Hartman is a Christian artist, guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of Christian rock band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972 to its end in 2005. He took a break from touring in 1995, but continued to write most of the band's songs,...

 stated that the recordings of some songs were left unfinished for the album and subsequently never released.

Petra

• Bob Hartman
  Bob Hartman
  Robert Hartman is a Christian artist, guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of Christian rock band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972 to its end in 2005. He took a break from touring in 1995, but continued to write most of the band's songs,...
  
   - Guitar, background vocals
• Greg X. Volz
  Greg X. Volz
  Gregory Xavier Volz is a Christian singer. He is most noted for being the former lead singer of Christian rock band Petra from 1979 to 1985 and is currently the lead vocalist of the reunited lineup.-Biography:...
  
   - Lead vocals
• John Lawry
  John Lawry
  John Lawry is a Christian musician, composer, producer, and songwriter. He is most remembered for being the keyboardist of Christian rock band Petra during their most prolific years.-Biography:...
  
   - Keyboards, background vocals
• Mark Kelly
  Mark Kelly (bassist)
  Mark Dean Kelly is a Christian bass guitarist most remembered for being a member of Christian rock band Petra during the 1980s...
  
   - Bass guitar, synthesizer bass, background vocals
• Louie Weaver
  Louie Weaver
  Louie Weaver III is a Christian drummer most famous for being the long-time drummer of legendary Christian rock band Petra for 22 years. Weaver was controversially dismissed from the band in 2003. He is currently working on several projects. In 2010, Weaver reunited with former members of Petra...
  
   - Drums, percussion

Recording

• Recorded and Mixed at Mama Jo's Recording Studio, North Hollywood, California by Jonathan David Brown
• Assisted by Todd Van Etten
• Additional recording at The Bennett House Recording Studios, Franklin, Tennessee
  Franklin, Tennessee
  Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
  
  
• Assisted by J.T. Cantwell and Don Cobb
• Mastering at Future Disc Systems by Steve Hall