NEW MATTSSON ALBUM "DREAM CHILD" will be
released on march 21 2008!
A
guitarist of the classic metal/hard rock school Lars was first discovered by
Mike Varney (Guitar Player Magazine and Shrapnel Records ) in 1985. After
playing and touring with various local hard rock bands Lars recorded and
released the 4 track vinyl EP “Can’t Go On Without Your Love” in 1987. Soon
after this Lars signed to Black Dragon Records, a French indie label for
which he recorded 3 albums Eternity (1988), No Surrender(1989) and the all
instrumental Electric Voodoo (1991). Eternity and No Surrender were released
in Japan by FEMS , while the instrumental Electric Voodoo was picked up by
Leviathan Records in USA and released under the Title “The Exciter”in 1992,
and then in 1995 it was released in Asia by SKC.
In
1992 Lars teamed up with Swedish singer Conny Lind who had been in Los
Angeles working with Alex Masi and together with Drummer Tony Mattsson and
Bass player Michael Ahlskog they formed the band VISION and recorded 1992 ‘s
album Lars Eric Mattsson’s VISION which went down very well specially in
Japan where it was once again released by FEMS and in Europe by Roadrunner.
The year after VISION recorded a follow up album, which were never released
due to contractual problems and the band eventually split up. Around 1994
when Lars was found playing in cover bands doing blues classics and Hendrix
covers Lars got in contact with another Swedish singer Bjorn Lodin, who had
made 4 albums with his own band Baltimore. As guitarist Nikolo Kotzev left
Baltimore Bjorn joined forces with Lars And recorded 1995’s album ASTRAL
GROOVE, which was blues based and quite Different from Lars previous
releases. More or less ASTRAL GROOVE came out Of Jamming ideas but the band
split up very soon.
In
1996 Lars wanted to give VISION a second chance and recorded the VISION
Album “Till the End of Time” which was his most laid back melodic almost AOR
release ever. The album got very good reactions and was a living proof that
melodic hard rock still had an audience. Singer Randolph Reymers made his
debut as lead singer after having sung backing vocals on several albums
before VISION.
As VISION was taking a break from recording Lars went into in studio
at the end of august 1997 with a bunch of new songs which definitely will
show that hard work pays off. This new album was Lars finest hour with his
best guitar playing ever as well as some of his better compositions. Add to
that singer Bjorn Lodin who never sounded this good before!
The
reviews of “Obsession” were excellent, Progression magazine of USA called
the album 1998’s best Guitar album and it was clear to everyone that Lars
had taken a major step forward, but Lars felt it was jsut the beginning of a
new era.
In
the autumn of 1999 Lars begun writing for another album and just to make
things more interesting Lars invited some friends and well known musicians
to guest on the project. These included : Patrick Rondat (Jean Michel Jarre)
Rob Johnson (Magnitude 9), Erik Norlander (Lana Lane, Rocket Scientists) Pär
Lindh (Pär Lindh Project) Esa Pietilä and more… The new 70+ minute long opus
consists of 14 new compositions jam packed with Intense musical ideas
influenced by classical music, classic hard rock, heavy metal, progressive
rock/metal with lots of virtuso performances from Lars and his guests. Soft
melodic ballads and super tight odd meter riffing – it’s all here!
In the year of 2000 Lars put together a progressive band called
CONDITION RED, the debut album features keyboard maestro Derek Sherinian
(ex- Alice Cooper/Dream Theater) and Lars’ friend Alex Masi (on additional
guitars). Lars next project was to record a new MATTSSON album, this time
with ex-Balance of Power singer Lance King, and the result, “Power Games”
was released in 2003 and received fantastic reviews all over the world. In
2003 CONDITION RED reformed to record and release their second album of
progressive rock titled “II”, Not too long after this Lars band from the
90-ies made a short comeback in 2004 with a new album “On the Edge”, however
Lars major work in 2004 was the new super group BOOK OF REFLECTION which
include singer Andy Engberg (ex-Lion’s Share/Section A etc…), Vitalij Kuprij
etc…but Lars biggest challenge this far was the progressive metal concept
album/metal opera “WAR” which was released in 2005 and which features: Mark
Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen), Vitalij Kuprij, Lance King, Rene Janssen(Ayreon),
Benny Jansson (Tears of Anger/Beyond Twilight) etc... Lars has also just
finished an all instrumental guitar album “Earthbound” and he is involved in
several exciting projects to be completed in 2006 and 2007.
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Lars Eric
Mattsson
Earthbound
2005 |
Mattsson
War
2005 |
Mattsson
Power Games 2003 |
Mattsson
Another
Dimension
2000
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Lars Eric
Mattsson
Obsession
1998 |
Lars Eric Mattsson
Electric Voodoo
1991/1998 |
Lars Eric Mattsson
No Surrender
1989 |
Lars Eric Mattsson
Eternity
1988/2001
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side project projects:
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Book of Reflections
Chapter II: Unfold
the Future
2006 |
Vision
On the Edge 2004 |
Condition Red
II
2003 |
Vision The
Best of
2001
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Condition
Red
Condition
Red
2001 |
Vision Till the
End of Time
1997 |
Astral Groove
Astral Groove
1995 |
Lars Eric Mattsson's Vision
Vision
1991
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some selected compilations:
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We want Moore!
Gary Moore Tribute
2004 |
The Spirit Lives On vol II
Jimi hendrix Tribute 2004 |
The Spirit Lives On vol I
Jimi hendrix Tribute
2004 |
Shawn Lane Remembered
Vol I
2004
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Beyond Inspiration
Uli Jon
Roth Tribute
2003 |
Blackmore's Castle
A Tribute to Deep Purple and Rainbow
2003 |
Warmth in the Wilderness
a Tribute to Jason Becker vol II 2002 |
Warmth in the Wilderness
a Tribute to Jason Becker
2001
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Some other albums and singles
featuring Lars Eric Mattsson:
Marty Young - Marty Young 2008
Locomotive Breath - Change of Track 2004
Truth of Fiction - Truth of Fiction 2003
Tuonen Tytär - A Tribute to Finnish Prog Rock (Mellow Records) 2001
Andrew Bordoni - Andrew Bordini & Friends 2007
Lars Eric Mattsson - The Exciter (US version of "Electric Voodoo") 1991
Zero the Hero - Rosalina (2 track vinyl single) 1989
Lars Eric Mattsson - Can't Go On Without Your Love (4 track vinyl EP) 1987
Eternity - Let Me Rock You (2 track vinyl single) 1987
www.larsericmattsson.com
Lars
Eric Mattsson at MySpace
Mattsson at MySpace
Book of
Reflections at MySpace
Condition Red at MySpace
Vision at
MySpace
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