What's On Edge of the Sky?

We've just released the first album on our new record label 'Rock Rebel Outlaw Records'- 'Edge of the Sky' by Black Summer. The LP and CD was conceived very much as a nod back those 80 soaring melodic rock songs that conjured up images of open roads, Harleys and muscle cars, and, of course, lots of big hair, not to mention powerful blues rock and southern rock guitar fests.

So, Dee & Lady Black thought it might be a good idea to discuss the individual tracks that you'll find on the album, so without further ado.

The LP has 8 tracks on it (the CD has 10, but more on that later).

Rock For All! Our entry into the greatest rock anthems hall of fame! It has no purpose other than to get everyone joining the chorus and fist pumping the air. Inspired by the 'All for one and one for all' chant from the Three Musketeers, we wanted to get everyone singing 'All for Rock! And Rock For All!', and so far, that's exactly what happens when people hear it. Dee on duet vocals.

Run It Back! A full on 80s AOR classic, even with the nod to winding back the tape and playing it all again. For those who want to seize life and live it full on. Features Dee on duet duties and in her most cheeky rock chick persona, this one is gonna be a fan favourite we think.

Daughter of the Silver Sky. This one is dedicated to the crews of the Artemis missions, as NASA showed us the best that humanity has to offer, in a time when humans seem to be at their worst. This one features a lead vocal from Lady Black Uriah as she steps into her Cosmic Goddess persona and become Artemis, Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt. Full on symphonic rock!

Hold Me Through. Proper blues rock the way that Gary Moore would play it if he was still with us. A relationship where the lovers know it could end at any moment, but they want to fight to keep it true. Dee duets on this as one of the lovers, and her voice is incredible.

Anyway (for Bon). This one is for everyone that doubts what they can do, but does it anyway. Starts with a meaty riff that grabs you and doesn't let go from start to finish, with a rip-roaring chorus to get everyone climbing to their feet. Dee on duet vocals adds an extra dimension to this one.

And, the Tour de Force that is The Outlaw & The Widow Trilogy. Full on epic southern rock with duelling guitars and stars Dee as 'The Widow'. The songs are:

Hell Yeah. I wanted to build a song around the hook of 'Hell yeah', our normal refrain whenever any southern rock song gets played! Being a narrative kind of guy I love songs that tell a story, and so came up with the idea of a wounded (but innocent) outlaw passing out on the homestead of a widow. As she nurses him back to health, they fall in love... but they know the posse is out there looking for them. The song ends with the outlaw preparing to meet them.

Showdown. After a couple of weeks, I decided that we couldn't leave the story there, so we decided to make a song about what happened next. Key to this was the idea that 'the widow was no damsel in distress and that she took part in the shoot out at her homestead.

Redemption. Like Ramans, I like things to be in threes, so it made sense to conclude the story of our two love birds. Redemption is such a wild west type of word, so we imagined years after the gunfight, when the Outlaw & The Widow have become legends- but would rather the current generation would understand that they fought for love and peace, and not for glory. It ends with the two riding off into the sunset...

All these 8 songs are on the CD as well, but it includes a couple of bonus tracks.

First up is:

Neon Breakout. Another Dee duet and another nod to those 80s AOR driving rock songs that everyone can sing along to. No thrills, no pretending to be anything other than it is.

At The Edge of the Sky. Our first single (available for free download off this site), Black Summer 80s style riff and keyboard riffs and soaring vocals. An anthem to get you off your feet and singing with all your heart.

All in all, we're really proud of our first release. We also learned a LOT from producing it- we won't make some rookie mistakes on the artwork for the next release for example- and can't wait now to start work on the EON projects with Lady Black (including the concept album I conceived of decades ago, 'Songs from Another Earth', and the 'Legends of the Dark' album for Halloween!).

And Black Summer aren't going away. They're already hard at work with us on the follow up album 'Welcome to the Revolution', which will be released next summer!