BRUCE DICKINSON
The Mandrake Project
(Heavy Metal | Hard Rock)
Label: BMG Rights (Warner Music)
Format: (LP)
Release: 01.03.2024
Knowing that your own music can have such an impact with complete strangers that I will never meet in my life is an incredibly powerful feelingBruce Dickinson
19 years have passed since IRON MAIDEN frontman BRUCE DICKINSON released his last solo album (“Tyranny Of Souls” 2005). The desire for a purely new solo project has always been growing in the busy singer, but his work with IRON MAIDEN, their albums and tours, his passion as an airline captain, writer, fencer and beer brewer didn’t leave him much time. As early as 2014 he met with his companion Roy Z. to write his first songs (“Rain On The Graves” and “Resurrection Men” were written back then). As they were preparing to complete the whole thing, fate struck and Bruce had to face his cancer diagnosis. After he survived this blow, Corona knocked on the door and put the release of his seventh solo album on hold again. But what Mr. Dickinson has started, he will eventually finish.
And now the time has come: “The Mandrake Project” is the name of the new work he has created around the two main characters, Dr. Necropolis and Professor Lazurus, and the question of life and death developed. It sounds like a concept album, but overall it isn’t. There are also some songs that fit into the album, but don’t really have anything to do with the story. But Dickinson wouldn’t be Dickinson if he didn’t spin his story beyond the album and so, in collaboration with lyricist Tony Lee and illustrator Staz Johnson from Z2 Comics, a twelve-issue comic was created that illuminates the story even more intensively. Here too, Dickinson emphasizes that the comic goes far beyond the music and the connection is only basic. The twelve comics are to be published in three anthologies, supposedly within a period of three years. You can find out more about the comic and the characters it contains at www.themandrakeproject.com
But let’s now look at the individual works:
„Afterglow Of Ragnarok“:
The first track released and released, including the video, completely captivated me the first time I listened to it with its extremely catchy chorus and its typical Roy Z opening riff. You can say that this start was a perfect success. The opener, for example, is one of the songs that doesn’t really fit the rest of the album lyrically, which is why Dickinson has created his own story in the video (yes him, who else?), which will then fit in with the concept of the comic. Dr. Necropolis brews a mandrake potion and after taking it, he is overcome by a vision of the end of the world and dreams of transforming it into a better one for people and escaping this dystopia.
„Many Doors To Hell“:
The next song follows the same lines. An initially fast track that transitions into a really buttery guitar riff at the end, before returning to the original tempo to introduce the end of the piece.
„Rain On The Graves“:
There is the following story about this song and the second video release: Dickinson was invited to a wedding that took place in England in the Lake District. Many English poets and writers lived there. Since he had some time, he sets out to look for the grave of the writer William Wordsworth. When he found it, Dickinson wondered what Wandsworth would think if he knew that only a stone in the ground – next to his works, of course – was left of him. It was raining of course, as is usual in England, and it was gray and gloomy. He liked rain on a tombstone and so he presented the idea to Roy Z, who should turn it into something bluesy, something along the lines of FLEETWOOD MAC’s “Oh Well” or “The Green Manalishi”. No sooner said than done and so a song was created in which not only the music fits, but also for me, Bruce’s vocals are better than they have been in a long time. Absolute highlight!
Faithless, he denied the truth that he had come to stealTo kneel before the poet, not the altar or the priestHe’s washed himself in misery before he came to prayHe’d hoped in his false penitence, some sympathy he’d sway
„Resurrection Man“:
The intro guitar with the western touch was recorded by Bruce himself. Roy Z was supposed to improve it but refused as he felt it was good as is. “Resurrection Men” refers entirely to the two main protagonists, Lazarus and Necropolis. Although the song turns into stoner rock after the intro and later includes almost epic vocals, it doesn’t really convince me. Interesting, but doesn’t really stick with me.
„Fingers In The Wounds“:
This relatively short piece (3:39) is similar to its predecessor. The bombastic beginning, which leans towards prog metal, transitions into an oriental-sounding middle section and then ends at the end with a repetition of the title. As short as this song is, it stays in my memory
„Eternity Has Failed“:
In 1990, “Bring Your Daughter…..To The Slaughter” was released, a song written by Dickinson, originally written for the film Nightmare On Elmstreet V and also featured on the Maiden album “No Prayer For The Dying”. Now we’re going the other way. Dickinson’s “If Eternity Should Fail”, which opened IRON MAIDEN’s “The Book Of Soul” in 2015, will now find its way onto the Mandrake project in a slightly different version in 2024. The title became “Eternity Has Failed” and was rearranged and reworked by Roy – who also premiered this song with Bruce back then. But it still fits into the story, even if it has evolved over the years. But in the new guise it becomes even more apparent what a fantastic number the listener has in front of them
„Mistress Of Mercy“:
In contrast, the next track comes around the bend in an almost snotty, punkish way. For me, “Mistress Of Mercy” is also one of the songs that, if it weren’t on the album, it wouldn’t be particularly important. The composition is of good quality, but it doesn’t really ignite.
„Face In The Mirror“:
“Face In The Mirror” delivers that straight away with its rather calm tones. This song is almost minimalistic and actually impresses with Dickinson’s performance.
„Shadows Of The Gods“:
Pure goosebumps, I can’t describe this song any other way. This piece goes back to the time when Dickinson, Rob Halford and Ronnie James Dio were supposed to form the legendary Trinity together. Unfortunately, since manager Smallwood didn’t want Dio there for some inexplicable reason and hired Geoff Tate from QUEENSRYCHE as a replacement, with whom Bruce simply couldn’t work, nothing came of this project. Luckily for the dynamic duo, no music is ever lost and so “Shadows Of The Gods” was dusted off and re-recorded for “The Mandrake Project”. A song that starts slowly and has an enormous goosebumps factor, but in its seven minutes playing time it increases in speed and intensity and shows the listeners what we missed with the failed Trinity project. There will also be an ATMOS mix on the CD. Those who have such a system can look forward to a special listening experience.
„Sonata (Immortal Beloved“:
The almost 10-minute ballad offers the crowning conclusion to the album. Roy found a demo on a 23 year old dat tape. The musician could no longer remember it, but he did know that, inspired by the Beethoven film “Immortal Beloved” (1994) with Gary Oldman in the leading role, he sampled the “Moonlight Sonata” and experimented with it. Dickinson couldn’t remember it either, but there was this demo and a verse and these two arguments convinced the two of them to finish this song. According to the two, 80% of the material was recorded on the first take. With this pearl, Roy Z also signs his magnificent work on the album with the last note on the guitar.
I crossed the shining seas
Eyes of creatures follow me
Moonlight guides us on a steady course
Afterglow of Ragnarok
Becomes the shadow of the dawn
From the night the sun will rise again, againAfterglow Of Ragnarok
FAZIT „The Mandrake Project“:
“What is worth waiting for”, One could say and considering that it was almost 25 years in the making and the final product is now available, these words are certainly true. Bruce’s joy in singing can be heard in every song and somehow you can also tell that he is happy to have finally completed this project. BRUC DICKINSON is on top vocally and IRON MAIDEN should perhaps consider using Roy Z as producer for their next album. We can already look forward to the tour starting soon, although unfortunately it has already been announced that Roy Z will not be there. He already has another soup simmering on the stove. But it won’t stop the fun.
In my opinion it was a very successful album. For the three songs that didn’t really convince me, I’ll deduct half a point each, which still leaves me with an impressive 8.5 points. Other 65-year-olds have to get this together first
Tracklist „The Mandrake Project“:
1. Afterglow Of Ragnarok
2. Many Doors To Hell
3. Rain On The Graves
4. Resurrection Men
5. Fingers In The Wounds
6. Eternity Has Failed
7. Mistress Of Mercy
8. Face In The Mirror
9. Shadow Of The Gods
10. Sonata (Immortal Beloved)
Total playing time: 58:53
Band-Links:
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