IRON MAIDEN's BRUCE DICKINSON Announces New Solo Album 'The Mandrake Project'

https://blabbermouth.net/news/iron-maidens-bruce-dickinson-announces-new-solo-album-the-mandrake-project

I saw that earlier today. I'll be interested in picking this one up

I’m interested to hear this album. It should be good because he’s working with Roy Z again.

Steve Harris is a legend, but he has made Maiden so darn boring! He pretty much leads the band and the direction they go. He’s managed to extract almost every remnant of their metal roots and replace it with long boring prog tunes.

I hope it's heavy and has no twenty minute long songs about blimps.

Well it's about damned time! Tyranny Of Souls was (gulp) eighteen frickin years ago!

Bruce's last three solos were better than anything he's done with Maiden since re-joining.

Will check this one out.

The new song sounds better than anything Maiden has released in at least 30+ years! Maybe since Seventh Son.

I’m surprised Bruce likes heavier music. His first solo album (Tattooed Millionaire) was kinda mellow (although I like it a lot).

New song sounds pretty good, the video is total cheez though!

Ok song i guess.

Will need more spins.

The main riff reminds me of that song by the band Wrath for the Leatherface soundtrack.

Troublezone wrote:

I’m surprised Bruce likes heavier music. His first solo album (Tattooed Millionaire) was kinda mellow (although I like it a lot).

Accident of Birth and Chemical Wedding were definitely heavy. And also super catchy. Tattooed Millionaire was a bit of a laugh. Quirky, fun, but not that great music.

Lari wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

I’m surprised Bruce likes heavier music. His first solo album (Tattooed Millionaire) was kinda mellow (although I like it a lot).

Accident of Birth and Chemical Wedding were definitely heavy. And also super catchy. Tattooed Millionaire was a bit of a laugh. Quirky, fun, but not that great music.

I actually like Tattooed Millionaire. I also like Maiden’s No Prayer for the Dying… they both came out when I was still fairly new to hard rock music. I was into the big hooks and melody of hair metal (KISS was my “gateway” band). Another album from that time I liked was Wicked Sensation by Lynch Mob.

It was the next year in early 1991 that I totally got into thrash and heavier music. Before that, Metallica was the only thrash band I knew of… as a reference point, the albums Rust in Peace, Souls of Black and Persistence of Time were considered new releases at the time. Not to mention the iconic Painkiller album from Judas Priest! I wish I had knew people with a car back then because it was an amazing moment in time for Metal music (I was just a freshman in high school), and there was no way I was going alone.  

I sadly didn’t see my first Metal show until 1998… and it was a dinky Christian metal show (featuring Tourniquet) in a small club. It was good, but I would have rather seen the Clash of the Titans tour.

(Sorry for the rambling and my history)

Back to Bruce…

I was watching Headbanger’s Ball religiously back then, and I remember the music video for Tattooed Millionaire was new and playing quite a bit. It was pretty funny how Bruce referenced and made fun of Motley Crue (specifically Tommy Lee).

Another thing about Maiden 1990 and Bruce Dickinson’s first solo album…

Bruce was trying to add more melodic elements and tap into his 70’s “rock” influences like Mott the Hoople and Deep Purple. And Maiden was going for a more raw stripped down sound like AC/DC.

Despite the changes and turmoil with Maiden and losing Adrian Smith, I prefer that era over what Steve Harris is doing to Maiden nowadays (boring and bloated prog songs).

At least Maiden released one last great album with Bruce (Fear of the Dark) before he quit and went solo for several years.

Although there is a 8 year space between them, I think Brave New World would’ve been a good follow up to Fear of the Dark.

Some people like the Blaze era… but to me it was a dark time for Maiden. Some of the music is good, but the vocals are lacking. The transition from Di’Anno to Dickinson was much smoother because they are both great. But Blaze was a big step down!

Witchfinder wrote:

I hope it's heavy and has no twenty minute long songs about blimps.

New single just dropped - "Rain On The Graves"

Witchfinder wrote:

New single just dropped - "Rain On The Graves"

I like that. Bruce sounds a bit off to me, though. Can't put my finger on it.

I like the new tune - nice n' crunchy.

Both of the music videos have been pure cheez thus far though. Bruce must be a frustrated actor.

This new stuff is horrible!!! His voice is sure strong though.

Ordered a copy of the new Bruce a couple of nights ago. Just playin' the waiting game now (sigh)...

Got the new album, but i couldn't get through all of it in one listen.

This one definitely needs multiple spins.

Got my copy in the mail yesterday. I've only listened to the first 5 or 6 tracks so far but I already like it better than the last three Iron Maiden albums.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Got my copy in the mail yesterday. I've only listened to the first 5 or 6 tracks so far but I already like it better than the last three Iron Maiden albums.

Saw your video on Instagram. Good stuff.

You should consider starting a YouTube channel.