Lars Eric Mattsson

Lars Eric Mattsson is a guitarist, songwriter and producer living on the Åland Islands, Finland.

Although first starting out as a bass player but later switching to guitar, performing with various cover bands before concentrating on this own music, Mattsson was first discovered by Mike Varney (Guitar Player Magazine and Shrapnel Records) in 1985. After playing and touring with various local hard rock bands, Mattsson recorded and released the 4-track vinyl EP Can’t Go On Without Your Love in 1987. Soon after this Mattsson 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 the US and released under the Title The Exciter in 1992, and then in 1995 it was released in Asia by SKC.

In 1992 Mattsson 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, especially 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 was never released due to contractual problems, and the band eventually split up. Around 1994, when Mattsson was found playing in cover bands doing blues classics and Hendrix covers, Mattsson got in contact with another Swedish singer Björn Lodin, who had made 4 albums with his own band Baltimoore. As guitarist Nikolo Kotzev left Baltimore, Björn joined forces with Mattsson and recorded 1995’s album Astral Groove, which was blues-based and quite different from Mattsson' previous releases. More or less Astral Groove came out of jamming ideas, but the band split up very soon.

In 1996 Mattsson wanted to give 'Vision' a second chance and recorded the 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, Mattsson went into the studio at the end of August 1997 with a bunch of new songs which definitely showed that hard work pays off. This new album was Mattsson' finest hour thus far in Obsession, with his best guitar playing ever as well as some of his better compositions. Add to that singer Björn Lodin, who never sounded this good before! The reviews of Obsession were excellent; Progression magazine of the US called the album 1998's best guitar album, and it was clear to everyone that Mattsson had taken a major step forward, but Mattsson felt it was just the beginning of a new era.

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