THESEVENTHMARINER
Ancient Mariner
FTTB cuts into precious pub time.
BruceBruce
Trooper
Absolutely , that's why i have stopped doing it hahah.
BTW @TheMercenary
REVIEW is really the best one i have read it so far online !!! I need to share this with you because I really think this way and i have read all of them.
Iron Lurker
Ancient Mariner
Very true! Come to think of it FTTB wasn't a thing in America for me until after Maiden started coming to my region again with the Maiden England Tour in 2012. All the arena shows I was at prior from the 80's on were all reserved seats, no GA Floor.
Wickerman1204
Educated Fool
FTTB is now a stupid, unfunny joke. If you want barrier you need to wait since 5 am. I hope Bruce’s gig will be without it.
redandtheblack92
Came to witness the death of the Celts
I’m beginning to really get hooked on to Midnight Jam. Thoughts?
redandtheblack92
Came to witness the death of the Celts
For Bruce there’s gonna be First to the Graves. You need to make it just in time to witness the first drop of rain on the graves.
PM me
redandtheblack92
Came to witness the death of the Celts
PM me
MindRuler
Ancient Mariner
It certainly will be better than Pass The Jam.
redandtheblack92
Came to witness the death of the Celts
I think it’s the most random song they’ve ever made about how a jar of jam travels across a table.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
One of the songs was compared in some way to Freak... oh no.
A lot of playing with the sounds and Bruce's most universal album. Nice. Bruce said it's an album for grown up metalheads.
Album of the year for this guy (so far). Bruce's vocals are some of his best!
Praise for Many Doors and Resurrection Men (lots of tempo changes, brilliant, not long enough!), Wounds was kind of compare to Man Of Sorrows, Eternity Has Failed is more enjoying, Mistress was compared with The Tower (a bit) and could have been a Samson song(!), Face In The Mirror was compared to Man Of Sorrows and Taking The Queen (but it's his least favorite song with not so good chorus), Shadow Of The Gods is mini prog, Sonata has great guitar tone and is another highlight for him.
Here's one of the last reviews (UK, 5/5) and interviews, probably, although I guess Bruce can do more promo in the last week before the release (Roy and Bruce are good):
BRUCE DICKINSON: The Mandrake Project (HEAVY METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves
A top-class heavy/hard rock record, 'The Mandrake Project' allows Bruce Dickinson to move a little further away from the Iron Maiden sound.
A top-class heavy/hard rock record, 'The Mandrake Project' allows Bruce Dickinson to move a little further away from the Iron Maiden sound.
The melancholy atmosphere is immediately gripping, rediscovering the spirit that made 'The Chemical Wedding' so strong. 'Shadow Of The Gods' and 'Sonata (Immortal Beloved)' are two superb, convoluted pieces, full of emotion. Bruce takes on the role of storyteller, singing in the poised manner of an actor. There's an ethereal quality to the music, underpinned by melodic, rousing solos that are full of feeling.
Beyond the dark aspects, there's a theatrical edge. 'Afterglow Of Ragnarok', 'Many Doors To Hell', 'Rain Of The Graves' and 'Eternity Has Failed' are direct and catchy. Bruce Dickinson doesn't force his voice and this hard rock register. The keyboards take pride of place, the choruses are simple and effective and the epic side is very much present, while Roy Z delights with his touch on some pleasing virtuoso solos.
The melodic side is even stronger on 'Fingers In The Wounds' and 'Face In The Mirror', where acoustic and piano work wonders. Bruce excels in this melancholy ballad register. The choruses are splendid, as are the chilling melodies.
With 'The Mandrake Project', Bruce has produced a fine work worthy of the greatest moments of his solo career. Backed up by Roy Z, he cleverly moves away from the Iron Maiden sound to produce a cinematic Heavy/Hard Rock that's colourful and deliciously catchy.
(Interviews) BRUCE DICKINSON (JANUARY 12, 2024) : an article to read on Music Waves
It's been 19 years since Bruce Dickinson released a solo album. With 'The Mandrake Project', the almighty Iron Maiden frontman makes up for lost time and reveals all the secrets behind his ambitious project...
Curious bits from the interview (from last week):
Roy co-wrote 50% of the songs. He inspires Bruce and vice versa and they work so well together. A very special musician and brother, according to Bruce.
He can do an album will Roy pretty quickly.
He loves the comic and it's exciting for him because it's a great (and important) challenge.
He wanted to provoke curiosity with the titles and lyrics.
Lovely surprises on the album.
The theatrical vibe of the album is best felt in Wounds, Rain, Shadow and Sonata.
Sonata: ''Several years later, we'd just finished 'The Chemical Weeding' and we were talking about doing something else - I don't think I was back in Maiden yet - it must have been in 1999, he passed me the track, asked me what I thought of it and indeed, it was different: It wasn't heavy, it wasn't fast like we were used to... But honestly, I didn't know how to sing on it''.
Sonata wasn't heavy enough for Bruce, but then again, this whole album is more heavy rock.
Wounds is the shortest song on the album, and that surprises Bruce the most. His goal was not to have less progressive songs than with Maiden.
He loves Navigate The Seas Of The Sun from TOS.
He thinks theatrical vibe is one of his trademarks.
Shadow Of The Gods evokes TCW.
He thinks Many Doors is a great song.
He is fulfilled with this album.
Steve is more open to new ideas now.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Some nice sounds on Midnight Jam, but that's it. Maiden's Pass The Jam, on the other hand, has some cool riffs that should have been used for another song on DOD. It has that vibe.
redandtheblack92
Came to witness the death of the Celts
Understood & noted
mtmccox
Ancient Mariner
You got your boots on, mate?
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
So has it actually leaked or is @BruceBruce a timewaster?