This 2016 album was released some four years after the previous album ‘Balance’, and after Oliver Hartmann had been touring as part of Avantasia, Rock Meets Classic and Echoes. Providing vocals and guitars, the band were completed by Mario Reck (guitar), Armin Donderer (bass), Markus Kullmann (drums), along with guests Jimmy Kresic (Rock Meets Classic, The Roots, Soundtopia), Miro Rodenberg (Avantasia) and Prague cellist Irena Morisáková and violinist Adéla Peckováthe. It was again co-produced by Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Edguy, Kamelot, Beyond The Black, etc.) and the result is exactly what one has come to expect from Hartmann, namely strong vocals combined with a mix of different melodic hard rock numbers.

The original single from the album, “When Your Mama Was a Hippie”, is quite different to the rest of the album with plenty of acoustic guitars and a jaunty style which is somewhat at odds with the rest of the album, and if anyone investigated the album on hearing this they may have been somewhat surprised as this has a far more early Seventies feel. While the lush vocals are as expected, it feels more Maroon 5 combined with Mumford & Sons than Hartmann! There does seem to be a lack of focus with this album, as while some people may feel “Jaded Heart” is emotional and heartfelt there are going to be others who say vocals aside, this is way too pedestrian. It is the vocals which always shine throughout the album as Hartmann is a wonderful singer, which is why he is in such demand for projects, but while this album is solid it is rarely more than that.

Rating: 6/10

Links:
https://oliverhartmann.com/
https://www.prideandjoy.de/