Drownedinsound.com
Halo - Cold Light Of Day
It begins with immaculate unbacked harmonies, slightly unexpected after what they've done before. Then there's a moment of feedback before the guitars attack the song and it races away into another dramatic angst-rocker like 'Still Here' or its B-sides, with the chorus chanted over and over again on top of those tortured guitars that probably wouldn't sound out of place on Muse's 'Showbiz'.

The comparison with them is fairly inevitable, although Halo's equally high-pitched singer doesn't go to the same level of wailing histrionics and 'The Cold Light Of Day' has a sleek insistence about it that makes it sound more focused and straight to the point than some of Muse's excesses.

In overview, it easily beats any of the tracks on the first EP, and suggests a good amount of promise for the future from Halo.
4/5


Kerrang!
 Halo - 'Still Here' K rating:KKKK
If you're quick you can get your hands on this, the debut EP from Bristol quartet Halo, for free. The first 2000 people to hang-five along to www.halomusic.com will be sent an EP for nothing. And you shouldn't look this particular thorough-bred gift stallion in the mouth, as this is a quality opening shot from the band with lots of clever dynamics and gorgeous melodies, like Muse without the fret-wankery and vocal histrionics. Who said you never get anything for free?


NME.com
Halo - 'Still Here EP'
The line between sensitive rock dramatics and Proper Theatre blurs further. Like Muse, Bristol-based Halo make a noise so demonic that at least one track here (the swooping 'Echoes') is more 'Phantom Of The Opera' than Top 40. Opener 'Still Here' tempers the histrionics, though, and achieves a more realistic balance between singer Graeme Moncrieff's overwrought vocals and the frenetic scramble of Mansun-esque guitars. If they can replicate that, people may well be muttering slightly insanely about sonic cathedrals and life-changing moments by the time Halo's album sees the light of day next summer (they've signed to Sony's S2 label). Until then, this is a completely free taster. You can't say fairer than that.


Kerrang!
 Halo - 'Cold Light Of Day' K rating:K
This may have a horrifying cappella opening but it doesn't take long to realise that Halo are just a Muse rip-off band: same searing guitar sound, same whiny vocals, same big chorus. Get your own sound boys- this ones already taken Joe: (grimacing) Ugh. Its got a really busy sound. Too busy. Alvin: Whats with that constant guitar noise? Theres way too much going on here. Is there something wrong with the stereo?
Aaron: I've heard a million bands that sound exactly the same as this. I don't even have an opinion on it becuase it's so middle of the road

This week's reviewers: The Icarus Line


Rocksound
Halo - 'Cold Light Of Day
 Bristol bunch Halo sound suspiciously like a Latino boy band on their debut release. But, centering on simple melodies, vocal harmonies and a touch of flamenco, as long as you don't expect anything too revolutionary, 'Cold Light Of Day' might just pull you out of those winter blues.
3/5


Reviewed4u.com
Halo Still Here EP
 Halo are a Bristol Based 4 piece band who've just releases their debut EP 'Still Here' exclusively on line via their Website www.halomusic.com . The EP is free top the first 2000 subscribers and I can confirm that it's pretty damn good too.

They've got a distinctive rock sound not too disimilar to the manics. The key difference though is that their melodies are very strong with annoyingly catchy hooks.

'Sanctimonious' in particular stands out and although all the tracks on EP are excellent. ''Echoes' is good apart from the guitar arpeggio from 'a design for life'. In general though it's better than most of the crap that passes for Rock music.


NME.com
Halo Cold Light of day
 A Bristol-based amateur dramatics society, apparently, Halo attempt to take the stigma from the word 'epic' by turning in an audacious, swirling maelstrom of a debut single. It sounds a bit metal, a bit Muse, and a bit like something European from the 1980s. It goes, 'In the cold light of day the colours all fade away/We're left with monotony/Nothing to say' - which is a bit ironic, really, because those are pretty much the only lyrics to the song. Monotony, thy name is Halo.

Still, there's something extremely likeable about Graeme Moncrieff's fluid falsetto, and there's an ambitious tenacity to the sheer sweep of this song that suggests Halo will soon be back with bigger and better offerings.