Matteo Mancuso – Route 96
Release Date: 24th April 2026
Label: Music Theories Recordings
Bandcamp
Genre: Jazz, Rock, Fusion, Guitar Instrumental.
FFO: The Aristocrats, Steve Vai, Antoine Boyer, Jimmy Herring, Al di Meola, Andy Timmons.
Review By: Eric Wilt
It feels like everyone’s a guitar virtuoso these days. From bedroom shredders on YouTube to guitar influencers on TikTok, instrumental guitar is in a very good place right now. One young player who has taken the guitar world by storm is Italian Matteo Mancuso. More than just a shredder, Mancuso plays a fusion style that sees him incorporating everything from classical guitar to progressive metal to blues to hard rock into his new album entitled Route 96. Comprised of nine songs and running just over 40 minutes, Mancuso’s sophomore album is chock-full of grooving guitar music that shows that he is truly worthy of the buzz that accompanied his debut album, The Journey.
While Mancuso’s name is on the album, Route 96 really feels like a band record because of the role bassist Riccardo Oliva and drummer Gianluca Pellerito plays on the album. Both musicians are highly skilled and keep the rhythm section on lock while Mancuso takes the songs to another level with his patented finger-picking style.
Joining Mancuso on Route 96 are the legendary Steve Vai and fellow 29-year-old musical genius Antoine Boyer on Solar Wind and Isla Feliz, respectively. Solar Wind is a mid-tempo rocker that is the perfect canvas for Vai to paint on while Isla Feliz features some acoustic guitar similar to what Boyer plays on his own albums. Other standout tracks are L.A. Blues One, which, as its name would suggest, features Mancuso seeing how blue he can get and The Chicken, which is a fun up-tempo number that takes the album home.
Route 96 is the kind of record where you discover something new every time you listen to it. If you enjoyed The Journey, you’re sure to love Mancuso’s new album, and if you love guitar instrumental music, you’re sure to find plenty to sink your teeth into as well.
(4 / 5)
