Always Excellent
Oliver Hartmann first appeared on the international music scene during the late 90s as the front man of the Heavy Rock outfit AT VANCE. During his successful time with the band they recorded 4 albums and Oliver became an internationally well-known and highly respected singer. Since then his powerful voice has been heard on rock operas such as AVANTASIA, AINA and GENIUS and on many productions by international Rock acts like HAMMERFALL, EDGUY, HELLOWEEN, LUNATICA, RHAPSODY, SOUL SELLER and EMPTY TREMOR.
After leaving AT VANCE he started to focus more on the song-writing for his new band Hartmann. Frontiers Records signed them in 2004 and the first album Out In The Cold was released in 2005.
2008 saw Oliver Hartmann touring as guitarist/singer for Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA, the internationally successful DVD / CD set The Flying Opera documents these live events. In late 2009 the next Hartmann studio album followed. With the aptly titled CD 3 the band again delivered the goods with songs of their unique brand of Melodic Rock with a modern twist. A few people slagged off 3 but I myself thought it was a pretty good album.
In January 2012 Oliver Hartmann joined the line-up for the very successful ROCK MEETS CLASSIC tour on vocals and guitars which I was desperate to see as the line up was stupendous. The concerts showcased the impressive cast of Rock legends by the likes of Ian Gillan, Jimi Jamison, Steve Lukather, Chris Thompson and Robin Beck.
Well people, Hartmann, one of Germany's finest musical exports has a new album out in June and I have to say that it's as good as the excellent debut (Out In The Cold). If anything Oliver Hartmann's voice sounds bigger and better than anything I have heard previously.
Highlights include the irresistible mid-tempo opener All My Life, one of the catchiest and melodic songs he's ever penned in his solo or past band life, and sets out his stall for the rest of the album. Fool For You has a riff that Billy Duffy would be proud of and again has an instantly sing-able chorus. If Hartmann were a scientist he has found the formula for consistent AOR/melodic rock song-writing. After The Love Has Gone is a moody mid paced ballad which again has its standard set to 'Quality'. You Are The One is a song of pure pop/rock calibre and has 'single' written all over it.
The first half of the album is absolutely superb and will have existing fans of Hartmann in an AOR orgasm. The second half the standard drops but still remains strong compared to other artists. The relaxed Dance On The Wire, for some reason blatantly steals the opening riff from Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama. In addition to the original material, Balance includes a cover version of the Tears For Fears smash Shout. Not the first time this song has been covered (Disturbed), and Hartmann's version is not too far removed from the original, just heavier as you'd expect from a bloke of this calibre.
Balancewas once again mixed by Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Edguy, Epica, Kamelot) at Gate Studios, Wolfsburg, Germany and will be released on the 1st of June 2012 on the always excellent AVENUE OF ALLIES label.
For fans of Oliver Hartmann it's a no-brainer, Balance will be lapped up. For others who have never dipped their toes in the Teutonic waters of Hartmann's albums, Balance is a great place to start.