The fourth release from Hartmann.

The fourth release from Hartmann sees the band move away from Frontiers to hook up with the Avenue Of Allies label. Led by ex At Vance frontman Oliver Hartmann, who has also lent his talents to Rock operas from the likes of Avantasia, as well as singing for Pink Floyd tribute act Echoes, the band have delivered another classy slab of melodic Hard Rock with a contemporary edge, that should appeal to the majority of Fireworks and Rocktopia readers.

The tracks are roughly split 50/50 between soaring rockers and atmospheric slower numbers. Opener ‘All My Life’ hooks you right in from the off with its searing guitar melody and tribal rhythm, before suddenly erupting into life with a wonderful chorus. The likes of ‘You Are The One’, ‘Fool For You’ and ‘Save Me’ are top-notch melodic rockers, and ‘Dance On The Wire’ is a great rootsy-sounding acoustic driven piece, and the riff is virtually a carbon copy of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Sweet Home Alabama’.

As for the slower numbers, the mid-tempo ‘Like A River’, ‘Fall From Grace’ and particularly ‘After The Love Is Gone’ bear more than a passing resemblance to Whitesnake, and not just from Oliver’s vocal delivery. From A Star’ is a serene slow-burner, ‘Time To Face The Truth’ a smooth contemporary-sounding ballad, and the closing ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ is a thing of beauty that demonstrates the full range in Oliver’s voice.

Also included is a sublime cover of Tears For Fears ‘Shout’ with a slightly industrial sounding rhythm, though as great as it is I’m not convinced that it sits comfortably with the rest of the material on offer. But that doesn’t detract from what is essentially a great, professional sounding Rock album, with crystal clear production from Sascha Paeth (Edguy, Epica, Kamelot).Stunning!

Ant Heeks