Regal (ACIDBOY) – ‘The Final Chapter’

Three years have passed since we last invited Regal to break down his record, Track by Track. During this time, the Spanish producer has faced significant personal challenges, including struggles with mental health and alcohol dependency. Despite these hurdles, he has continued to evolve and refine his sound. His latest release, The Final Chapter, marks a triumphant return, showcasing an artist at the peak of his craft under his alias ACIDBOY. It’s a powerful reminder that success often comes with unseen struggles. Once again, we asked him to take us through the journey of creating this record, Track by Track.

Renowned for his influential role in shaping the acid techno scene through his label, Involve Records, Regal’s latest work dives deep into the genre’s roots. The Final Chapter is an 11-track masterpiece that fuses the high-octane energy that defined his early career with the refined touch of hard-earned experience.

Experience often comes with its own set of scars. Regal, both producer and DJ, has openly reflected on his struggles with mental health—challenges shaped by being an introverted, reserved individual in a scene that thrives on the spotlight and the energy of the dancefloor. To cope, he turned to alcohol, a reliance that eventually grew into dependency. This difficult chapter in his life led him to seek help through therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous, marking a turning point in both his personal and professional journey.

After nearly stepping away from music following the pandemic, The Final Chapter marks a triumphant return at the culmination of a long and often arduous journey. Both introspective and innovative, the project reaffirms Regal’s artistry. We were thrilled to catch up with him to learn more about his process and the story behind the album.

1. AUTOMATIC CONTROL

This track centres around a bassline that had been on my computer for over a year.

Previous attempts to arrange it ended up not really working the way I wanted to. When I started working on the album, I finally had an idea listening to an old Paul Kalkbrenner track and chose a minimalist approach, stripping percussion to the essentials and focusing on subtle tweaks to the bassline’s cutoff.

This simplicity gave the track its hypnotic, clean feel.

2. THE FINAL CHAPTER

Inspired by my track “Still Raving”, the title track starts with a vocal intro carrying a strong message that features an eerie jazzy sample.

It transitions into an extended groovy percussive section, creating anticipation, and finally introduces a 303 sequence as a surprise element, getting a peak time set twist. The progression was meant to balance tension and energy to keep the listeners engaged.

3. HEAD MOVEMENT

Driven by a consistent bassline, this track layers a 909 hi-hat sequence and rides for rhythm. Vocal chops and synths weave in and out, creating subtle variations. The result is a groovy, powerful piece that feels both repetitive and dynamic, perfect for building energy on the dancefloor. Actually, this is the track that most of my fellow DJ friends favourited, and, I guess, the one being played the most in techno sets.

4. HARD TIMES (SKIT)

This skit features a friend’s voice note saying “Real fans stay forever, even during tough times”. It is a personal, reflective moment that connects with the album’s deeper themes.

5. TOO MANY OPINIONS

The most house-influenced track on the album uses the 303 more as a bassline than as a synth. Vocal chops take centre stage, giving the track a fresh, rhythmic energy while maintaining a warm, danceable vibe. It’s a happy and uplifting track before the mood changes with the next one.

6. RUIDO (FT. AEREA)

This collaboration began when I found AEREA’s music on Spotify and wanted to have Carlota’s vocals on a track. Despite living in the same city, we worked remotely on this one, exchanging ideas for almost a year. The track merges my bass-heavy grooves with AEREA’s textures and unique voice, creating a blend that reflects our styles.

7. MAKE REGAL GREAT AGAIN

This track is an unapologetic anthem of intensity and energy. With a driving 303 bassline at its core, it exudes raw power and grit. Layered percussion and dynamic synth elements keep the track moving, creating a relentless rhythm designed for peak-time moments. The transitions are bold, with tension-building sections that explode into high-energy climaxes.

8. DECADANCE

Just like “Head Movement”, this track focuses on a 303 sequence but is more aggressive and less loopy.

Its sharper transitions and energetic feel stand out for high-energy moments while still maintaining groove and depth. The track is an evolution of the 303 sound, getting increasingly aggressive throughout the track.

9. ENERGY CIRCUIT

The initial idea for this track came about four years ago in Barcelona. I recently updated it by reworking the percussion and the arrangement and adding a 303 bassline.

It’s a mix of techno and trance, of past and present ideas, giving the track a fresh, cohesive feel.

10. MAYBE NEVER

Inspired by an old trance track, this piece came together after a show in NYC. The trippy closing atmosphere influenced its dreamy, driving vibe.

It blends nostalgic melodies with modern production, creating a unique emotional energy. It’s quite redundant, but in a trippy way, with the melody repeated so often, that it gets stuck in your head.

11. BROKEN DREAMS CLUB

Created over a year ago, this track initially felt too trance-like for my current style. Over time, I realized its emotional flow added variety to the album, bridging past influences with my evolving sound. So, I added a few techno-ish and made it more compatible with the other tracks of the album, and now I think it rounds off the whole project pretty well.

Regal ‘The Final Chapter’ is out now on Involve. Listen on Spotify.

Follow Regal on Instagram.

If you or someone you know needs support with mental health, visit the NHS Mental Health page. For more information about Alcoholics Anonymous and how it can help, visit their website.

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