Today - after a long hiatus in the 90s due the prevalence of Alternative Rock tendencies on the musical charts in USA - the axis of Melodic Rock and AOR tendencies shifted from North America to Europe, mainly on Sweden, Germany and Finland. Such rebirth allowed not only the rescue of older tendencies, but to make them evolve to a modern and different insight (but keeping the older features and melodic appeal). This is the reason for the rise of works as “Burning Bridges”, the new full-length of the guitarist/singer Lars Eric Mattsson. Just one year after “Evolution”, Lars is back with another solo album (and remembering that he has other projects to handle, as ASTRAL GROOVE, ELI, LARS ERIC MATTSSON’S VISION, CONDITION RED, and BOOK OF REFLECTIONS), again relying his efforts on a form of Melodic Rock/AOR that’s ample and eclectic, gathering influences from 70’s Hard Rock (as heard on “Reach the Sky”), Rock ‘n’ Roll, Jazz Rock touches (pay attention on the groove of bass guitar parts on “The Only One”) and even Pop Rock, but sometimes many orchestral parts can be heard (again, a hearing on “Reach the Sky” clarify things up).

But it must be said that his creativity is amazing, because “Burning Bridges” is really a fine release to be heard and enjoyed at its full! Once again, Lars took the duties of producing the album (and it’s a huge work to play the musical instruments, sing and made the recordings, you know, and to make the artwork as well), creating a clear and defined sonority that brings such form of music into a modern outfit, even to have the strings and orchestral arrangements and choirs heard (a contribution performed by ASTRAL STRINGS and VOICES OF MARBELLA).

Musically, “Burning Bridges” can be said a continuity of “Evolution” on some aspects, on others is a step ahead, but the full experience of hearing to songs as “Do You Remember?” (a pure AOR song filled with an accessible appeal and rich on melodies and choirs easy to be sang along, with a very good work on bass guitar and drums), “Reach the Sky” (this one has a classic Hard Rock appeal, with many orchestral elements in some parts, but with a fine work on the guitar riffs and amazing shredding on the leads), “The Only One” (fine groove elements with charming bass guitar and drums playing), “Freedom” (pay attention as the melodic strings fits on the tender melodies of this power ballad-like moment of the album), “You and I” (this one combines traits of Hard Rock and AOR alike, with weight and melodies in a 80s way), “A World in Turmoil”, “Time” (another deep and ballad-like moment filled with charming melodies and very good vocals), “Burn” (another moment with a heavier approach, but without losing it melodic appeal), “Feel”, “Is This the End?” (a more technical approach on the keyboards parts can be felt on such Hard Rock song), “She Took My Heart” (this is a ballad song, charming and tender and with a melancholic touch), “Burn That Bridge”, and “I Still Believe” will prove such ideas to the fans. And as a bonus, here is a version for “She Took My Heart” without the drums (and with acoustic guitars and a sitar), what reinforces its melodic and melancholic appeal.

Maybe “Burning Bridges” is stating a departure of Lars’ music to different ways due his need to sing deeper seas. But it’s one more amazing work, indeed.