Your Last Battlefield

Angus Clark's new album "Your Last Battlefield" is a tour de force of instrumental songwriting and guitar virtuosity. Mr. Clark is an eight year veteran member of the hugely successful Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and his prior credits include five years as the lead guitarist for Grammy-winning New Age legend Kitaro. "I write instrumental songs the same way I write vocal tunes, they have to draw you in with rhythm and melody, and then keep you interested - which is probably the harder part. I like to write using recognizable song forms, Verse, chorus, bridge, etc. But with instrumental stuff you have to take some chances and throw some twists and turns in." As for bombastic displays of technical prowess, Mr. Clark says, "I'm just not that guy. I've spent a good deal of time on the technical aspects of guitar playing, but if it doesn't serve the song, there's no room for it." As a guitarist, Angus cites David Gilmour, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Randy Rhoads, and Jimi Hendrix as his primary influences. You can hear this on the record, from the wah wah laden lead on "Festival" and the dual soloing of "I Am Kirok" being firmly rooted in the Iommi tradition, to the more Blackmore infused "Scalosian Water". Angus pays tribute to Hendrix with a "Manic Depression" style re-working of "Greensleeves" (yes, that Greensleeves), and the fiery "Phoenix Hotel", a tune co-written with fellow TSO member Anna Phoebe. Ms. Phoebe (who also performs with Jethro Tull), makes two appearances on the record, on "Burning Cities of Cheron" and "The Dohlman's Tears". "It's always a pleasure to work with Anna," says Angus, "she and I have a great time writing and playing together. I was thrilled that she was able to contribute parts to the record. We sent the tracks to each other over the internet. I did the same thing when I contributed guitar parts to the last Metal Church record. The technology has made it possible for me to work with anyone I choose." "The Dohlman's Tears" also features Angus playing the rather rarely used electric sitar. "I got turned onto that back when I was playing with Kitaro, it's great fun to play, you just have to know the right scales and phrasing in order to get it to sound authentic." With evocative song titles like "Redjac the Menace" and "Pleasure Planet", some may wonder just what inspired them. Angus offers a clue in saying, "The album title is a part of the title of an old Star Trek episode called 'Let That Be Your Last Battlefield,' in which the only two remaining inhabitants of a planet called Cheron wage war on each due to racial differences. It points up the futility and arbitrariness of race related conflict." Whatever the inspiration behind the songs, this album is sure to inspire something in the listener.