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LARS ERIC MATTSSON

Progressive Metal • Finland


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Lars Eric Mattsson biography
Adept of a technical and melodic metal of high quality, guitarist Lars Eric MATTSSON gives us the best of Seventies and Eighties blues-hard-rock. Lars is also featured on the progressive metal project CONDITION RED. A Classic re-release of April 2001 is the 10th anniversary version of "Electric Voodoo", remastered with new artwork and bonus track. After the release of "Another Dimension" Lars soon found himself involved in the making of a progressive metal "supergroup".

His new opus "Power Games" (2003) consists of 14 new compositions with intense musical ideas influenced by classical music, classic hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock/metal with lots of virtuso performances. Soft melodic ballads and super tight odd meter Riffing - it's all here!

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LARS ERIC MATTSSON discography


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LARS ERIC MATTSSON top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.75 | 4 ratings
Eternity
1988
3.50 | 6 ratings
No Surrender
1989
4.00 | 5 ratings
Electric Voodoo
1991
4.08 | 5 ratings
Obsession
1998
4.20 | 5 ratings
Another Dimension
2000
3.23 | 10 ratings
Power Games
2003
3.19 | 7 ratings
War
2005
4.00 | 4 ratings
Earthbound
2005
3.33 | 6 ratings
Dream Child
2008
3.08 | 5 ratings
Tango
2010
4.00 | 6 ratings
Aurora Borealis
2011
4.00 | 5 ratings
Epicentre
2013
3.80 | 5 ratings
Sand and Blood
2017
2.13 | 4 ratings
Into the Unknown
2019
2.00 | 1 ratings
Evolution
2023

LARS ERIC MATTSSON Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

LARS ERIC MATTSSON Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

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LARS ERIC MATTSSON Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

LARS ERIC MATTSSON Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Into the Unknown by MATTSSON, LARS ERIC album cover Studio Album, 2019
2.13 | 4 ratings

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Into the Unknown
Lars Eric Mattsson Progressive Metal

Review by TCat
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

2 stars Lars Eric Mattsson is a progressive metal solo artist from Finland who is another amazing guitar artist of which there are several out there. His style is a mix of highly technical and melodic heavy rock, his melodies and music have an original sound, but tend to lean on the accessible end of progressive metal, sometimes going for the softer edge and other times just letting everything open up to full-bore metal.

"Into the Unknown" is his 14th full length album, released in May of 2019 (the vinyl version will be released in June). Lars plays almost all of the instruments and does the vocals on this album, but has also recruited Christer Jansson for the drums and Alexander King for piano and keyboard solos.

As expected, the music is heavily guitar based and most of the tracks have Lars vocals on them. The part of this that I find annoying is the use of the auto-tune processing. I would rather hear a bad singer than hear one using this method that leaves a canned and fake sound to it. The fact that most of the tracks here have vocals make this an even bigger deal than it normally would be.

On the instrumental side of things, there are some excellent guitar solos, and he even gives time to some tricky bass solos and keyboard solos, but all of the instrumental sections are short. The melodies are occasionally progressive with quirky rhythms and melodies that don't always follow the standard formulas. All fifteen tracks are under the 5 minute marks, so they remain radio-ready, so there really isn't the progressive development you would like to hear.

There are some tracks that start off quite well, but they always tend to go downhill quickly when the processed vocals start. There are a few instrumentals here, namely "Epilogue of a Broken Heart", "Too Close to the Sun", "Cry of a Leo" and "'57 Chevy", but each one of those tracks is just over one minute long and seem to always just get cut off at the end. Most people that love the "guitar god" albums also love to hear instrumentals that show off the performer's skills. Personally, I tend to think they start to all sound the same, so I also listen for variety and compositional skills. In this album, there isn't enough of any of this, the instrumentals are too short, the songs are under developed and try to lean towards accessibility, and there is too much emphasis on vocals, and that processing just ruins everything.

Even though Lars is talented, it just doesn't show much in this album. If you are a fan, I would imagine you would want this album anyway, but for me, it doesn't have the best of what I look for in progressive music, in metal music, or in progressive metal music. I only recommend this album for fans.

 Tango by MATTSSON, LARS ERIC album cover Studio Album, 2010
3.08 | 5 ratings

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Tango
Lars Eric Mattsson Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Mattsson's latest album to date under his shortned name, (not to be confused with the albums under full name Lars Eric Mattsson), is Tango from 2010, of course issued on his label LionMusic. Same attitude as on previous releases under Mattsson name, progressive metal melted with symphonic metal touches here and there. Not bad at all, I like what I've heared here, very nice guitar work from Lars and aswell keybords done also by him like on Never Stand Down, The grand escape or on Tour De Force. A plus of greatness in compostions is made by Adrya aka Adrienn Antal, a natural born hungarian moved to Finlad. Her voice is fiting perfectly into this type of music, some vocal lines are very strong like on Never stand down. In the end I like Mattson guitar work, how he playes, all, maybe he is not one of the top composers in prog metal, for sure is one hell of a musician, with moderate succes worlwide.This is a good album, 3 stars for sure towards 3.5 in places, nothing is over the top, nothing is boring or bad aswel. Also , the cover art is excellent showing exactly what is inside the album.
 War by MATTSSON, LARS ERIC album cover Studio Album, 2005
3.19 | 7 ratings

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War
Lars Eric Mattsson Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars again 3.5 for sure

Third album under Mattson name is agin a winner in every aspect, musicaly and visualy. released in 2005 at same Lion Music of course, War has plenty of good moments, prog metal well performed and done with some great guests involved. Famous Vitalij Kuprij on keybords from Artension fame, Book of Reflections, etc, Andre Vuurboom on vocal parts one of the voice from this album from dutch prog metal Spehere of souls, Mark Boals aswel on voice, Irene Janssen on voice again and of course the main musicians Lars, Lance King and the drumer. A great line up for sure, who can bring some fantastic passges in prog metal. Little better then Power games, but not entirely great. Janssen voice goes very well in contrast with male vocal parts, she remind me of Lana Lane in tone of voice, powerfull and with great range. Musicaly lots of instrumental arrangements, technical guitar parts yet quite melodic in aproach, fast keybords and great druming is all about here with a plus one every voice that is used here. A pleasent album all the way again not discovered yet by many listners, I wonder why. Pieces like Deep In The Shadows, Smoke and mirrors with crunchy guiar riffs, excellent druming and above all brilliant voice from Irene Janssen with arabic atmosphere here and there, and the unusual , quirky intristing and longest track War Suite Concerto 15 min of intristing passages, , unusual vocal parts and great musicianship. All in all a fairly strong album, fans of prog metal easy can dig this album like previous one, worth for sure.

 Power Games by MATTSSON, LARS ERIC album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.23 | 10 ratings

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Power Games
Lars Eric Mattsson Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 really

Lars Eric Mattson is one of the greatest little discoverd guitarist in last 20 years. Besides his solo career who begun somewhere in mid '80's with first album under his name in 1988, he has many colaborations with other bands from prog metal like Condition Red , Book of Reflections, etc. and aswel is the owner of famous Lion Music label, a busy man for sure. For a decade or so he shorted his name to Mattson and release 5 album under this name but continuing to have aswell albums under his full name Lars Eric Mattson. If previous albums, those from early '90's were more towards hard rock with some neo classical aproach here and there, this album and aswell the next one has a fully progressive metal aproach, where his guitar truly shines. Power games is the name of the album issued in 2003 , is the second album under Mattson name, of course relesed by Lion Music. A fairly good album, where Lars manage to come with some great moments both on guitar and aswell on keybords side, because he done and compose the keys parts aswell. prog metal is the name of the game here, with Lance King ( from Balance of Power fame and later on we find him on Pyramze) behind the mic, who has a very good voice for such kind of prog metal, technical but in same time melodic full of hooks and great musicianship. While all the pieces stands as good, like the opening track Open The Gate , great breaks and duels between guitar and keys, good voice, I think a piece who has a name like Beyond The Horizon (Guitar Concerto No 1 and almost 18 min in lenght must be listen copuple of time to be fully appreciated. Here Larson gives the best he got, maybe is little longer then I like to be, if were shorter with 3-4 min then were great , otherwise sometime I feel like I'm losing patience till the end. I like Mattson guitar work, how he playes, all, maybe he is not one of the top composers in prog metal, for sure is one hell of a musician, with moderate succes worl wide.This is a good album, 3 stars for sure towards 3.5 in places, nothinmg over the top nothing boring or bad aswel. Also , the cover art is excellent showing exactly what is inside the album, made by brilliant Swedish artist, Mattias Noren

 Power Games by MATTSSON, LARS ERIC album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.23 | 10 ratings

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Power Games
Lars Eric Mattsson Progressive Metal

Review by Muzikman
Prog Reviewer

3 stars After hearing previous efforts by an amazing guitar player by the name of Lars Eric MATTSSON, I was all excited to hear his new release [as simply Mattsson]. I love the way this guy plays, he rocks. With that kind of anticipation, I set myself up for a big disappointment. "Power Games" fell short of my expectations, in a big way. The problem is that he uses a vocalist for seven out of the eight tracks. Moreover, to add insult to injury the singer is another Geoff Tate clone. I think Tate is great, I am just not crazy about hearing people that sound like they are imitating another singer. Whether it is intentional or not, it does bug me sometimes, but it also depends on the music how I react. With all due respect, Lance King does have a good voice; it just did not work for me on this album.

It's ironic, the review I did previous to this made me feel good about the fact that the group reminded me of Tate and his mates, this time it just pissed me off and irritated me. The reason I feel this way is that Mattsson is a great guitarist that does not need a vocalist to build around his music. His music is not meant for the compliment of a vocalist because it hinders the development of what lies within his heart, guitar instrumentals. A process that was once purely musical becomes a clouded vision instead of a clear purpose. He is at his best when left to his own devices and just his guitar. The results fashioned by the formula used for this album are boring and run-of-the-mill sameness. It could have easily been so much more.

I give you a proof of the fact that instrumentals are MATTSSON's strong suit with the incredible track #7 titled "Beyond The Horizon-Guitar Concerto No 1," which clocks in at 17:11. That is like half an album! This song is an incredible piece of guitar virtuosity. It makes the CD worth the price of admission. I am still angered though; the entire album could have been like this, Lars! Come on, lose the vocalist and let us hear that guitar!

 Power Games by MATTSSON, LARS ERIC album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.23 | 10 ratings

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Power Games
Lars Eric Mattsson Progressive Metal

Review by Minstrel X

4 stars I finally got this cd. It was something i wanted to hear really bad, specially after the big shock i got with "Electric Voodoo". Now Judging, i would say this album ain't short. This is a hell of example of virtuoso guitar guy making your ears blow. Put special attention on the Guitar Concerto. Highly Recommended!
 Electric Voodoo by MATTSSON, LARS ERIC album cover Studio Album, 1991
4.00 | 5 ratings

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Electric Voodoo
Lars Eric Mattsson Progressive Metal

Review by Greger
Prog Reviewer

4 stars The Finish guitarist Lars Eric MATTSSON's third solo album "Electric Voodoo" was originally released 1991 in Europe on the French label Black Dragon Records. In 1992 it was released as "The Exciter" in USA and Asia by the American label Leviathan Records. Now, ten years after the original release, it has been available in a re-mastered version with new artwork and a bonus track on Lars Eric's own label Lion Music. Apart from his other albums "Electric Voodoo" is all instrumental, and Lars Eric himself plays all the instruments. He is a technically skilled guitarist in world-class, and he's the best guitarist I've heard from Finland, at least in this genre. Although I think that his "Obsession" album from 1998 is his best album, "Electric Voodoo contains some very good guitar shredding pieces, especially the track "Chrome Kills" which has a lot of originality. This is a really good album for everyone who likes guitar virtuosos in the hard rock school.
 Obsession by MATTSSON, LARS ERIC album cover Studio Album, 1998
4.08 | 5 ratings

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Obsession
Lars Eric Mattsson Progressive Metal

Review by Greger
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Lars Eric is said to be Finland's hard rock guitarist no 1 and I think I must agree to that. He was discovered, like so many other guitarist, by Mike Varney (Guitar Player Magazine and Shrapnel Records) in 1985. He's debut vinyl came two years later in 1987. Several albums and years later, he's now releasing his new album "Obsession", featuring the great Swedish singer Bjorn Lodin. Lars Eric is playing in the same neo-classic metal/hard rock school as Yngwie MALMSTEEN, and Yngwie is the closest comparison for Lars Eric. Yngwie began his career with some albums that are classic in this genre today, then his albums became less interesting with every new release. Lars Eric might not be as skilled as Yngwie, but he's got the ability to write good songs, far better than Yngwie are doing today. This album reminds of the "Marching Out" album, Yngwie's best vocal album from 1985. This album is 2-3 tracks from getting a top rating from me as almost every track are great.
Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to NotAProghead for the last updates

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