Dark Sky - Empty Faces (2008)

Dark Sky - Empty Faces

 

When it comes to music, I’m certainly not biased. I know people who ‘hate’ German rock and metal bands, because they sound typically ‘teutonic’, as it were. I couldn’t care less, as long as quality is getting delivered.
I have always seen potential in Dark Sky and with their last album, “Living & Dying” (AOR Heaven, 2005), I welcomed them into the first league of German melodic rock bands, already populated by such great acts as Bonfire, Jaded Heart and a whole lot more. Following the release of that album, the band gigged a lot (in support of Scorpions and Thunder) before Frank Breuninger (v) and Steffen Doll (g) started writing material for album # 4. At the beginning of 2007 the band entered the Bazement Studio near Wiesbaden, once again under the helm of producer Markus Teske (Vanden Plas), where they recorded 6 tracks for a demo. The recorded material was so good that a sceptic Georg Siegl gave the guys the green light to record a second full-length album for his label. Being a busy guy however, Dark Sky had to wait for Teske until February of this year before they could record enough additional songs to make a strong selection.
The result is called “Empty Faces” and it’s once again an impressive piece of work from this sympathetic melodic hard rock band hailing from South Germany. The songs are of a high quality, performed by a seasoned band in optima forma and produced in the best possible way. So, all is here to force that much-deserved and long-awaited breakthrough. Among the songs that I like most are the up-tempo opener “Hands Up”, the title song “Empty Faces” (one of the heaviest DS tracks so far), the Michael Sembello cover “Maniac” (they made it sound like a track of their own), the propelling rocker “Pleasure & Pain” and the hidden track “Final Day”. Another winner for Dark Sky and AOR Heaven, so don’t hesitate to order your copy now!

copas from http://www.rockreport.be/review.asp?id=2110

Tracklist
1. Hands Up
2. Empty Faces
3. Slave Of Time
4. Send Them To Hell
5. Chase Your Dreams
6. Maniac
7. Saints Beneath The Sky
8. Pleasure & Pain
9. Believe It
10. Meaning Of Life
11. Final Day

TKP

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Dark Sky - Living & Dying (2005)

Dark Sky - Living & Dying

Some of you out there will remember that I was ‘charmed’ by “Edge Of Time”, the second album from German melodic rock band Dark Sky, which was released by GoodLife Records in the autumn of 2002. The follow-up, called “Living & Dying”, is the first for new label AOR Heaven and it marks another huge step forward for this sympathetic fivesome from the south of Germany. The recordings took place in the Bazement Studios near Wiesbaden with nobody else than Markus Teske in the producer’s seat. The man is known from his work with Vanden Plas and surely knows how to set down a solid sound. In the past some reviewers accused Dark Sky of being too keyboard-orientated, but that’s surely not the case with this new album. Of course the keykoards still play an important role in the overall sound of the band, but in some of the tracks the guitars are prominent. The strength of this album lies in the variety of the material. As far as I’m concerned, it’s obvious that the songs come from the heart and that this has resulted in exciting and catchy songs, compact yet full of melody and emotion. Some will call Dark Sky a typical German band, but a fat lot I care. As long as the quality is so high as what we get here, it doesn’t matter of which origin the band is. Guys, I’d like to welcome you to the first league of German melodic rock bands, already populated by such great bands as Bonfire, Jaded Heart and a whole lot more.

copas from http://www.rockreport.be/review.asp?id=1086

Tracklist:
1. Escaped
2. Twisted
3. Save Our Souls
4. Living & Dying
5. You Are My Life
6. Back Again
7. The Feeling Is Over
8. See The Light
9. Play The Game
10. Give Love To Everyone
11. Light Up The Darkness
12. Cute Little Lies
13. Tonight

TKP

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Dark Sky - Edge of Time (2002)

Dark Sky - Edge of Time

Loyal readers will remember that I was quite impressed by Dark Sky’s debut album “Believe It”. In Rock Report # 47 (spring 2001) I rewarded it with no less than 85/100 and so, I coupled my review to an interview with all band members in that same issue.
We’re now one and a half year further and what I have in my CD player, is an advance CD-R of the soon to be released (Oct. 1) second studio album “Edge Of Time”. Earlier this year - on April 29 to be precisely - guitarist Ashes left the band and was replaced by Steffen Doll, who just arrived in time to record the guitar parts of the new album. The rest of the band still consists of ‘veterans’ Frank Breuninger (v), Winny Zurek (b), Uwe Mayer (d) and Claudio Nobile (k).
“Edge Of Time” counts 12 tracks and - surprise surprise - opens with one of the heavier tracks, called “Bartimaeus” (named after the blind man from the bible). It’s a great opener, featuring a Steffen Doll who right away proves that he is a worthy successor to the departed Ashes. But the other members are also in top-notch form and all the characteristics of Dark Sky’s melodic rock sound are here in all their brilliance again: excellent lead and harmony vocals, strong guitar and keybard parts, great hooks and catchy melodies and choruses. “Searchin’ For Better Tears” is more of the same, before we come to the piano intro of “Hope Still Hasn’t Gone”, which reminds me very much of Heart’s “Alone”. Anyone who likes ballads will agree with me that it’s a great song, with a brilliant Breuninger, who surely has grown, but still suffers a bit from that stubborn German accent. Also hats off to newcomer Doll whose subtle axework may surely be heard. After that it’s full throttle again with “Judgement Day”. With a playing time of a little more than 3 minutes it’s a compact song, but everything is in place to make it a highlight during live shows of the band. “Look In My Eyes” is another of Dark Sky’s typical mid- to up-tempo songs with great harmony vocals, before we reach the first highlights of the album. Keyboards and slamming drums form the intro to “Touching You”, which has a killer chorus, that will surely invite you to sing along with the band members. Brilliant stuff, but the following “In My Mind” is the real ace of the pack! Allowing to catch our breath at the start, this song gradually evolves into one of the best rock tracks on “Edge Of Time”. Then, it’s full speed again with the guitar driven “Hard Life” (hats off to the rhythm section here!) and “Fading Light” (again with those brilliant backing vocals!). The party goes on with “By Your Side” (softer, yet very melodic) and comes to an end with a short instrumental piece - called “The Edge” - which only serves as an introduction to another highlight: the up-tempo album closer “Turn Away”.
Conclusion: Being more guitar driven and (a bit) heavier than the debut album, “Edge Of Time” offers the listener 12 compact songs, that pass in review in no time. Whenever I reached the end of the album, I couldn’t resist to press the play button again, which clearly proves that this is a quality melodic hard rock album from a band that really deserves to become more popular. Sure the guys deliver nothing new, but what they do, they do it in style. So, do yourself (and your neighbours) a favour and buy this album, which (by the way) is produced by Sheela’s very own Markus Teske. Feel sad? Listen to this CD and you’ll be happy in no time again…

copas from http://www.rockreport.be/review.asp?id=53

Tracklist:
1. Bartimaeus
2. Searchin’ For Better Tears
3. Hope Still Hasn’t Gone
4. Judgement Day
5. Look In My Eyes
6. Touching You
7. In My Mind
8. Hard Life
9. Fading Light
10. By Your Side
11. The Edge
12. Turn Away

 TKP

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Dark Sky - Believe It (2000)

Dark Sky - Believe It

Tracklist:
1.     Rock Me     04:23    
2.     Stay Young     03:41    
3.     Masih Ada Rindu     03:38    
4.     In the Name of God     04:39    
5.     Pray for the World     03:55    
6.     On and On     03:34    
7.     Magna Quaedam Spectare     00:40    
8.     Gimme a Try     03:44    
9.     Believe It     06:20    
10.     Tell Me Why     03:40    
11.     Jane     04:54    
12.     Living in Paradise     04:29    
13.     Call Me     03:49    
14.     Eternity     05:25      

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Dark Sky - Initium (2012)

Dark Sky - Initium (2012)

One cannot listen to DARK SKY’s latest release “Initium” and not instantly think of GRAVE DIGGER’s 2005 Power Metal release “The Last Supper”. Both releases are concept albums about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their lyrical content follows a similar path about the betrayal of Judas, the last supper and of course the death and rebirth of Jesus. Neither album comes across as a Christian Metal release but told more as a narrative. Concept records in general are hit or miss for me but I can look past the interwoven story and lyrics and enjoy individual songs based on their own merit. Both bands also hail from Germany and you cannot deny the obvious influence GRAVE DIGGER has had on DARK SKY’s current release.
While retaining some of the more melodic hard rock sound of their earlier albums, DARK SKY is now incorporating a European Power Metal spirit with modern metal tendencies. Released through Germany’s Pure Legend Records “Initium” is DARK SKY’s fifth release and finds them exploring new directions and showing some diversity throughout the record. “The Vision” and “Lost In Confusion” are incredibly catchy sing along anthems taken right out of the modern day NOCTURNAL RITES playbook. They explore more of the Andi Deris era HELLOWEEN sound on “You’re Alive” and the heavy de-tuned chugger “Shout It Out”. The standout track is the 6:19 centrepiece “I Swear”, a QUEEN inspired Power Metal classic. Combining a chorus that won’t leave your head, orchestration that works subtly and JOURNEY inspired piano playing; they all come together and perfectly capture the essence of who DARK SKY can be when they play up to their full potential.
As a vocalist, Frank Breuninger is very skilled coming up with some captivating vocal melodies. Just about every track on “Initium” has a surprising sing-a-long chorus. I would love to see him work a little on his phonetics and enunciation even though this is a common blemish in a lot of European Power Metal. At times the lyrics are a little un-developed; this is where their Hard Rock roots rear their head. This is a power metal album though and I am not expecting introspective lyrics and can easily overlook some of those flaws. What I am expecting are some flashier and dazzling guitar solos. There simply aren’t enough of them and when we do get a lead from Steffen they are serviceable but not quite jaw dropping. The talent is there but he just might need a producer to push him to play a little bit above his ability. By incorporating a little more interplay between the guitar and keyboard in solo sections the band would benefit by making the songs a little more electrifying.
Overall, this is a much more enjoyable release than I was expecting. Regardless if GRAVE DIGGER has already utilized the same exact storyline DARK SKY’s songs are strong enough to stand on their own. I was initially unenthusiastic by the thought of reviewing this album due to the subject matter but was pleasantly proven wrong, as this is a fun, heavy, and catchy sounding record. If you are a fan of melodic Metal or Power Metal do yourself a favour and check out DARK SKY

copas dari http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/d_2/dark-sky-initium.htm

Tracklist:
1. Initium
2. The Vision
3. Food For A Million
4. Judas 1 – Dancing With The Devil
5. Last Supper
6. Gethsemane
7. I Swear
8. Lost In Confusion
9. Interludium
10. Judas 2 – Take My Life
11. You’re Alive
12. The Rock
13. Shout It Out
14. Eternity

TKP

password : my nymph

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