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Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
Dark Sky - Signs Of The Time Album Art

Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time

Melodic Metal Rock
3.5/5.0

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Metalapolis Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 02.08.2023 | Released: 04.08.2023

I haven't hard from Germany's Dark Sky since I reviewed Initium in 2012. Some review of their history is necessary. The band dates back to 1982 where they were known mostly as an AOR hard rock band. Even after several demos in the Eighties, it would take 16 years before their debut album, Believe It would appear in 1998. Three more albums would drop until 2008's Empty Faces would appear on my pages. By then Dark Sky had morphed into a melodic metal rock band.

Dark Sky - Click For Larger Image

Dark Sky

Initium was next, and was followed six years later by Once, which never crossed my desk. Then COVID hit the universe. Excepting founding member and lead vocalist (before 1993 he played guitar), Frank Breuninger, everybody else bailed on the band. So, here we are. Dark returns with a completely new lineup for their fifth studio album Signs Of The Time.


As mentioned in the history, Dark Sky had been delivering mostly melodic metal rock for the last 15 years. The new album is not exception. Sharp metal riffage combines with hard rock rhythm and groove, perhaps a touch of power metal speed, catchy refrains, ripping guitar solos, with all things wrapped in song melody and vocal harmony. This formula is basically steady across the entire album which includes 13 songs over 51 minutes. Prominent examples include Fools, Zombies, We're Falling, and Signs Of The Time. A ballad of sorts comes with It's Not The End; something more AOR-ish with Stin Katedral. However, it's the redundancy of the tunes that hits you after the fifth or sixth song. Which in turn made me wonder if some songs should have been trimmed from the litter for more digestible listen. Nevertheless, Signs Of The Time is a fine return to form for Dark Sky as they play consistent, if not predictable, melodic metal rock. If you're a fan of the band, you will enjoy this album. Recommended.



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The Take Away

Signs Of The Time is a fine return to form for Dark Sky as they play consistent, if not predictable, melodic metal rock. If you're a fan of the band, you will enjoy this album. Recommended.

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