Thomas Carlsen’s Transmission – Clockwork Sky

Thomas Carlsen’s Transmission
Clockwork Sky
Label: RFL Music Entertainment
Out: June 6^th, 2025
Playing time: 32:19

Thomas Carlsen is a multi-instrumentalist from Norway. In his project Transmission, he apparently played all the instruments himself. For the vocal parts on the current album, he was able to recruit four singers from all over the world. When the project was launched – unfortunately the short e-mail about the promo is silent. Based on the first post on Facebook, I would guess summer 2021. The first EP ‘Redemption’ was released in August 2021. Several singles were published afterwards before the debut album ‘A Brave Horizon’ was released in July 2023. The current work ‘Clockwork Sky’ is the project’s second full-length album.

‘Hourglass’ starts with a melodic guitar intro. Later, riffs and melodies alternate. Singer Atli Guðlaugsson from the Icelandic band Power Paladin does a good job. During ‘Thunderbird’, the microphone job switches to Arnaud Ménard (Scale of Alkan, France). You don’t really notice that he is working for a Speed Metal band. Only the occasional high screams hint at this. However, the song itself is no less melodic. Only the guitar solo is played faster. The third singer in the band is Mike Livas (e.g. BlackSword/Russia, Bloodorn/International or Silent Winter/Greece). He shines on ‘One With The Storm’ with a very good vocal performance. In contrast to his previous colleagues, he sings in a slightly higher range. After an epic keyboard intro, we can enjoy a great Metal anthem. ‘The Crimson Cross’ – fourth song and fourth singer: Sebastián Palma (Blizzard Hunter/Peru, among others). He also sings in a Speed Metal band. His vocals seem a little more aggressive. And this Power Metal song is a bit faster, especially during the guitar solo. ‘Defiant Heart’ is another Metal anthem. There is no vocalist listed on the next two songs. No wonder, because they are purely instrumental. ‘Clockwork Sky’ is characterised by calm guitar playing. This is where guitar virtuoso Thomas Carlsen can show off all his skills. The tempo picks up a little on ‘Chronos Rising’. Once again, the guitar playing clearly takes centre stage. On the final song ‘Midnight Queen’, Sebastián Palma takes over the vocal part once again. They really rock out again here. It may not be Speed Metal, but it is clearly the fastest song on the album.

‘Clockwork Sky’ is a very enjoyable album. The songs live above all from the outstanding guitar playing of mastermind Thomas Carlsen. Six of the eight songs are emphasised by very good vocal performances. It would be great if you could experience these songs live. But then the master would have to put together a permanent band.

Thomas Carlsen’s Transmission – One with the Storm: https://youtu.be/V64O0GI33rQ?si=52WJ-881188uFv00

Lineup:

Thomas Carlsen – Instruments

Track list:

• Hourglass (feat. Atli Guðlaugsson)
• Thunderbird (feat. Arnaud Ménard)
• One with the Storm (feat. Mike Livas)
• The Crimson Cross (feat. Sebastián Palma)
• Defiant Heart (feat. Arnaud Ménard)
• Clockwork Sky
• Chronos Rising
• Midnight Queen (feat. Sebastián Palma)