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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.<\/p>\n
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Since then his powerful voice has been heard on rock operas such as AVANTASIA, AINA and GENIUS and on many productions by well known international Rock acts like HAMMERFALL, EDGUY, HELLOWEEN, LUNATICA, RHAPSODY, SOUL SELLER and EMPTY TREMOR.<\/p>\n
\u00a0After leaving AT VANCE he started to focus more on the songwriting for his new band HARTMANN. Frontiers Records signed them in 2004 and the first album \u201eOut In The Cold\u201c was released in 2005. The HARTMANN debut was the positive surprise of the year for many people, it received rave reviews and was rated \u201cAlbum Of The Month\u201c in many well known Rock magazines all over the world. Among the most notable achievements was being elected as \u201cDebut Album Of The Year\u201d on melodicrock.com, the song \u201eWhat If I\u201c becoming \u201eSong Of The Year\u201c and \u201eInto The Light\u201c coming in 2nd on the \u201eBallad Of The Year\u201c poll of the same webzine.<\/p>\n
With \u201eHome\u201c and the unplugged CD\/DVD \u201eHandmade\u201c more successful releases followed.<\/p>\n
2008 saw Oliver Hartmann touring as guitarist\/singer for Tobias Sammet\u2019s AVANTASIA, the internationally successful DVD \/ CD set \u201cThe Flying Opera\u201d documents these live events. European shows with HARTMANN as support for EDGUY followed in spring 2009. With the aptly titled third studio CD \u201e3\u201c the band again delivered the goods with songs of their unique brand of Melodic Rock with a modern twist, including the outstanding duet \u201eBrothers\u201c with EDGUY \/ AVANTASIA\u2019s Tobias Sammet.<\/p>\n
During the past two years, the band HARTMANN played numerous shows as support of bands such as MOTHER\u2019S FINEST, URIAH HEEP and Y&T and in January 2012 Oliver Hartmann joined the line-up for the very successful ROCK MEETS CLASSIC tour on vocals and guitars. The concerts showcased the impressive cast of Rock legends by the likes of Ian Gillan\/ DEEP PURPLE, Jimi Jamison\/ SURVIVOR, Steve Lukather\/ TOTO, Chris Thompson\/ ex-MANFRED MANN\u2019S EARTH BAND and Robin Beck.<\/p>\n
The recordings for the new HARTMANN album \u201cBalance\u201d were completed in April 2012. The 4th effort of the band once again offers melodic Rock music with a modern approach on the highest international level backed by a top notch production. The songs, mostly written by Oliver Hartmann himself, cover a wide variety of moods and showcase the whole range of the musical genre, always focusing on catchy melodies and expressive choruses. Highlights include the irresistible mid-tempo opener \u201cAll My Life\u201d, the cleverly arranged rocker \u201cYou Are The One\u201d, the relaxed tune \u201cDance On The Wire\u201d, the diverse \u201cFall From Grace\u201d, the power ballad \u201cAfter The Love Is Gone\u201d and the atmospheric track \u201cFrom A Star\u201d. In addition to the original material, \u201cBalance\u201d includes a stunning cover version of the TEARS FOR FEARS smash \u201cShout\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBalance\u201d was 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 AVENUE OF ALLIES label.<\/p>\n
Tracklist : 1. All My Life (3:56), 2. Like A River (4:06), 3. You Are The One (3:53), 4. Fool For You (4:07), 5. After The Love Is Gone (5:27), 6. Save Me (4:59), 7. Fall From Grace (5:09), 8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From A Star (4:54), 9. Dance On The Wire (4:25), 10. Shout (5:35), 11. Time To Face The Truth (3:11), 12. The Best Is Yet To Come (5:04)<\/p>\n
HARTMANN are : Oliver Hartmann : vocals \/ guitars, Mario Reck : guitars, Armin Donderer : bass, Dario Ciccioni : drums<\/p>\n
Additional musicians : J\u00fcrgen W\u00fcst : organ on \u201cFall From Grace\u201d, Xaver Fischer : keyboards on \u201cAfter The Love Is Gone\u201d, Tiffany Kirkland : backing vocals on tracks 1,4,5,6,8,10,11,12<\/p>\n
Tour dates:<\/p>\n
11.05. D-Seidenroth, Eulenspiegel<\/p>\n
18.05. D-Wiesbaden, Kranzplatz Open Air<\/p>\n
19.05. D-Aschaffenburg, Colossaal (release party)<\/p>\n
26.05. CH-Tennwil, Rocknacht Open Air<\/p>\n
21.07. D-Bensheim, F\u00fcrstenlager (unplugged with “Handmade”-line up)<\/p>\n
Sources:<\/p>\n
Official website: www.oliverhartmann.com<\/a><\/p>\n