Is Mastedon Better than Petra?

Is Mastedon Better than Petra?
Yes, no? Why?

I like Petra a lot but that first Mastedon album is so killer. I don't compare them, they seem too different.

Oh man, though call.
I like Mastedon's sound a little more than Petra's.  But Petra has such a massive catalog....I'm kind of with Black Rider here.  I couldn't pick.

Now if you pitted White Heart against Petra that might be a better comparison.  Both had a very radio friendly kind of sound, and both had an extensive catalog.

2-3 albums vs. 20 albums?  Can't compare.

Also, which individual albums?  Mastedon - It's a Jungle Out There vs. Petra - Washes Whiter Than?  Mastedon easily. Petra - Beyond Belief vs. anything by anyone ever?  99.9% I'll take Petra.  Beyond Belief is one of my all time favorite albums and Petra is one of my all time favorite bands.

eatbugs wrote:Mastedon - It's a Jungle Out There vs. Petra - Washes Whiter Than?  

Actually, that reminds me that I need to pick up Petra's "Come and Join Us" again

Bought4Life wrote:

eatbugs wrote:Mastedon - It's a Jungle Out There vs. Petra - Washes Whiter Than?  

Actually, that reminds me that I need to pick up Petra's "Come and Join Us" again

Come and Join Us is a Jesus Music classic.  Pick it up!  Washes Whiter Than is...I don't know.  Possibly my least favorite in Petra's entire catalog.

I don't see the competition. Just the amount of hits that Petra had alone. Or the amount of solidly written songs. I will say that I never cared for Mastedon. Tried listening to them a few times, but lose interest. I also don't like the Elefante sound.

I understand this is not a obvious question, mainly because Petra has a 33 years career. 


but we all know that the elefante brothers produced Petra on it's better days, and I actually just discovered Mastedon. And I have had the feeling that they looked like Petra on it's greatest form.

And even better, as Mastedon has some riffs that approach to a heavy metal feeling.

Weird not liking the Elefante sound, they produced some of the Petra albums.

I don't know about Mastedon, but Stryper is much better than Petra

It would be all a matter of tastes and mood, really.  I like both Petra and Mastedon.

Honestly never heard Mastedon until this thread. I'd seen them mentioned frequently and saw the front cover for the debit, that is it.

Listened to a few tracks (which sounded good) but also saw there were multiple vocalists. I've never been into that. Not sure if I'd hunt these down.

Mastedon's two albums from back in the day are must-haves. They are pristine examples of that AOR-tinged hard rock that the Elephante brothers were so well known for. I love both albums.

Petra is an all-time classic band with so much great music in its catalog that it would be hard for anyone to compare with them (save for Whiteheart, which is a debate for another day).
I choose to enjoy them both for what they were. Put a gun to my head, and I'm choosing Petra. But really, I love Mastedon too.

Art is in the ear of the beholder...I have been incessantly cranking Mastedon lately. Petra, not so much.

That being said, Petra possesses an awesome ouvre of music, and deserves all the accolades they receive.

Frozen Fire wrote:Honestly never heard Mastedon until this thread. I'd seen them mentioned frequently and saw the front cover for the debit, that is it.

Listened to a few tracks (which sounded good) but also saw there were multiple vocalists. I've never been into that. Not sure if I'd hunt these down.

Hunting them down isn't too hard right now as they both were recently reissued.  However, stock on the reissues is getting slim.

The multiple vocalist thing was a detractor, but it still has a cohesive feel as the songwriters were the same people.  There was a third project.  It was a John Elefante solo project and sold that way here and as Mastedon 3 in Europe.

Black Rider wrote:Weird not liking the Elefante sound, they produced some of the Petra albums.

There was a certain era where all the backing vocals were way over done and the drums had way too much reverb on them. Everything they touched at that time sounded like it was the same. Later they got better. Like Guardian's "Miracle Mile" is great album. Some of Petra's music suffered it as well. the saving grace is, they had better music in my opinion.

Nope...not better just different. You can’t compare the two...early Petra paved the way for Christian Rock and the middle albums were some of the best and held their own. Mastedon was a different beast altogether...I really like “Jungle and Lofcaudio” and I haven’t heard “3” ...the only similarities are that The Elefante brothers were involved.

deathisgain wrote:

Black Rider wrote:Weird not liking the Elefante sound, they produced some of the Petra albums.

There was a certain era where all the backing vocals were way over done and the drums had way too much reverb on them. Everything they touched at that time sounded like it was the same. Later they got better. Like Guardian's "Miracle Mile" is great album. Some of Petra's music suffered it as well. the saving grace is, they had better music in my opinion.

When you work in music industry, mainly in production, you've got to know what the band's goal is. 
If lots of Backing vocals and reverb in the drums was a thing at the time, then you can't blame the producers...

 this formula worked out so well for Petra, so the discussion here is more about preferences.

Ammocas wrote:Nope...not better just different. You can’t compare the two...early Petra paved the way for Christian Rock and the middle albums were some of the best and held their own. Mastedon was a different beast altogether...I really like “Jungle and Lofcaudio” and I haven’t heard “3” ...the only similarities are that The Elefante brothers were involved.

I can see some similarities in sound...

I wouldn't know how to compare Petra with Whiteheart, as their only similarity is the extensive catalog...(there was some calls about it some posts above)...

Thiago-Brazil wrote:

deathisgain wrote:

Black Rider wrote:Weird not liking the Elefante sound, they produced some of the Petra albums.

There was a certain era where all the backing vocals were way over done and the drums had way too much reverb on them. Everything they touched at that time sounded like it was the same. Later they got better. Like Guardian's "Miracle Mile" is great album. Some of Petra's music suffered it as well. the saving grace is, they had better music in my opinion.

When you work in music industry, mainly in production, you've got to know what the band's goal is. 
If lots of Backing vocals and reverb in the drums was a thing at the time, then you can't blame the producers...

 this formula worked out so well for Petra, so the discussion here is more about preferences.

It was popular across the board with all bands. That being said, The Elefante's sound was too formulaic around that time. I've run into other people that feel the same way.

deathisgain wrote:

Thiago-Brazil wrote:

deathisgain wrote:

Black Rider wrote:Weird not liking the Elefante sound, they produced some of the Petra albums.

There was a certain era where all the backing vocals were way over done and the drums had way too much reverb on them. Everything they touched at that time sounded like it was the same. Later they got better. Like Guardian's "Miracle Mile" is great album. Some of Petra's music suffered it as well. the saving grace is, they had better music in my opinion.

When you work in music industry, mainly in production, you've got to know what the band's goal is. 
If lots of Backing vocals and reverb in the drums was a thing at the time, then you can't blame the producers...

 this formula worked out so well for Petra, so the discussion here is more about preferences.

It was popular across the board with all bands. That being said, The Elefante's sound was too formulaic around that time. I've run into other people that feel the same way.

Ok, I agree.  Listen to Guardian - Fire and Love, Fear Not - Fear Not, The Brave - Battle Cries, and a few others, and they all have the same sound.  Where I disagree with deathisgain is that I love it!  Guardian - Fire and Love is one of my top three favorite albums.  Incidentally, Petra - Beyond Belief (also an Elefante production) is also a top three of mine and other than the big commercial production, it isn't a mimic of those other ones I mentioned.

I agree with eatbugs. Many of the Elephante brothers produced albums sounded alike, but I love that sound! I miss the big reverb drums! I miss the massive BGV sound!

The Elefante Brothers produced tons of albums that did not sound alike in other genres. In the 80's/90's hard rock arena, there was a similar sound already with most bands...period....no matter who produced it. 

Some other Elefante highlights ..

Dino Elefante produced Barren Cross' Believe EP and Rock For The King (not sure if John was in on those two), but both produced Atomic Arena and State of Control.

X-Sinner Get It and Peace Treaty

Bought4Life wrote:The Elefante Brothers produced tons of albums that did not sound alike in other genres. In the 80's/90's hard rock arena, there was a similar sound already with most bands...period....no matter who produced it. 

Some other Elefante highlights ..

Dino Elefante produced Barren Cross' Believe EP and Rock For The King (not sure if John was in on those two), but both produced Atomic Arena and State of Control.

X-Sinner Get It and Peace Treaty

Exactly...That's why I say, it was a trend at the time.

And if we think about, why would you hire any kind of specific professional? to do some specific work this profesional is known for...

We do this all the time as listeners as well. When you take a spin on your Stryper CD, it means you want to hear Michael Sweet's voice...

^^ I love X-Sinner Get it & Peace Treaty...I would like to see these both remastered and given the royal treatment with updated artwork and readable lyrics like they are doing now....although the originals do sound decent, being produced by the Elefante’s...but still could use a little beefiness.