POWER GAMES

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!

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