Dave's Review

Artist: Third Promise
Title: The Secret
Producers: George Hairr and Jonathan Martin
Label: Mission House Music Group
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Female trios are becoming a popular trend in Southern Gospel. Third Promise joins those ranks with their debut project on the newly created Mission House Music Group record label. Titled The Secret, this recording has strong production quality value. Six of the ten choices are upbeat. You can definitely hear some Martins influences. It's likely that producer Jonathan Martin had some impact in that area.

The songwriting is very good as well, drawing from recognizable writers like Mosie Lister ("I've Been Changed"), Buddy Mullins, and Reggie Smith. Three tunes were written by Deanna Surles, who also oversaw the CD artwork. Her tune "Hiding Place" is the strongest slow tune on the CD. The up-tempo songs like "Pray, Pray, Pray" (written by Steven Hill and Woody Wright) and Surles' "That Was Then, This Is Now" will have more potential for Third Promise on Southern Gospel radio. Right now, the vocalists seem to be more creative when singing the songs that really get up and move.

Seeing new artists enter the field is always encouraging. Third Promise has the potential to be a progressive force, bridging some stylistic gaps for the genre.

Let's conclude with a few "ifs." If forced to put a label on Third Promise's style, I'd call it "Fun Southern Gospel." If you're looking for a pop Christian music comparison, Third Promise is what Avalon would be if Avalon's focus was on the Southern Gospel market. And finally, if Third Promise's concert performances have the same energy level as their recording, expect to hear their name mentioned more and more, especially by younger fans.