MATTSSON
Another Dimension
| Track Listing 1. Hell 2. Crash and Burn 3. Don't Chain My Mind 4. Angel Blue 5. Burn the Witch 6. Burning My Soul 7. Don't Lose Your Patience 8. Another Dimension 9. Road of Babylon 10. In Both Ends 11. Save Our Souls 12. Memory Lane 13. Wait for the Angels 14. Cry No More 2000 Lion Music |
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| More Sons of Angels: their only disc. |
Related Releases (Johnny Gioeli): Hardline - Double Eclipse (1991) Axel Rudi Pell - Oceans of Time (1998) Axel Rudi Pell - The Masquerade Ball (2000) |
| Lars Eric Mattsson has been around for awhile, having been
discovered by Sharpnel's Mike Varney in the early 80s (who is also to thank for getting
Yngwie over to the US shores). Best known for his more recent solo works, Mattsson has
been attempting to carve a name for himself as the next neo-classical guitar superhero.
His latest effort "Another Dimension" is a blend between Yngwie-ish arpeggio
laden frills and a bit of power/prog pomp. While most of the songs are decent in
structure, they are pulled down by his choice of vocalists, this being Bjorn Lodin, who is
the past and current singer for Baltimoore. That band's earlier material (especially the
killer "My Blue Moon" from "There's No Danger on the Roof") hid his
just passable voice behind some superior melodies and Bon Jovi-esque backing vocals.
However that was twelve years ago, and time has beaten his pipes to a pulp, as now there's
a definite rasp that puts him somewhere in the same sound as Graham Bonnet, only not as
endearing. These tunes require some vocal tricks that he just can't stretch to, and while
he tries, it just does not get the job done neat enough, leaving a mess at times. For those that love their shredding however, "Another Dimension" is a pure treat, Mattsson is all over the place, spritzes of notes flying all over the place. There's no lack of special guests either, Magnitude 9's Rob Johnson performs on a track, as well as Elegy axeman Patrick Rondat, the fabulous Erik Norlander on a synth solo. |
| Some of these songs are very well composed and trample all over
Malmsteen's last disc, "War to End All Wars". The chunky track, "Burn the
Witch" is a perfect example of a nice mix of guitar mastery. It hits heavy in the
vein of Yngwie's "The Seventh Sign" album, with tough and thick rhythm riffing
and a solo that is sheer bliss. Par Lindh's Hammond fills are beautifully done and give
the song another dimension. "Crash and Burn" features currently Elegy
axeslinger, Patrick Rondat on the first solo which is just gorgeously executed, a
shimmering blaze of firey notes, Mattsson almost one ups him right near the end though
with another explosion of axe flaming fireworks. Bjorn is doing this nasal thing that is
reminiscent of Leif Sundin jumbled up with ol' Graham, but that doesn't hamper the
hook-filled chorus. "Wait For the Angels", as with most of the songs, bits of
the vocals are painful to listen to. The contrast between the full blown melodic chorus
and the stripped verses is done quite cool. It leaves us waiting for the inevitable
musical explosions just as they are waiting for the angels apparently. The guitar is slick
with an edgy blues side that bursts out with such force, like a suddenly freed wildcat
from his cage confinements, but with an element of precision. "Don't Lose Your Patience" shows how shot Bjorn's voice is.. listen to him try to sing "me" and just break all over the place. Was it necessary this was even commited to tape? It totally destroys what would have been a nice moody ballad. The guitar though is just breathtaking. A delicate woven web of electric beauty. "Road of Babylon" is perhaps the best song of the disc. Being an all instrumental, there's no worries over some distastefully stumbling vocals slipping in to ruin things. It brings to mind a twisting, winding road that seems to lead straight to Babylon, with moments of neo-classically pounding passion and the subdued sections of simply enjoying a long journey. The closing track, "Cry no More", is a fantastic funky rocker in an Extreme type vibe with growly squealy guitars and Lodin's voice seems right at home, actually adding to the feel of the song. Esa Pietila eases in with a great saxophone solo as well. But it's "Burning My Soul" that will send the guitar fans to this disc in droves, as it is simply volcanic with Johnson and Mattsson dueling each other in an axe battle to the finish! |
If these songs had been recorded with a frontman with more powerful pipes and a smoother delivery, than this album would truly have been one to be reckoned with, but as it is, only comes out above average. If you can look past the rough (and sometimes laughable vocals) then you just might have a real guitar dream on your hands, as very little fault can be found with Mattsson's guitar or the tunes themselves. There's a very nice mix of songs - funky bluesy rockers, neoclassical shred fests, thoughtful instrumentals, and melodic hard rock tracks that just ooze class - a collection of all-star guests, plus the often entrancing axework of Lars Eric Mattsson...if the vocals can be excused, then by all means, pick this one up. Ratings and Wrap Up: |
