Route 96 by Matteo Mancuso

The Sicilian guitar savant Matteo Mancuso has announced details of his new album Route 96, which will be released on 24 April via Music Theories Recordings. The album features appearances from Steve Vai, Antone Boyer and Valeriy Stepanov.

Matteo burst on the scene in 2023 with his debut album The Journey after his prodigious ability caught the attention of the likes of Tosin Abasi, Al Di Meola, Dweezil Zappa and Steve Vai. The release of his debut with its perfect storm of dazzling fingerstyle technique and beautifully crafted compositions saw him adorn the front covers of multiple Guitar magazines, being hailed as the “world’s hottest virtuoso,” “the young guitarist redefining virtuosity,” and saw his international touring take flight with sold-out shows across Europe and the US.

This year, the 29-year-old Palermo, Sicily-based Mancuso returns with his second solo album, Route 96. While his debut was made over the course of three years, this latest release was written and recorded to a much faster timeline, as is often the case with sophomore records.

Route 66 features Matteo alongside Riccardo Oliva (bass) and Gianluca Pellerito (drums) and was recorded at Fico D’India Studios in Casteldaccia, Italy and produced by Matteo along with his father Vincenzo Mancuso.

Please note that Bandcamp only allows 90 days of pre-orders. The release date below will be updated until it shows April 24, 2026.