HARTMANN – Twenty Times Colder (2025)
German Oliver Hartmann, known as an internationally renowned singer and guitarist, has been playing with various major bands (Avantasia, as example) and also fronting his own band HARTMANN. In 2005 Oliver pleasantly surprised us with his wonderful solo debut album. Now 2025, celebrating its 20th anniversary, he is releasing the properly titled “Twenty Times Colder,” which once again masters the balancing act between guitar-oriented classic melodic hard rock and modernity.
Oliver Hartmann’s voice is classy, in the style of ’80s Coverdale, and the whole band clean and tight. Production on “Twenty Times Colder” is smooth and lets the polished performances of all the musicians shine.
The title track which starts the album off in fine style is a modern strong hard rock number with fierce vocals, lots of melodies and an ear worm chorus. There is lots of different styles on this album – “No One Like You” is a nod towards the classic Seventies bluesy hard rock with a catchy deep bass with organ touches before the slick guitar riffs and the strong drum pattern kick in.
Then we have the melodic / AOR element in the track “This Heart” with a big anthemic chorus chorus in a trademark Hartmann style, bringing to mind his first solo album.
“Alone” steps into the bluesy territory with a slow paced melody with some exquisite guitar riffs & solo, a slick melody with another great vocal. “Just Fly” is a modern hard rock number which flows nicely, while ballad “Don’t Cry” is pretty ’80s and Whitesnake influenced, both in sound and atmosphere.
01 – Twenty Times Colder
02 – No One But You
03 – This Heart
04 – Alone
05 – Just Fly
06 – Don’t Cry
07 – Someone Like You
08 – The Time Of Your Life
09 – Valentine’s Day
10 – Heart Over Mind
11 – Remember Me
Oliver Hartmann – Vocals & Guitar
Markus Nanz – Keyboards
Markus Kullmann (John Diva, Voodoo Circle, Glenn Hughes) – Drums
Armin Donderer (Ex Freedom Call) – Bass
Pre order:
napalmrecords.com/english/hartmann-twenty-times-colder-cd.html
