Track By Tracks: Thomas Carlsen's Transmission - Clockwork Sky (2025)

1. Hourglass:

The opening track deals with the classic theme of time slipping through your fingers faster than you know it. This is reflected in the song's lyrics: "Time's a stream and it won't wait for you..." Its working title was always "Hourglass", so the vision was there from the beginning. It's got an atmospheric intro that leads into a strong riff, so I feel it really suits as an album opener.

2. Thunderbird:

This Power Metal worship track is about the Native American mythological creature of the same name. It is said that the sound of thunder came from the bird flapping its wings, and lightning would strike whenever it flashed its eyes. I wrote the track as a potential standalone single, and that was the plan for a long time, until I developed all my new song ideas into a full album.

3. One with the Storm:

This one is open to interpretation; it could be an uplifting track, but also quite depressing if you change the way you read the lyrics. If we take the positive route, it is about the importance of self-worth and believing in yourself when you're facing difficult decisions or circumstances. Sonically, I wanted this track to be a crossover between Ozzy's "Shot in the Dark", and Priest's "Out in the Cold". You can hear the 80s influence.

4. The Crimson Cross:

In short, this one deals with children growing up in war, which is a terrible thing to think about, but it's real, and it's happening right now in Gaza, for example. The war theme fits the music because it is probably the most Maiden-like track on the album. The music is from around the 'A Brave Horizon' sessions, which explains why it sounds like early Transmission, more than any other track on the record.

5. Defiant Heart:

This was the last lyric written for the album, and it's about fighting for what is right for YOU, and not letting everyone else decide what you should think. The music was written by me and my Dad, the second collaborative effort of ours on the album. It is the first song in the Transmission catalogue in the key of G, which makes it stand out. I'm very satisfied with this one.

6. and 7. Clockwork Sky & Chronos Rising:

These are instrumental tracks that could be combined into one longer instrumental, but I felt it was wiser to divide the two, as the first part is more atmospheric, and the second is fast-paced, like "Force Majeure" on the last album. I originally wanted to call them "Clockwork Sky, Parts 1 & 2", but giving the fast part its own name suits it better, I think. You could say they are soundtracks to the scene that is happening on the album artwork.

8. Midnight Queen:

Contrary to popular belief, this one is not about a street hooker in the 80s, it is actually about the night I met my wife! I wrote this with my Dad, our first collaborative effort, and I released it on New Year's eve of 2024 as a surprise single. It really is a strong track with big hooks and blazing guitars. A fitting end to the new record.