(Instrumental Rock) Mark Claytor - Uprising - 2013, MP3, 320 kbps

My music is a direct result of many hours of practice and many heartbreaks, hard roads, good times, bad times. joys and sorrows. I try to convey that in each song but really I dont think about it when I create my music. It just pours out of my soul into my hands onto the strings and out of my guitar. Its a true labor of love. I will continue this for as long as I am able and hopefully I have created something that will continue on until long after I'm gone. Thank you very much for listening. Started playing back in 1988 when guitar playing was king. Loved all the "Shred" players of that era, my Dad introduced me to the "Blues" and I gained a appreciation for the greats of that genre too. I have many influences and they have all shaped me as a player. love recording and studio work and creating my original music. Feb. 29th 2012 Sumthinfierce records and I released my debut cd and the response has been great! I am a Fuchs audio technology, George L's, Vengeance guitars, Rick Hanes Guitars, Tesla Pickups and ModTone Effects endorser. Also use Spawn guitars, Zion guitars, Jet City amplification, InTune guitar picks, BBE and Digitech effects . Here is a great review of my debut cd/ep from I Am Entertainment Magazine!
Mark Claytor has rock and roll pumping from his heart into his guitar. His music is a clear
example of what great rock music is all about because he doesn't need a vocalist to
make his compositions sound great.
"Spider Bit" is a perfect example of why I said Mark doesn't need a vocalist to sound
good. Many instrumentalists will bore you to tears, but on this track Mark's guitar strings
are thrashing all over the place, gaining the one man band a certain level of respect from
me because he kept my attention throughout the entire track.
In addition to Spider Bit, Mark offers up more great rock instrumentals, including:
Memories Gone, Ice Flow, Pearlescent Dots, F5. Each of these tracks are oozing with
great rock guitars and overall production.
Overall, Mark's compilation of rock and roll instrumentals is some of the best guitar driven
music I've heard in recent months and explains his #1 ranking on Reverbnation for his
locale. You should check this guy out, I'm sure you'll agree if you're a rock fan.

The first impression you get upon hearing Mark Claytor is “Wow, that guy can sure play a guitar,” and that impression becomes confirmation after hearing Uprising.
Thirteen instrumental songs stretched over forty minutes show the skill Claytor has when his fingers touch a six string. There is good variation on show, with hard rock, classic rock, funk, blues and the occasional piece of sleaze, all performed with intricacy and great technicality.
“Madness” is a short intro with some hypnotizing moments as Mark’s fingers work overtime.
“Distant and Deadly” has some good hard rocking riffs, and also features fellow instrumentalist’s Chris Bickley and Michael Geren, with Geren also returning to play bass on “Eminent Collision” later on.
“Turning Point” is quite bluesy and contains a fine solo, and “Plum Crazy” is dominated by a funky hook.
“Black Magic Blues” is the standout track. Just under five minutes of sheer quality that is full of blues and swagger; there are small similarities to Hendrix classic “Crosstown Traffic” with the guitar effects that Claytor is able to produce. The bass and drumming in the background accompanies the guitar shredding well, making this a joy to listen to as you hear the best of Mark Claytor.
“It Is What It Is” is a slow paced funk-fest, and the remainder of the album plays out with more raunchy rocking riffs and superb solos.
Mark Claytor is a fantastic guitarist, and he proves it on Uprising. Each track is multi layered, but done so in such a way that the combination of instruments manages to avoid stepping on each other’s toes, giving you a clear listen of all textures that are involved. The subtlety and technicality is also to be admired, and influences of already mentioned Hendrix, as well as Satriani, Vai and even Zakk Wylde are instantly recognizable.
With artists like this, it’s a shame that the wider audience might just see Mark Claytor slip under their radars.
Some might say this album would sound better with some vocal displays, and maybe it is true in certain instances, but for a lover of guitar artistry, Uprising is fine the way it is, and Mark Claytor’s guitar is all you need to hear.
Genre: Instrumental Rock
Label: Sumthinfierce
Website: www.mcsologuitar.com
Hardrock Haven Rating: 7/10