Poto
Ancient Mariner
Yes what the hell is he talking about.
In any case, hope he had a nice birthday. Hopefully many more to come.
In any case, hope he had a nice birthday. Hopefully many more to come.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
I have just finished listening to More Balls to Picasso on Spotify. Right before I listened to the album, I played the original and I must say I much prefer it to the revisited experiment Bruce has released this summer. Whilst the mix on More Balls to Picasso brings more clarity to some of the original guitar parts, the added bits are completely unnecessary. The least we say about what has been done to the already perfect Tears of the Dragon, the better.
On a related note, I am still baffled by the revisionism trying to make the album sound heavier that it originally did. I am old enough to have followed Bruce's solo career in real time and, back in those days, Bruce wanted to steer away from metal as much as he possibly could (his snarky remarks about the genre, Iron Maiden, and Steve Harris in interviews are there for anyone interested in reading them). Before writing Balls to Picasso with Roy Z, he shelved one metal album (produced by the late Chris Tsangarides) and a weird experimental one (produced by Keith Olsen). Some of those songs were released as B-sides and you can find more detailed information about them here.
Following the release of Balls to Picasso Bruce went even further into a different musical style with the alternative-rock-influenced Skunkworks (a fantastic album) and only found an interest in heavier sounds when the latter flopped...
On a related note, I am still baffled by the revisionism trying to make the album sound heavier that it originally did. I am old enough to have followed Bruce's solo career in real time and, back in those days, Bruce wanted to steer away from metal as much as he possibly could (his snarky remarks about the genre, Iron Maiden, and Steve Harris in interviews are there for anyone interested in reading them). Before writing Balls to Picasso with Roy Z, he shelved one metal album (produced by the late Chris Tsangarides) and a weird experimental one (produced by Keith Olsen). Some of those songs were released as B-sides and you can find more detailed information about them here.
Following the release of Balls to Picasso Bruce went even further into a different musical style with the alternative-rock-influenced Skunkworks (a fantastic album) and only found an interest in heavier sounds when the latter flopped...
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Helmuth Von Moltke
Ancient Mariner
I have mediocre expectations for the next Bruce album. I preferred the first Smith / Kotzen and the second British Lion albums to the Mandrake Project, to put my feelings into context.
So for me, the very big question is what this scheduling means for the next Maiden album. And it fills me with dread that we have no idea when that will be scheduled. Real dread that Maiden in the studio is not talked about at all, by anyone connected to the band, ever.
RFYL or a variation of that tour till retirement is not much fun for me to think about. It will start to kill my enthusiasm for following the band (as I pass my personal 30th anniversary of doing so).
It’s not about me, but about actually living the feeling of following a nostalgia band. It’s true maiden could have taken this easy way out 20 years ago, but they didn’t, and that’s what has preserved my enthusiasm.
This year, 2025, is what it feels like to follow a nostalgia band. Maiden, please prove me wrong.
So for me, the very big question is what this scheduling means for the next Maiden album. And it fills me with dread that we have no idea when that will be scheduled. Real dread that Maiden in the studio is not talked about at all, by anyone connected to the band, ever.
RFYL or a variation of that tour till retirement is not much fun for me to think about. It will start to kill my enthusiasm for following the band (as I pass my personal 30th anniversary of doing so).
It’s not about me, but about actually living the feeling of following a nostalgia band. It’s true maiden could have taken this easy way out 20 years ago, but they didn’t, and that’s what has preserved my enthusiasm.
This year, 2025, is what it feels like to follow a nostalgia band. Maiden, please prove me wrong.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
The Mandrake Project is a turd, so I hope Bruce is incapable of releasing something that bad again (fingers crossed!).
I might be wrong, but I do not think Maiden will release a new studio album. They seem quite happy with their legendary status and, let’s face it, milking the nostalgia is much more profitable.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
I was disappointed with TMP as well, but I'm actually quite hopeful about the next album. The songs on TMP included decades old demos and some quickly thrown together tracks written with Roy. Now we are getting a (hopefully) cohesive product, written by his new touring band, including two guitarists and a prominent synth player. The band learned and played a lot of the songs spanning all of Bruce's solo albums, so I trust that they'll deliver something better than what I'd expect out of Roy Z in the last few years. Let's hope for the best!
Helmuth Von Moltke
Ancient Mariner
Fingers crossed. It depends on whether Bruce can focus his vision around a coherent musical approach. And if Roy Z operates as his peak as well. My fear is they try cover all the musical bases once again and produce another disjointed album.
I also think Balls to Picasso was disjointed, and that it’s a risk when Bruce’s imagination runs riot without a central organising principle. But yes, let’s be optimistic.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
Mate, Roy Z is now out of the picture after his alleged fallout with Bruce.
Helmuth Von Moltke
Ancient Mariner
I missed this! Oh well and that’s that for the holy trinity of best Bruce albums then.
Edit: just read the Reddit threat on this and looked up page 222 in Bruce’s autobiography. Well, what do I know about Roy’s life, but I’d say that’s a careless and stereotyped description that Bruce opted for of Roy. The book will be in thousands of homes. I can see why Roy might be pissed, to the extent that contributed to it among other things.
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Jer
'Til Tomorrow
Horn section FTW…?
FearOfTheLark
Trooper
It'll be interesting to see what it sounds like without Roy. I wonder if Roy will kick up a fuss if they use any stuff Roy may have been a part of previously
I don't have high hopes for the next bruce album Roy or otherwise - In all honesty I'd be more excited about a further big reissue/remix etc or AOB and CW
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Bruce's album is still much better imo. But yeah, making new music is the key to everything.
Well said. Even if the songs aren't co-written with the band (18 demos is a lot, so it's possible, or he'll pay Roy for the rights to the co-written demos, or those are brand new?), at least the band will work on them and make them better. My issue with TMP is the guitar work. New guitarists (two, not one, which is better) in Bruce's solo band is curious, exciting, and anxious.
Wow, I don't think I can call any album of my favorite bands that. Some of the stuff and ideas are great and classic Bruce, I find the bad comments about his and Maiden's new albums like exaggerated and some odd, despite the high expectations. Also, making a new album is an additional profit for Maiden. Not like tours, but still.
Good call about Bruce's focus on his vision. At least there won't be a comic to distract him. Different musical bases once again- I think that's to be expected.
Now it seems like he's in the same phase again, but with everything to be heavy...
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Apparently Bruce did a signing session, probably with questions (BTP screen) and interview 2 days ago. Some recordings or will it be released? Interesting birthday cake.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
I guess the clip was filmed at the Dolby ATMOS playback that took place in London on 6th August.
MindRuler
Ancient Mariner
That's quite harsh.
The album grew on me and I think I will revisit it again soon.
If he has them in the wounds I doubt it...
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
I’ve tried to like the album and, sadly, has not worked. The musical disappointment of the decade as far as I am concerned.
At the end of the day it is just music and I shouldn’t have set my expectations at Accident of Birth/The Chemical Wedding level but at Virtual XI one.
Yax
Ancient Mariner
I think it's a decent record, but certainly a disappointment. I had hoped for a record of the ToS quality level (I certainly didn't expect TCW or AoB, so that one is purely on you). But it's clearly a mash of finished songs and semi-finished songs. It's more of a far-along demo than a studio record to me.I’ve tried to like the album and, sadly, has not worked. The musical disappointment of the decade as far as I am concerned.
At the end of the day it is just music and I shouldn’t have set my expectations at Accident of Birth/The Chemical Wedding level but at Virtual XI one.
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Ruflux
Ancient Marinade
I've listened to it once and I have no desire to return to it. I've given albums like VXI or St. Anger multiple shots in comparison. I think the biggest sin Mandrake commits is simply being boring and uninteresting. It's not bad enough to hate with passion, but it's far from being good enough to remember. It just kind of is. I'd rather it wasn't.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
I think it's a decent record, but certainly a disappointment. I had hoped for a record of the ToS quality level (I certainly didn't expect TCW or AoB, so that one is purely on you). But it's clearly a mash of finished songs and semi-finished songs. It's more of a far-along demo than a studio record to me.
I would have been quite happy if it had ended up being close to the Tyranny of Souls quality level. Sadly, it was not to be.