Barnabas Sky – Over The Horizon

Pride & Joy Music (August 22nd, 2025)

Reviewer – Chris O’Connor

German guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer returns with his latest Barnabas Sky project, ‘Over The Horizon‘. Joined by drummer Thomas Rieder, Pfeffer delivers a record brimming with melodic rock and metal flavours, backed by an all-star lineup of guest vocalists that range from household AOR names to cult favorites.

From the outset, Pfeffer’s craftsmanship is clear: strong hooks, polished instrumentation, and soaring choruses define the album. At the same time, the revolving cast of vocalists gives the project a slightly uneven feel — while many fans will enjoy the variety, some may find themselves wishing Pfeffer had committed to a single singer to create a more cohesive identity. The production is solid overall, though the snare drum sits a little too prominently in the mix, which can be distracting.

The album opens with ‘Sign of the Wolf’, an energetic rocker elevated by Danny Vaughn (Tyketto), whose voice remains as powerful and expressive as ever. Vaughn also appears later on ‘Fire Falls’ arguably one of the album’s standout moments — a sublime melodic gem that captures everything Pfeffer does best.

Dirk Kennedy (ex-Hittman) brings his Dickinson-esque timbre to ‘One By One’, giving the track a whiff of early-2000s Iron Maiden. He also closes the record with ‘Scirocco Sands’, an epic Euro-metal piece that emphasises the heavier side of Barnabas Sky.

Elsewhere, David Cagle delivers dependable melodic rock performances on ‘Platform of a Star’ and ‘Dreams’, both mid-paced and chorus-driven. Delbys Artigas takes the lead on the title track, ‘Over The Horizon’, which aims for grandeur but never quite settles between melodic rock warmth and Euro-metal bombast.

The mid-section of the record offers variety: Tony Harnell (TNT) lifts the ballad ‘The Only Way’ with his unmistakable tone, turning what could have been a gentle interlude into something truly memorable. Conny Lind (Great King Rat, Lion’s Share) shines on the AOR-flavored ‘Book of Faces’ while Lee Small (Lionheart, Sweet) channels Dio-esque grit on ‘Lone Wolf’ a track leaning toward melodic metal territory.

In the end, ‘Over The Horizon‘ is a mixed but enjoyable journey. Pfeffer’s songwriting and instrumental prowess are undeniable, and the guest list ensures consistently strong vocal performances throughout. However, the album’s shifting identity — caught between melodic rock and European metal — may leave some listeners uncertain about its true direction. For fans of the genre, though, there’s plenty to enjoy, particularly the highlights featuring Danny Vaughn and Tony Harnell. ‘Over The Horizon’ is a solid and often enjoyable release with flashes of brilliance, though its genre-hopping and revolving cast may divide opinion.

Tracklist:

1. The Sign Of The Wolf (Danny Vaughn)
2. One By One (Dirk Kennedy),
3. Platform Of A Star (David Cagle)
4. Over The Horizon (Deibys Artigas)
5. The Only Way (Tony Harnell)
6. Book Of Faces (Conny Lind)
7. Lone Wolf (Lee Small)
8. Dreams (David Cagle)
9. Fire Falls (Danny Vaughn)
10. Scirocco Sands (Dirk Kennedy)

Line-Up:

Markus Pfeffer: Guitars, Bass, Guitarsynthesizer, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals

Vocals: Danny Vaughn (01/09)

Tony Harnell (05)

Dirk Kennedy (02/09)

Lee Small (07)

David Cagle (03/08)

Conny Lind (06)

Deibys Artigas (04)

Guests:

Drums, Percussions (all Songs): Thomas Rieder 
String-Arrangement (05): Jorris Guilbaud
Additional Synths & FX (01): Thomas Nitschke 

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