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

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


 

some selected compilations:

 
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

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