When Luna Halo released their debut album Shimmer on Sparrow Records in 2000, we were offered a stunning collection of pop/rock songs that carried a message of faith, hope, forgiveness, love, and a desperate longing to be closer to God. In early 2002, Luna Halo and Sparrow parted ways, and many feared that we would never hear from the band again.

This fear was quickly put to death by the release of a 4 song self-titled EP in the summer of 2002 with the promise of full-length album to follow. That album never came. The Luna Halo website teased us with news of a second EP, which was also never released, and fans began to wonder if Luna Halo would EVER release another CD. While fans have been patiently waiting, Luna Halo has spent the past few years refining their art, writing and touring constantly, and finally, they have something new to show for it, a new 4 song EP titled Wasting Away.

Wasting Away opens with it's stunning title track. The guitars are heavier, the vocals are more aggressive, and the result is the perfect introduction to Luna Halo's best musical offering to date. The second track, "Over The Edge," was recorded last year for the European New Drug EP. The improved production quality on the Wasting Away EP gives "Over The Edge" the treatment it deserves. The gem of the EP is "Bittersweet," a song about the pain of caring about someone who takes advantage of how you feel about them and gives nothing in return.

Luna Halo's lead singer and primary songwriter Nathan Barlowe uses his gift of symbolism on "Save Me," a song that uses a play on words to let someone know that you care about them, but can live without them. The line "I don't need you / you're not my Jesus / but you could save me tonight" may not sit well with some listeners, but it's important to take the context of the song as a whole into consideration and remember that it is just a play on words, and is not meant to be taken literally.

Lyrically, the Wasting Away EP is darker and more emotional than their previous releases. This is not a bad thing, however fans that are familiar with their more uplifting songs may be caught off guard by the rawness of their new material.

Is Luna Halo's music wasting away? Not hardly, and this EP is proof that the best is yet to come…

- Review date: 5/26/04, written by David Taylor