Lion Music

Lion Music is a Finnish independent production company and record label founded in 1989 by guitarist, songwriter and producer Lars Eric Mattsson. It began as a vehicle for handling production and licensing for Mattsson's recordings in Europe, the United States and Asia. The company emerged partly from Mattsson's experiences with outside labels during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when he released material through companies including Black Dragon Records and encountered serious label-related difficulties. Those problems contributed to a period in which he concentrated on building his own studio and developing an independently controlled production and release operation. The label's early catalogue was closely tied to Mattsson and his projects. Among its initial releases were Vision's Till the End of Time, reissues of Mattsson's No Surrender, Vision's debut album and the solo album Obsession. In January 2000, Lion Music issued Alex Masi's In the Name of Bach and Mattsson's Another Dimension, marking a broader move from artist-owned production activity toward a multi-artist label. During the 2000s and early 2010s, the roster expanded to include performers and projects from progressive metal, power metal, neoclassical metal, AOR and melodic hard rock, fusion and classic hard rock. Artists associated with physical or digital Lion Music releases included Vitalij Kuprij, Michael Harris, Dave Martone, Milan Polak, Joe Stump, Rusty Cooley, Daniele Liverani and others. Lion Music became particularly visible in guitar-centered metal and progressive music circles. Its catalogue combined original artist albums with concept records, instrumental and virtuoso guitar projects, reissues, singles and collaborative compilations. The label also developed a notable tribute-album programme covering musicians and bands such as Jason Becker, Uli Jon Roth, Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Jimi Hendrix and Shawn Lane. In addition, it issued albums inspired by the classical repertory of Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven and Handel, generally recasting that material through rock, metal and electric-guitar arrangements. A 2011 Japan earthquake benefit compilation extended the catalogue into a charitable release context. The label's activity was affected by the economics of recorded music and online piracy. In 2012, Lion Music announced that it would stop signing new artists because of continuing piracy, while its existing catalogue and releases remained part of its public identity. The available reference material does not establish whether the company later resumed normal new-signing activity, its present ownership structure, or its current operating status. Lion Music is therefore best described as a historically significant Finnish independent label and production imprint whose documented catalogue is centered on technically accomplished, guitar-led rock and metal.

Lion Music was established in Finland in 1989 by Lars Eric Mattsson, a guitarist and producer associated with neoclassical and progressive metal. The company was initially organized as a production and licensing operation rather than simply as a conventional label. Its purpose was to manage Mattsson's recordings and negotiate release arrangements across Europe, the United States and Asia. This structure reflected the practical difficulties faced by independent musicians seeking international distribution and control over specialist rock recordings. Mattsson's earlier career had included discovery by Mike Varney of Guitar Player magazine and Shrapnel Records in 1985, work with local hard-rock groups, and releases through Black Dragon Records. After problems with certain labels in the early 1990s, he took time away from regular label activity, built his own studio and developed the infrastructure that would support Lion Music. The company later began issuing material connected with his own projects and affiliated artists. Its documented early catalogue included Vision's Till the End of Time, reissues of No Surrender, Vision's debut album and Mattsson's Obsession. A significant expansion occurred around the turn of the millennium. In January 2000, Lion Music released Alex Masi's In the Name of Bach and Mattsson's Another Dimension. From that point, it operated as a broader independent record label with a growing roster and a regular flow of physical and digital releases. Its output covered progressive metal, power metal, neoclassical metal, AOR and melodic hard rock, fusion and classic hard rock. The label's association with technically demanding guitar music was reinforced by releases from artists such as Vitalij Kuprij, Michael Harris, Dave Martone, Milan Polak, Joe Stump, Rusty Cooley and Daniele Liverani. Lion Music's catalogue was not limited to standard artist albums. The label released concept albums, instrumental projects, singles, reissues and collaborative collections. It also developed a series of tribute albums dedicated to figures central to rock and guitar culture, including Jason Becker, Uli Jon Roth, Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Jimi Hendrix and Shawn Lane. These projects positioned the imprint as both a home for contemporary specialist musicians and an archive-like curator of guitar-based traditions. Other releases used rock and metal performance to reinterpret classical composers, including Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven and Handel. The 2011 compilation Embrace the Sun was presented as a benefit project connected with the Japan earthquake. In 2012, the company stated that continuing piracy had led it to stop signing new artists until the situation improved. This announcement documented a major strategic response to changes in music distribution and the vulnerability of a small specialist label. The available sources do not provide a confirmed later relaunch, current executive roster, financial information or definitive closure date. Lion Music's present status should consequently be treated as unknown, while its historical identity remains that of a Finnish independent production company and record label with a substantial guitar-oriented rock and metal catalogue.

• 2012

  New artist signings suspended

  [1]Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Lion Music announces that ongoing piracy has led it to stop signing new artists until the issue is resolved.

• 2011

  Japan earthquake benefit compilation

  [1]Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org

  The label releases Embrace the Sun, a benefit album associated with the Japan earthquake.

• 2001

  Jason Becker tribute programme begins

  [1]Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Lion Music releases Warmth in the Wilderness, a tribute album connected with Jason Becker, followed by a second volume in 2002.

• 2000

  Expansion into a multi-artist label

  [1]Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Releases by Alex Masi and Lars Eric Mattsson illustrate Lion Music's transition into a broader independent label.

• 1998

  Early reissues and Mattsson solo catalogue

  [1]Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Lion Music issues reworked or reissued material connected with Mattsson, including No Surrender, Vision's debut and Obsession.

• 1997

  First documented Lion Music releases

  [1]Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org

  The company releases Vision's Till the End of Time, an early title in the label's documented catalogue.

• 1989

  Lion Music is founded

  [1]Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Lars Eric Mattsson establishes Lion Music in Finland as a production company intended to manage and license recordings internationally.

An independent, guitar-focused rock and metal label emphasizing progressive, neoclassical, power-metal, fusion and melodic hard-rock artists, alongside specialist tribute and classical reinterpretation projects.

• Artist albums and reissues · 1998

  Lars Eric Mattsson catalogue

  Lion Music's core catalogue includes solo and archival releases by founder Lars Eric Mattsson, spanning neoclassical metal, progressive rock and electric-guitar composition. Documented titles include Another Dimension, Power Games, War, Dream Child, Tango, Earthbound, Aurora Borealis and later anniversary editions of Eternity and No Surrender. These releases combine hard-rock and metal performance with classical influence and, in some cases, orchestral or concept-album structures.

• Progressive and neoclassical metal project · 1997

  Vision

  Vision is one of the label's foundational projects, associated with Mattsson and vocalist Conny Lind. Lion Music documented the project's Till the End of Time, its debut-related material, later anniversary remixes, On the Edge, II:1993 and Live+. The project represents the label's early emphasis on melodic, progressive and technically focused metal.

• Progressive metal band · 2000

  Condition Red

  Condition Red is a progressive metal project formed by Mattsson in 2000. Lion Music released the band's self-titled album and Condition Red 2, later documenting revised editions and the subsequent Illusion of Truth. The band's releases broadened the label's roster beyond Mattsson's solo work while retaining a progressive and metal-oriented identity.

• Compilation albums · 2001

  Tribute albums

  Lion Music issued tribute compilations honoring Jason Becker, Uli Jon Roth, Ritchie Blackmore and the Deep Purple and Rainbow tradition, Gary Moore, Jimi Hendrix and Shawn Lane. The series brought together specialist rock and guitar performers and became a recognizable part of the imprint's catalogue strategy.

• Rock and metal reinterpretation albums · 2015

  Classical reinterpretation series

  The label's Lion Music Presents series reinterpreted works associated with Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi, Ludwig van Beethoven and George Frideric Handel. These releases connected classical repertoire with electric guitar, rock and metal arrangements, extending the imprint's neoclassical positioning.

• 2011Embrace the Sun

  International

  Lion Music released Embrace the Sun as a benefit compilation associated with the Japan earthquake, using the label's artist network for a charitable music project.

  Outcome. The album became part of the label's documented catalogue; the available sources do not quantify funds raised or wider impact.

  Source

• 2012

  Suspend new artist signings because of piracyStrategy

  Background

  Lion Music cited continuing piracy as a serious threat to the economics of its independent label operation.

  Action taken

  The company announced that it would stop signing new artists until the piracy problem had been resolved.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not establish whether normal signing activity later resumed or whether the label formally closed.

  Source

• 2012

  Lion Music announces a halt to new artist signings because of piracy[1]Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Lion Music announced that ongoing piracy had made it stop signing new artists until the problem could be resolved.

1. 1Lion Musicen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Lars Eric Mattssonen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Lion Music official websitelionmusic.com