This album proved to be a dear friend on a foggy Sunday afternoon. Enjoying a hot cup of coffee, Out In The Cold stuck like warmth inside my heart, surrounding my feelings & thoughts with colors of melody. I didn't expect that would happen as I pushed the start button on my CD player... I'm glad good music humiliated me once again, that's the profit.
Oliver Hartmann may be known to many European Power Metal fans as the former powerful-yet-melodic voice behind At Vance, with wonderful releases such as Heart Of Steel (2000) or Only Human (2002). Oliver also contributed vocal parts to Edguy mastermind Tobias Sammet's Avantasia project, while his bio is enhanced with services in bands such as Heat, Merlin or Spider. It was a matter of time for this charismatic singer to unveil his abilities in a solo album.
Accompanied by grand musicians such as ex-MSG skinsman Bodo Schopf or Paradox's bassist Armin Dondener, Out In The Cold also features Mr. Sascha Paeth (Rhapsody, Kamelot, Angra, Edguy etc) in the producer's seat, while Oliver himself gave a helping hand. The critical point for what kind of songs someone will have the chance to hear is the record label: Frontiers Records, a premier label worldwide in A.O.R./Melodic Rock/ Hard Rock music, is the baker of an album with the following highlights:
- Brilliant Songwriting at times featuring a Whitesnake - Dare vibe or with a certain atmosphere like Giant, Drive She Said, Ten or FM used to (or still) have, Out In The Cold contains twelve tracks where it's too hard to pick out the best ones.
- Oliver Hartmann: obviously more melodic than ever, a graduate of the Coverdale University and a fan of the whole British Hard Rock movement, delivers first-class vocal melodies. I didn't believe he could express himself THAT good!
- Production call me Sasca Paeth...
Have you recently bought FM's Tough It Out album? Are you looking for Giant's Last Of The Runaways CD on Ebay? Were you thrilled by hearing Dare's classic song Abandon on an 80's local radio host? No excuse... This album is for you! On the other hand: At Vance and Avantasia fans, try this one: Oliver is the go-between but you won't find the script boring at all, leaving aside how many elements melodic Power Metal has adapted from melodic Hard Rock!