Label: Lion Music
Review by Kimmo Toivonen
Lars Eric Mattsson has been around for what seems like forever. My first encounter with his music was on a Bailey Brothers' collection album in 1987 I think. He's now the head of Lion Music record company, who have released plenty of progressive, instrumental and neo-classical metal over the years, including the classic Seventh Wonder albums "Mercy Falls" and "The Great Escape".
These songs pre-date the first Lars Eric Mattsson solo album "Eternity" (1988) and his appearance on the aforementioned compilation album. They are from the archives of his first band JOE COOL, but re-recorded now. These songs truly sound like they were recorded in 1983-1985, but then again, maybe that was the intention. There's a certain charm in the sound, it reminds me a little bit of White Lion's debut album "Fight To Survive", but at times it's rather dated.
Most of the songs are rather straight-forward hard rock tracks, with fierce guitars from Mattsson. At times the songs venture into the Progland and never find their way back, take the aimlessly wandering "Enola Gay" for example. For my money, the uptempo, catchy rockers "Hot And Able" and "Run Tonight" are the best ones of the bunch. There are a few others I enjoy too, like "Don't Think It's Love" with its' Zeno-vibe and "Don't Throw Away" which has a strong hook.
With 16 tracks, there's maybe a few too many here, but I get it, this is an "anthology"-type of an album, celebrating the legacy of Joe Cool.
http://www.larsericmattsson.com
http://www.lionmusic.com
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