Dark Sky – 'Edge of Time'
                                                                                                                                                                                      Released on Goodlife Records in 2002

 THE BAND:
Frank Breuninger – vocals
Steffen Doll – guitars
Winny Zurek – bass
Claudio Nobile – keyboards
Uwe Mayer – drums


TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) “Bartimaeus”-This track opens with a very classic sounding electric guitar pattern.  The drum rhythm and bass line have a real simple groove sound to them.  At times on the snare you hear almost a rim shot sound, but this effect was done with studio tricks.  The vocal line is very laid back and melodic.  There are a couple real cool double bass drum patterns through the pre-chorus.  The chorus also has these real huge melodic backing vocal harmonies.  There is a keyboard/guitar solo that is real short.  During the last chorus there is a real small lead scale.
2.) “Searchin’ for better Tears”-This track opens with a bass line.  The vocal arrangement of the first verse has a small abstract vocal over dub.  There is a real cool bass line break down section.  Also during the breakdown section there is a small vocal harmony piece.  The coolest section of the song is the vocal harmonies at the end.
3.) “Hope still hasn’t gone”-This track opens in almost the same keyboard arrangement as Hearts “Alone”.  The vocal line of the verse is very laid back and subtle.  The keyboard arrangement is so close except for a couple bars to “Alone” you could almost consider it a rip off.  I really liked the vocal arrangement of the choruses.  The chorus builds with emotion and dynamics.  The solo was very laid back following the vocal arrangement.  Really what the song needed was a more intense solo.
4.) “Judgement Day”-This track opens with a small melodic lead scale.  The backing harmonies are very similar to some of the third generation melodic bands of the eighties.  This track has a very intense twin guitar solo, but it is very short. 
5.) “Look in my Eyes”-This track opens with a keyboard arrangement.  The song kicks off very intensely but drastically changes for the opening verse.  The vocal lines are too laid back for the musical arrangement.  When the chorus kicks in the song does pick up more and does sound better.  With that being said, sorry guys but a chorus does not make a song.  You have to hook the listener right off.  Too bad that this is the first song off the CD that has a decent solo.  
6.) “Touching You”-This track kicks off with a Deep Purple sounding keyboard sound.  There is a huge hook within the guitar arrangement right off.  The backing vocals of the chorus are very melodic and also have a huge hook within them. 
7.) “In my Mind”-This track opens with an acoustic guitar pattern.  The vocal arrangement of the verse is very laid back.  The chorus is a little on the abstract side compared to the rest of the song. 
8.) “Hard Life”-This track opens with a very cool guitar arrangement and double bass drum pattern.  The chorus is very intense.  The drum rhythm change for the solo is by far the best thing on the CD so far.   
9.) “Fading Light”-This track opens with a very laid back melodic musical pattern.  You really can tell of the huge vocal hook coming up in the chorus during the verse.  Musically this song is a lot better arranged than the others on the CD.  
10.) “By Your Side”-This semi-pop sounding track opens with a keyboard arrangement and lead guitar scale.  The lyrical arrangement has the words right where they need to be.  So you get a huge hook from the lyrical arrangement.  The chorus was just a little sugar coated for my taste, but it’s not bad.  There are little lead scales between each verse and chorus.  The band gets a huge sound with the backing harmonies on this song. 
11.) “The Edge”-Instrumental
12.) “Turn Away”-This track opens with a huge guitar pattern.  During the intro there is a huge but short lead guitar scale.  During the pre-chorus there is a real cool double bass drum pattern.  The main guitar rhythm has a very intense feel to it.  There is a small keyboard solo on this track. 


         “Edge of Darkness” falls way short of being a classic!!  The vocalist has a great voice and the musicians do know how to play their instruments.   But the band in whole does better on songs that are of a more pop sound than the heavier songs.  So going by that the band in probably in the wrong genre.  If you are a fan of melodic rock than “Edge of Time” is not the CD for you to buy.  I would spend my money on anot