Over The Horizon [CD]

Multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer (Lazarus Dream, Mystery Moon, Winterland) launches the third album of his Melodic Rock all-star project, Barnabas Sky. In keeping with tradition, Tyketto's Danny Vaughn again opens the album with the epic track "The Sign Of The Wolf." He is represented with two songs, as are David Cagle (Silent Tiger) and Dirk Kennedy (Hittman). Tony Harnell (TNT) enhances the elegiac ballad "The Only Way" with his unmistakable voice, for which Heart Line keyboardist Jorris Guilbaud contributed a string arrangement. Lee Small (The Sweet/Lionheart) takes on the groovy "Lone Wolf," which is reminiscent of old Queensryche, the Swede Conny Lind (Amaze Me) sings about social media on "Book Of Faces" and the title track is sung by the young up-and-coming talent Deibys Artigas (Preincarnation) from Venezuela, who doesn't have to hide behind his well-known colleagues with his distinctive voice and impressive vocal range. Pfeffer combines edgy guitar riffs, filigree solos and shimmering synthesizer sounds with catchy melodies and has several melodic rock earworms on the album, such as "Platform Of A Star," as well as overlong tracks such as the title track and the 9-minute epic track "Scirocco Sands." The mastering by Rolf Munkes (Empire Studios) is responsible for the transparent and powerful sound, while the futuristic cover was created by Argentinian artist Nicolas Oliveros.