- Product Code: NB 3576-1
- You will get bonus-scraps: 20
- Availability: In Stock
-
€ 19.90
- Price in bonus-scraps: 199
The debut full-length studio album by German Symphonic Power Metal band of legendary guitarist, ex-member of Rage, Lingua Mortis Orchestra, etc.
Formed by Victor Smolski after his departure from Rage, Almanac is a continuation of his work with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra.
Victor Smolski's style has been well established throughout his years with German Metallers Rage. Now he has felt it necessary to bring his stylings to the world of Symphonic Power Metal - under the moniker of Almanac. However, in actuality, "Tsar" ends up sounding more like the quirky, heavy riffs of Rage, with a few strings added to beef up the melodies of the riffs. Although this was recorded with a real orchestra - expect nothing like Rhapsody or Fairyland. What you can expect is some damn fine, riff-heavy, Progressively-tinged Power Metal done the way only a German can!
Fans of standard Power Metal fare will find plenty to enjoy beyond the crushing riffs of Smolski. There are points were the orchestra add a real stylistic flair - giving us an extra dimension to aurally examine. The melodic choruses are irresistible. There really is no stinker here, nothing reigns in the energy, and nothing treats the listener like a dullard. These are all smart, vibrant, enjoyable anthems for real music-lovers.
The production quality is top-notch. Every instrument, from the highest string right down to the rumbling bass guitar is allowed a moment to breathe. The bass becomes especially prominent in the sparse verses, where its tonic note brings an aura of true menace.
"Tsar" is indeed a splendid record. Even if Symphonic Power Metal is the section of the record store that you're most unfamiliar with, "Tsar" will inspire you to get acquainted with it! Yet even beyond genre criteria, Almanac is a band that finds strength in the most organic of ingredients and churns them into pure Metal!!
Nuclear Blast Records, 2016 (NB 3576-1). Made in Germany. First press. Gatefold 2x LP / 45 RPM.
Tracklist:
Side A
1. Tsar 7:48
2. Self-Blinded Eyes 6:00
Side B
3. Darkness 1:17
4. Hands Are Tied 5:48
5. Children Of The Future 5:19
Side C
6. No More Shadows 8:19
7. Nevermore 4:42
Side D
8. Reign Of Madness 6:31
9. Flames Of Hate 6:35
Total playing time: 52:19 min.
Last viewed
-300x300.jpg "LAURA BRANIGAN “Hold Me” /LP/")
LAURA BRANIGAN “Hold Me” /LP/
The fourth full-length studio album by legendary American Pop/Rock singer. The album peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard 200, though it fared better internationally, reaching the top 10 in Sweden and Switzerland, and the top 15 in Norway. The album's lead Single, "Spanish Eddie",..
€ 14.90
MEMORAIN "Seven Sacrifices" /Digital LP/
The fifth full-length album by the Greek Thrash/Power/Speed Metal band. Memorain delivers oldschool Thrash Metal with a modern touch. The album contains eleven strong songs in a high speed tempo with aggressive and melodic touch, the same time. Taking the finest elements of Thrash and Speed Metal a..
€ 1.90
DIE SCHWARZE SONNE “Das Letzte Licht” /Ltd. Digipack CD/
The debut full-length album by Finnish Black Metal one-man band. Atmospheric and aggressive Black Metal with a feeling of sadness, anger and hatred. All this forms a symbiotic relationship that describes the magic of the Nordic nature. Huge sounds and dark thoughts, embedded in German lyrics, can e..
€ 8.90
VICIOUS ART “Fire Falls and the Waiting Waters” /CD/
Debut full-length album by Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band from Sweden. Featuring ex-members of Grave, Dark Funeral, Obscurity and Entombed!! Candlelight USA/Threeman Recordings, 2005 (CDL0178CD) Tracklist: 1.Debria Seems To Be Bleeding 03:42 2.Komodo Lights 03:15 3.Fire Falls 04:08 4.A W..
€ 4.90
VOMITORY “All Heads Are Gonna Roll” /Ltd. LP + Poster/
The ninth full-length studio album by Swedish Death Metal band. This is some massive Old-school Death Metal ass-kicking right here! Vomitory's first album in twelve years features fresh aspects that are uncommon to the band previous releases. The band have just given birth to a huge slab of fa..
€ 27.90
ATROCITY feat. Yasmin “Calling The Rain” /Digipack CD/
Remastered re-release of the first mini-album by legendary German Gothic Death Metal band. “Calling The Rain” is the band’s first Ethnically influenced and mostly acoustic record. Band leader and singer Alexander Krull is supported by his own sister Yasmin Krull on the vocals and ..
€ 9.90
PERVERSE MONASTYR "Perverse Monastyr/Religious Remorses" /CD/
Black Metal from Bulgaria Old Cemetery Records, 2007 (OCR05) Tracklist: 1. The Christianity Killed Bulgaria 2. ...The Nuns Who Threw Their Own Children In The River... 3. I Kill The Fallacious Prophet 4. The Cross Is A Curse 5. The Cutted Monk 6. The Cursed Flocks 7. The Dark Cell (The ..
€ 2.90
ABBEY OV THELEMA “Liber DCLXVI” /Digipack CD/
The second full-length album by Slovakian Avant-garde Black Metal band. Abbey Ov Thelema is a side project of two members (Delgrast and Vilosof) of Nevaloth, an Atmospheric Black Metal band from Slovakia. They describe their sound as Transcendental Khaoblack Metal and their second full length is a ..
€ 8.90
DEICIDE “The Stench Of Redemption” /CD/
The eighth full-length studio album by the legendary American Death Metal band. This is the first album recorded without brothers Hoffman who were dismissed from the band for skipping concerts. Guitarists Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) and Ralph Santolla (ex-Iced Earth) took their places. The album..
€ 5.90
-300x300.jpg "FAITH NO MORE “Angel Dust” /2LP/")
FAITH NO MORE “Angel Dust” /2LP/
The fourth full-length studio album by legendary American Alternative Metal band. The band's final album to feature guitarist Jim Martin. It was also the first album where vocalist Mike Patton had any substantial influence on the band's music, having been hired after the other band members..
€ 39.90
PHANTASMA “Book Of Phantasma” /CD/
The fifth full-length album by Slovakian Atmospheric Death Metal band. The introduction to this CD was EP "Alternativa 666", containing 3 songs, as a result of cooperation with US Extreme Metal label Apocrypha Records. And the next logical step of this collaboration was a full-length CD &..
€ 5.90
-300x300.jpg "SACRED REICH “Surf Nicaragua” /MCD/")
SACRED REICH “Surf Nicaragua” /MCD/
The first re-release of the first EP by legendary American Thrash Metal band. EP follows the band's debut album, "Ignorance", released the previous year. Sacred Reich continued to progress with "Surf Nicaragua", which boasts better production than "Ignorance", as w..
€ 11.90
THE CURSED "Room Full Of Sinners" /CD/
Debut full-length album from Groove/Stoner Metal band from New Jersey, U.S.A. This side project featuring members of OVERKILL, NON-FICTION and HADES!! Great stoner rock that has been creating quite a buzz of late. "Wij Leven Als God in Frankrijk" brings to mind vintage MOTORHEAD, while ..
€ 5.90
MODERN TALKING “The 1st Album” /CD/
First re-release of the first full-length studio album by legendary German Pop/Disco band. The album spawned two singles. The lead single, "You're My Heart, You're My Soul", topped the charts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium, while charting inside the top five in Franc..
€ 15.90 € 19.90
DAMMERUNG "Dark Poetry" /Digital LP/
The second full-length album by Ukrainian Melodic Black/Dark Metal band. Blacksters from Kherson celebrated the tenth anniversary with the release of a mature record, clearly showing their creative views and proactive stance. "Militant" Black Metal here takes an equal share with the "..
€ 1.90
INJURY “Unleash The Violence” /CD/
The debut full-length studio album by Italian Thrash Metal band. High-class Thrash Metal band in Bay Area style! Punishment 18 Records, 2011 (P18R 037). Made in Italy. First press. Tracklist: 1. Ignorance 03:16 2. The Execution 03:32 3. Busy Killing 04:34 4. Violence Unleashed 04:08 5. M..
€ 7.90
AMONG GODS “Among Gods” /CD/
Debut full-length album by Norwegian Death Metal band. Heavy, groovy and extremely catchy, Norway’s Among Gods is a diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered and praised! This great band featuring current and ex-members from Syrach and Vithr. Is absolutely crushing everything to dust with..
€ 3.90 € 9.90
EXILED ON EARTH “Forces Of Denial” /CD/
The second full-length album by Italian Progressive Power/Thrash Metal band. Founded by Luca Bianchi and Tiziano Marcozzi, Exiled On Earth has been in the Metal game since 1995 under the moniker of Maelstrom. Having spent 16 years together (1995-2000) has paid off in many respects; the guys are a t..
€ 6.90
SHANIA TWAIN “The First Time…For The Last Time” /Ltd. 2LP/
For the first time on vinyl, this album is the collection of early recordings by the Country/Pop/Rock superstar. The album was recorded a few years before her commercial breakthrough. Eilleen "Shania" Twain is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making..
€ 39.90
Related Products
Victor Smolski's ALMANAC “Kingslayer” /Ltd. 2LP/
- Product Code: NBCLP 4070-1
-
€ 19.90
- Price in bonus-scraps: 199
The second full-length studio album by German Symphonic Power Metal band, formed by legendary guitarist, ex-member of Rage, Lingua Mortis Orchestra, etc.
The Symphonic Metal Powerhouse are back with sophomore release – and you simply will not hear a better Power Metal album that year!
It takes true talent to deliver a consistent Symphonic Power Metal album without dipping into trite tendencies or mawkish sentimentality, but Almanac have managed it with ease, and considering the talent at work here, that should come as no surprise.
Guitar-god Victor Smolski’s reputation speaks for itself and his ridiculously high standards are maintained throughout "Kingslayer". Seemingly unleashed from previous tethers, his work here borders on genius and these compositions astonish while still hitting you square in the gut with supreme Metal heaviness. Each track has more melodies than you’d think you can handle, more moments of pure theatricality than thought possible (without once stepping over into full ‘cheese’ territory) and, most importantly, at least one massive, ground-shaking riff that’ll make you want to start a mosh with your nearest and dearest.
It’s not just Victor who shines of course. Much should be said about the outstanding vocals on "Kingslayer" and while enlisting three (count ’em, three!) vocalists in the shape of Andy B. Franck (Brainstorm, ex-Ivanhoe), David Readman (Pink Cream 69) and Jeannette Marchewka (Lingua Mortis Orchestra) may suggest overkill, the layering and meticulous juxtapositioning of all 3 voices works seamlessly throughout, aiding the storytelling and providing a strong sense of grandeur befitting the sub-genre.
Unsurprisingly, there’s a concept to "Kingslayer", involving real life historical figures, kings and queens, etc.
This album slays, and you don’t have to be a fan of Rage, Helloween or any other Power Metal band, who’ve attempted and, occasionally, managed to deliver Power Metal perfection. You just need to love Metal of the purest kind, and with "Kingslayer", Almanac have quite probably delivered your Metal album of the year! Bombastic, effervescent and utterly-utterly brilliant!!
Limited Edition to 500 copies 180g double Golden Vinyl in gatefold cover.
Nuclear Blast GmbH/Cargo Records Germany GmbH, 2017 (NBCLP 4070-1). Made in Germany. First press.
Tracklist:
Side A
Song 1. Regicide 6:10
Song 2. Children Of The Sacred Path 4:10
Song 3. Guilty As Charged 5:02
Side B
Song 1. Hail To The King 5:47
Song 2. Losing My Mind 5:33
Side C
Song 1. Kingslayer 1:33
Song 2. Kingdom Of The Blind 6:22
Song 3. Headstrong 6:11
Side D
Song 1. Last Farewell 5:01
Song 2. Red Flag 5:05
Total playing time: 51:14 min.
The second full-length studio album by German Symphonic Power Metal band, formed by legendary guitarist, ex-member of Rage, Lingua Mortis Orchestra, etc. The Symphonic Metal Powerhouse are back with sophomore release – and you simply will not hear a better Power Metal album that year! It tak..
€ 19.90
SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE