After nearly two decades, author, pilot, brewer, and, personally, my vocal gateway into heavy metal three and a half decades ago via Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson returns in a solo capacity with his latest album, The Mandrake Project.
The opener, “Afterglow of Ragnarok”, manifests something that has been on the back burner for a while. Admittedly, the track surpasses the video it’s based on, an upcoming graphic novel. Regardless, it serves as a good starting narrative with some big riffs.
The last Iron Maiden album faced criticism, one of which was the strength of Dickinson’s vocals. “Many Doors To Hell” not only should quash that criticism but also the accompanying soundscapes make them sound better than ever! This is followed up by “Rain On The Graves,” which has wonderfully enriching occult notes and transports me back to being 10 years old, hearing his voice for the first time and immediately being captivated by it.
The combination of “Resurrection Man”, with its wild west/Sabbath blues sway, and “Fingers In The Wounds”, with its eastern rhythms, gives the album a mellower dynamic, with the latter being the highlight track so far, lyrically.
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A nice Easter egg for Iron Maiden fans is “Eternity Has Failed”, which is a continuation of “If Eternity Should Fail” from 2015’s The Book Of Souls. Even though it appears on this solo output, it is very much in keeping with the original in sound and delivery. If there was a track to justify a physical purchase, it would be this.
“Mistress Of Mercy” is fast-paced, whereas “Face In The Mirror” has a nice ballad quality with Spanish guitars and piano, which complement nicely.
The Mandrake Project concludes with its two longest tracks: “Shadow Of The Gods”, which tells a great story with its twists and turns, and the majestically masterful near-ten-minute opus “Sonata” (Immortal Beloved), which superbly encapsulates the aesthetic of the release, almost serving as a title track.
Yes, it’s theatrical and, of course, laden with dramatic overtones, but it’s hard to deny that this is Bruce’s best solo work so far!
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The Mandrake Project is released on 1st March
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