Victor Smolski's new band, Almanac, will release their debut album, Tsar, on March 18th via Nuclear Blast Records. Victor Smolski himself was responsible for the production of the record. Mixing was completed by Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann (Orden Ogan). The band have launched a new trailer in the form of Tsar Webisode #2. See two webisodes below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Almanac recently announced the content of the bonus DVD (more than two hours playing time), which will be featured in the digibook version of Tsar (see below).

The cover artwork was created by famous Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák (Wisdom, Annihilator, Tyr, Destruction, Elvenking).

Tsar tracklisting:

“Tsar”
“Self Blinded Eyes”
“Darkness”
“Hands Are Tied”
“Children Of The Future”
“No More Shadows”
“Nevermore”
“Reign Of Madness”
“Flames Of Fate”

Bonus DVD - Chapter overview:

1. “Self-Blinded Eyes”
2. “Tsar” (Lyric video)
3. Making-of Tsar

Extras:
4. The Making Of “Self-Blinded Eyes”
5. Winter Masters Of Rock
6. Instruments & Techniques
7. Band interview
8. Outtakes
9. Studio Bits
10. B-Roll
11. Unity Music School
12. Credits

“Self-Blinded Eyes” video:

“Making of Tsar” studio videos:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Mastermind Smolski comments: “Tsar is the absolute best of and the highlight of my musical career. I had never had so much fun while producing a CD. Incredible teamwork - and one hundred per cent merciless. Push the pedal to the metal!"

For all the members of Almanac, Tsar is a new, exciting, and very interesting chapter. Traditional power metal in conjunction with bombastic orchestra sound and world music with a modern sound all make Almanac a compelling and absolute listening experience. The Belarus-born guitarist Smolski is joined by the Orquestra Barcelona Filharmonia.

Fans with an interest in deeper subjects including history and culture will also be able to dive into a new world with Tsar, which combines historic and modern parallels that will surprise many. From the warlike nomadic horsemen in the steppes of Russia, to the tsardom, Ivan the Terrible, warlike Cossacks who dominate the Tatar, the siege of Constantinople and the Mongol invasion are stories about battles, wars, intrigue, conquest, terror, power and love that can be heard vocally using the different styles of the singer’s voices.

The band played recently at Winter Masters Of Rock in Zlin, Czech Republic. Watch a documentry about Almanac's trip below: