German neo-classic metal, with AOR influences. Formed in 1998 by Olaf Lenk. 

NO ESCAPE (1999) SHARK

  1. Flying High

  2. No Escape

  3. No Speak -instrumental

  4. Die In Your Arms

  5. All For One, One For All

  6. Money, Money

  7. Antonio Vivaldi: Four Seasons - Summer - instrumental

  8. Lost In Your Love

  9. Power & Glory

  10. Seven Seas

Line-up:

Oliver Hartmann - Vocals, Guitar

Olaf Lenk - Lead Guitar, Keyboards

Ulli Müller - Keyboards

Rainald König - Bass

Spoony - Drums

At Vance debut album is surely one to be proud of. These guys mean business with their German metal meets AOR. Great melodies lifted by an excellent singer. When they pace down the double bass drums, they remind me a bit of TNT. The only complaint is that among 10 songs, there are 2 instrumentals, and one cover (an excellent ABBA tune, 'Money, Money'). Cool cover art, though.

Killer tracks: No Escape, All For One, One For All, Lost In Your Love

HEART OF STEEL (2000) SHARK

  1. Prelude - intro

  2. Soldier Of Time

  3. The Brave And The Strong

  4. Heart Of Steel

  5. S.O.S.

  6. King Of Your Dreams

  7. Princess Of The Night

  8. Goodbye

  9. Why Don't You Cry

  10. Don't Believe A Stranger

  11. Chopin: Etüde No. 4 - instrumental

Line-up:

Oliver Hartmann - All Vocals

Olaf Lenk - Lead and Rhythm Guitars

Ulli Müller - Keyboards

Jürgen "Sledgehammer" Lucas - Drums

Jochen Schnur - Bass

Rainald König - Guitars

'No Escape' was a very good debut by At Vance. The follow up shows no significant changes in the musical formula. But because it contains even better songs, I think it has an edge over it's predecessor. Another ABBA cover as well, this time it's "S.O.S.". Amazing what these German lads do to the Swedes classic disco tunes. Warm recommendations is what I give this album!

Killer tracks: Soldier Of Time, Heart Of Steel, S.O.S., Goodbye, Why Don't You Cry

THE EVIL IN YOU (2003) AFM (2CD)

CD1:
  1. Fallen Angel
  2. Broken Vow
  3. The Evil In You
  4. Stronger Than You Think
  5. The Curtain Will Fall
  6. One Million Miles Away
  7. Right Or Wrong
  8. Shining Star
  9. Street Of My Dreams
  10. Caprice No. 16 - instrumental
  11. Princess Of Ice

CD2:

  1. Angel Of The Dark *
  2. You Will Never Take My Soul *
  3. N.O.W. *

Line-up:

Mats Levén - Vocals

Olaf Lenk - Guitars, Keyboards

Jürgen Lucas - Drums

Sascha Feldmann - Bass

Rainald König - Rhythm Guitar

Oliver Hartmann - Vocals on *

Out went Oliver Hartmann, and in comes Mats Levén. The result? A fantastic melodic metal platter! 'The Evil In You' is the bands finest moment so far. The songs are so much stronger than on anything I've heard from the band. And Mats' voice sounds incredible. Oliver was a good vocalist too, but Mats is even better. You can even compare them to each other, because this version contains a bonus CD with demo-tracks, recorded with Oliver on vocals. Heck, I even had to rearrange my top 20 list of albums released in 2003, because this album deserved a spot for sure. I'm getting a real kick out of these kinds of bands lately. And this album ranks along side Thunderstone's 'The Burning' and Balance Of Power's 'Heathen Machine' as favorites in this genre as of late.

Killer tracks: All of them

At Vance also appear on:

V/A - 'A Tribute To ABBA'

 

Oliver Hartmann guest appearances:

Rhapsody - 'Rain Of A Thousand Flames'

Freedom Call - 'Eternity'

Edguy - 'Rocket Ride'

Hammerfall - 'Threshold'

Avantasia - 'The Scarecrow'

 

Mats Levén guest appearances:

Audiovision - 'The Calling'

Narnia - 'Enter The Gate'

Divinefire - 'Farewell'

 

Related artists:

Avantasia, Abstrakt Algebra, Yngwie Malmsteen, Winters Bane, Firewind, Metalium, Helloween