One of the surprise packages during 1990 was this release on the Christian Pakaderm label by the trio called Halo.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Halo
ALBUM: Halo
LABEL: Pakaderm
SERIAL: 701250126X
YEAR: 1990
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Scott Springer – vocals, bass * Keith Mims – guitars, vocals * Mike Graham – drums, keyboards, vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 Jesus Music * 02 Lord Of All * 03 Good Feeling * 04 Language Barrier * 05 Skyrocket * 06 Lose To Live * 07 Sing (Of His Glory) * 08 Soul Searcher * 09 Time To Run * 10 Timeless
Background
One of the surprise packages during 1990 was this release on the Christian Pakaderm label by the trio called Halo. Now, anything released on the Elefante brothers label Pakaderm should be worth investigating, such is their reputation for putting out quality product including their own Mastedon material.
Hailing from the state of Alabama, Halo are no exception. I have to say that despite the overly Christian messages throughout the album, this is one of my favourite discs during 1990. Mostly all the tracks are high class, catchy, and some of those choruses are so infectious. Halo get a helping hand by the likes of Bob Hartman from Petra, Tony Palacios from Guardian, John Schreiner, as well as the Elefante’s themselves, John and Dino.
The Songs
‘Jesus Music’ is as bright an opening for an album that I’ve heard in a long while. That chorus is just awesome. They turn their hand to pomp with ‘Good Feeling’, the keyboards and the rich vocal harmonies combine well.
The parping keyboards made famous by the band Europe reappear on ‘Lose To Live’ while the melodic attack is kept up on the sweeping ‘Skyrocket’ and ‘Time To Run’. The bands slower moments are quite heartfelt affairs, though with religious connotations rather than the ‘lost love’ scenarios we associate with ballads. In any case, ‘Soul Searcher’ and ‘Language Barrier’ are superb examples.
In Summary
If you know their music already, then this is no surprise to you then. For those who wish to experiment, then check this out immediately, as well as their follow up ‘Heavens Calling’ from 1991. The mere fact that the Elefante’s are involved should help you cement that decision.
It appears on further research that Springer and Co had been on the scene as far back as the early 80’s. Formed in 1980 in fact. There is a 2020 release on Girder Records, which is a reissue of Halo’s 1982 unreleased album called ‘Life Goes On’. Here’s a link. It’s available on CD but I haven’t seen it on YTM yet. Apparently it sounds like early Van Halen. Obviously God works in mysterious ways.
Halo on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
