The Guitar Player's Resource
Lachlan, who mixed this? Seriously, the first thing that strikes you on Australian guitarist Barclay's demo CD-R, First Of Many, is that on a couple of tracks, the tiny hi-hat is louder and more dominant than the big ol' snare of doom. That and the fact that the guitar sounds like it was recorded direct (without any kind of cabinet emulator) means you have to get past those points of unpleasantness before you can enjoy the metal and progressive metal based instrumental tracks that follow. Barclay has a very interesting approach to the guitar, and has a ton of ability on the instrument. He frames a lot of his compositions rhythmically (so they rock), and then they are enhanced with impressively fluid solos, propulsive guitar hooks, faser/phlanger noodlings, and two-handed fights of fancy. Regardless of how the demo sounds, Barclay's got a future with this stuff if he follows his instincts and continues down this progressive metal path.
After listening to Metallica for about four years, Lachlan picked up a copy of Joe Satriani's "Surfing With The Alien", so he immediately bought a transcription of the music and a Jackson guitar and proceeded to learn the album. He's still working on it, but has found time to listen to other noted guitar players, including Jason Becker, Steve Vai, Steve Morse, Tony MacAlpine, Yngwie Malmsteen and many others. Lachlan studied a bit of music his last year of high school, before getting into progressive rock while attending university. He currently plays with a progressive rock band called Twin Paradox. Lachlan has a computer science degree, he's traveled halfway around the world to buy his guitar (only to put a massive ding in it 3 days later), and he owns the world's largest collection of German assorted cheeses and meats. Just kidding about the cheeses. Just kidding about the meats too. He's never even met a German.
In addition to someday actually assembling a world-class collection of German assorted meats and cheeses, Barclay will continue to play mind-shatteringly great gigs with his band Twin Paradox.
Lachlan Barclay
Australia
Web site: www.clockwise.shorturl.com