Thursday, November 22: Almanac, “Regicide”
Victor Smolski sold Almanac on the premise of his post-Rage outfit containing three distinct vocalists, but while both Tsar and Kingslayer ostensibly featured the talents of Andy Franck, David Readman and Jeanette Marchewka, the trio’s voices didn’t synchronize as one might’ve hoped. That said, Smolski learned something from his time with Peter “Peavy” Wagner, because the guitarist consistently delivered polished and professional-grade power metal, with “Regicide” a particular highlight from Kingslayer. Marchewka’s tenor was a bit higher in the mix, though Smolski’s riffing was the ultimate star of the show even with Franck and Readman delivering typically strong performances. The track was effortlessly grand, and, it should be said, actually less pompous than many of Rage’s more ambitious records. Almanac were never going to set the world on fire, and “Regicide” wasn’t a lost classic, but it illustrated the potency of this sound, and encapsulated the band’s capability and conviction.
