Bruce Dickinson

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Vaenyr said:
Afterglow Of Ragnarok, Resurrection Men and Eternity Has Failed are obviously part of the concept.

According to Bruce himself: Many Doors To Hell is about a vampire, Rain On The Graves about a deal with a crossroads demon, Fingers In The Wounds is about social media and influencers and about Jesus coming back as an influencer, Mistress Of Mercy is about music, Face In The Mirror about alcoholism.

Shadow Of The Gods was written long before the Mandrake concept, as was Sonata, so these two songs are definitely not part of it in my opinion. Fingers In The Wounds, Mistress Of Mery and Face In The Mirror are entirely divorced from the concept as well. The remaining two songs could be argued either way and until the rest of the comics release we won't know for sure, but currently I'm leaning MDTH not being part of it, but Rain On The Graves apparently is teased at the end of the first comic (I think you shared that info? or someone else a few pages back) so that one seems to tie in with the concept.

So, in my opinion, 3 out of 10 songs are confirmed to be part of the same concept, 5 that aren't, and two that could theoretically tie in.
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This is all supported by the liner notes from Bruce found on Apple Music. He specified which songs belong to the concept and it’s really only 3. I have found the lyrics on the album to be not very ambiguous for the most part as well, with songs like Fingers in the Wounds and Face in the Mirror having very specific and easily identifiable lyrical concepts.
 
Vaenyr said:
According to Bruce himself: Many Doors To Hell is about a vampire, Rain On The Graves about a deal with a crossroads demon, Fingers In The Wounds is about social media and influencers and about Jesus coming back as an influencer, Mistress Of Mercy is about music, Face In The Mirror about alcoholism.
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Well, this is one of the pitfalls of the metanarrative if you read every interview, because it removes some of the mystique and narrows the room for interpretation of the art itself.

If taken in a vacuum, “Many Doors To Hell” could absolutely be interpreted as part of the concept, “[drinking] of the cup of secrets” to “[live] across the centuries”, witnessing destruction in different realities, and having the “many doors to hell” referring to the mirrors that these men go through to get to these different realities.

“Rain On The Graves” doesn’t have much lyrical content, but still ties directly into the comic based on the preview pages, with Necropolis going to the graveyard to dig up William Blake’s corpse.

The opening lines of “Fingers In The Wounds” could absolutely be Necropolis’s thoughts while attempting to repeat Lazarus’s work for his own ends, and the rest of the song would fall in line with that idea: “It just takes a hero, you stand in his shadow, you walk in his shoes with feet made of clay. So who is the sinner, and who is the prophet, the rules of the game that you’re gonna play?”

“Mistress Of Mercy” could well have been about Necropolis’s feelings about his life-hopping: “Have to believe there’s a god in this world, for I can become one, my science has learned” … “Another world, another life, an afterlife…again”

“Face In The Mirror” could have been about Necropolis coping with the periods between his life hopping, “[drinking] to ease the pain [..] in a house that has no door”, i.e. while not having access to the “many doors to hell”. It also would give extra meaning to “they are all looking down at the fool on the ground”, since Necropolis has to kill himself to go to Lazarus’s realm between worlds, so his mortal body lies there on the ground to be pitied by the people who don’t understand what he’s doing.

I mean, obviously we need to take Bruce’s own words at face value, but if he hadn’t said anything his album would have looked more conceptual than it apparently is.

(Also, to those of you who gave me shit for thinking “Out Of The Shadows” was about a vampire because Bruce would never write about vampires, let’s just add “Many Doors To Hell” to the list alongside “No Way Out…Continued” and “Dracula”, thank you very much…)
 
I honestly don't know how to rank the album in Bruce's discography. As I said, I like all songs, some may feel weaker for him, but it would be unfair to put it above an album with actual solos, instrumental sections/melodic interludes and a 2nd guitarist (Adrian!). I have in mind AOB because I'm not a fan of two songs from it. I have to ignore the unfinished aspect of the album, not least because I like it a lot.

1.Tyranny Of Souls
2.The Chemical Wedding
3.Accident Of Birth
4.The Mandrake Project (maybe tie, with actual solos and melodies, certainly could be higher; it's really a pity)
5.Skunkworks
6.Balls To Picasso
7.Tattooed Millionaire

*BTP and Skunkworks are interchangeable.

All that being said, I can see Mandrake becoming a favorite album of mine for what it is (the experimental approach contributes to this, I must admit) - it's really hard to compete with classics like the previous 3 solo albums. The Trilogy!
 
Jer said:
In case anyone was curious, the story in the prelude comic that comes with the deluxe CD is just the story you see depicted in the “Afterglow Of Ragnarok” video, and the 6-page preview of the first issue of the series shows the protagonist breaking into a graveyard while it’s raining to find the grave site of William Blake, so pretty much the broad strokes of the “Rain On The Graves” video. And lyrics from both “Afterglow Of Ragnarok” and The Chemical Wedding make their way into the captions.
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The prelude comic is - if I remember correctly - the same one that came with the Afterglow of Ragnarok 7”.
 
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Jer said:
Well, this is one of the pitfalls of the metanarrative if you read every interview, because it removes some of the mystique and narrows the room for interpretation of the art itself.

If taken in a vacuum, “Many Doors To Hell” could absolutely be interpreted as part of the concept, “[drinking] of the cup of secrets” to “[live] across the centuries”, witnessing destruction in different realities, and having the “many doors to hell” referring to the mirrors that these men go through to get to these different realities.

“Rain On The Graves” doesn’t have much lyrical content, but still ties directly into the comic based on the preview pages, with Necropolis going to the graveyard to dig up William Blake’s corpse.

The opening lines of “Fingers In The Wounds” could absolutely be Necropolis’s thoughts while attempting to repeat Lazarus’s work for his own ends, and the rest of the song would fall in line with that idea: “It just takes a hero, you stand in his shadow, you walk in his shoes with feet made of clay. So who is the sinner, and who is the prophet, the rules of the game that you’re gonna play?”

“Mistress Of Mercy” could well have been about Necropolis’s feelings about his life-hopping: “Have to believe there’s a god in this world, for I can become one, my science has learned” … “Another world, another life, an afterlife…again”

“Face In The Mirror” could have been about Necropolis coping with the periods between his life hopping, “[drinking] to ease the pain [..] in a house that has no door”, i.e. while not having access to the “many doors to hell”. It also would give extra meaning to “they are all looking down at the fool on the ground”, since Necropolis has to kill himself to go to Lazarus’s realm between worlds, so his mortal body lies there on the ground to be pitied by the people who don’t understand what he’s doing.

I mean, obviously we need to take Bruce’s own words at face value, but if he hadn’t said anything his album would have looked more conceptual than it apparently is.

(Also, to those of you who gave me shit for thinking “Out Of The Shadows” was about a vampire because Bruce would never write about vampires, let’s just add “Many Doors To Hell” to the list alongside “No Way Out…Continued” and “Dracula”, thank you very much…)
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Sure. If you take specific lines in a vacuum there's enough evocative and interesting imagery to interpret various things into. Given how strongly the connection to the concept is emphasized in the lyrics to Afterglow, Eternity and Resurrection Men, I think it's fair to say that if Bruce wanted the other songs to be part of it he would've been more blatant about it.

On the other hand, songs like Face In The Mirror make their inspiration quite obvious if you read the entire thing in context and would be quite a stretch to connect to the Mandrake Project.

There is no right or wrong with personal interpretations, but whenever possible I like to know the thoughts of the artist and their intent behind their art. Further interpretation beyond that can obviously go in different directions, but I like looking at the art from the intended point of view to evaluate it in context.
 
harrisdevot said:
You knew you would be asked, but could you be more specific? It's not just a casual subject here: are you saying Maiden's longest member after Steve is seriously willing to retire soon?
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Maybe not soon, but he apparently considered retirement a couple of years ago.
 
All lyrics:

"Afterglow Of Ragnarok"

I am your very soul
The one you do not know
I am the truth that's playing hide and seek
And I will not be free
I cannot choose to be
'Til my creator takes the chains off me

All is come to nothing
All will burn in hell
Now the bridge has broken
All is come undone

I cross 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
Again

For me, there's no escape
No opening of the gate
Incarnate freedom just a hopeless dream
I read your silent mind
I feel your hate refined
And the burning will begin in the circle of lust

All has come to nothing
Saved but you can't run
Now the bridge has broken
All is come undone

I cross 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
Again

All has come to nothing
The world is only dust
Now the bridge is broken
There's a fire in the ice

All is come to nothing
All is burned in hell
Now the bridge is broken

I cross 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
Again

Afterglow
Afterglow of Ragnarok

"Many Doors To Hell"

All things of love and beauty lost in clouds of fiery dust
Beneath the blood-red sky, the shifting sands will cover us
We drink the cup of secrets, dreaming of the afterlife
The sun begins its journey, taking us from day to night

So where was God when I needed Him most?
What salvation is the Holy Ghost?
For what I've done, you can't blame me
I've lived across the centuries

When the sun goes down
I wear my thorned crown
I know them all so well
So many opening doors to hell

I drink the cup of starlight, dreaming of the day to come
My fingers turn the pages of the Book of Life that's yet to come
My blood is thin, my body ache
To lie on Earth is still my fate
Eclipse will come to set me free
And for that moment, I can't wait

Telling you now I will come again
With the knowledge from my secret room
Show me treasure with humankind
Drink of me, lose your mind

When the sun goes down
I wear my thorned crown
I know them all so well
The many opening doors to hell
I made the earth unbound
Tears of desolation felt
Believe the tales I tell
The many opening doors to hell

Our life will leave us with wounds
So we must
Human deceivers of your soul
Retrievers

When the sun goes down
I wear my thorned crown
I know the world so well
The many opening doors to hell
I made the earth unbound
Tears of desolation found
Believe the tales I tell
The many opening doors to hell

The many opening doors to hell
The many opening doors to hell

"Rain On The Graves"

In a country churchyard
I came across a man
He smiled and slowly beckoned me
With a trembling hand
Did you come to gamble
Or did you come to pray
What's the meaning of your business here
On a stormy day
The raindrops spattered on the tomb
From grey and leaden skies
Deny me once, deny me twice
But don't look in my eyes

There is rain on the graves
There is rain on the graves
There is rain on the graves
It's just rain, rain, rain
There is rain on the graves
But you came to be saved
There is rain on the graves
Let it wash your soul of dying

Faithless, he denied the truth
That he had come to steal
To kneel before the poet
Not the altar or the priest
He's washed himself in misery
Before he came to pray
He'd hoped in his false penitence
Some sympathy he'd sway

There is rain on the graves
There is rain on the graves
There is rain on the graves
It's just rain, rain, rain
There is rain on the graves
But you came to be saved
There is rain on the graves
It's just rain, rain, rain

I am the God of sinners
You are what I have made
You're talking to your likeness
And my shadow is your shade
Stand up and face the mirror
It's the image that you crave
But I'll be here when you're long gone
I'll see you in that grave
Ha, ha, ha

There is rain on the graves
There is rain on the graves
There is rain on the graves
It's just rain, rain, rain
There is rain on the graves
Rain on the graves
There is rain on the graves
Rain, rain, rain, rain
Rain on the graves
Ha, ha, ha

"Resurrection Men"

In this ancient code, we're pulled apart
I am the wizard of your heart
Clear sail and the slides are blue
On a different tower to be with you
We're ecstasy on respirators
Breathing cosmic incubators
Innocent, translucent white
We are the children of the night

We're resurrection men
And the point of death will take you to the end
Resurrection men
Eternity has failed you once again
Resurrection men
You've done the deal and so the story ends
Resurrection men

I rise from slumber, you call my name
Recall my number, my day of shame
Extend my future, my only life
Some deadly marriage, a barren wife

So rise you demons, I live in Hell
I am connected to you as well
Some say we rob graves, in truth, we dig
My name is Lazarus, I raise the dead

So rise, you spirits, rise
Show yourselves in the glass
Reach up, tighten my grip on your soul
Summon your demons outside

We're resurrection men
And the point of death will take you to the end
Resurrection men
Eternity has failed you once again
Resurrection men
You've done the deal and so the story ends
Resurrection men

Resurrection men
Resurrection men

"Fingers In The Wounds"

It just takes a hero, you're standing in shadow
You walk in the shoes, with feet made of clay
So who is the sinner and who is the prophet?
The rules of the game that you're gonna play

So put your fingers in the wounds and pray that it's God
A roll of the dice for a piece of his cloth
It just takes a hero from a nickel or a dime
Take a pearl from an oyster and feed it to swine

We all want to be you for a glimmer of hope
There's not enough gold at the end of your rope
And no one can hear you, your life is a zero
You only can be what the people they see

So put your fingers in the wounds and pray that it's God
A roll of the dice for a piece of his cloth
It just takes a hero from a nickel or a dime
Take a pearl from an oyster and feed it to swine

Over and over
Over and over

So put your fingers in the wounds and pray that it's God
A roll of the dice for a piece of his cloth
It just takes a hero from a nickel or a dime
Take a pearl from an oyster and feed it to swine

So put your fingers in his wounds and pray that it's God
A roll of the dice for a piece of his cross
It just takes a hero from a nickel or a dime
Take a pearl from an oyster and feed it to swine

"Eternity Has Failed"

Here is the soul of a man
Here in this place for the taking
Clothed in white, stand in the light
Here is the soul of a man

Time to speak with the shaman again
Conjure the jester again
Black dog in the ruins is howling my name
So here is the soul of a man

When the world was virgin before the coming of men
Just a solar witness, the beginning of the end
From a world of magma to a cold rock face
The ascent of madness and a human race

There are strange believers, in all of us
There are stranger truths, immortal lust
The dark redeemer, he takes your hand
You sign the contract, and lose your mind

Lose your mind

Reef in the sails at the edge of the world
But eternity has failed
You are waiting in line for the ending of time
But eternity has failed
We are building a bridge, so you people can live
Cause eternity has failed
Just a matter of time for my partner in crime
And eternity has failed

Reef in the sails at the edge of the world
Cause eternity has failed
You are waiting in line for the ending of time
But eternity has failed
We are building a bridge, so you people can live
Cause eternity has failed
Just a matter of time for my partner in crime
And eternity has failed

Reef in the sails at the edge of the world
Cause eternity has failed
You are waiting in line for the ending of time
But eternity has failed

Eternity has failed
Eternity has failed

Good day, my name is Necropolis
I am formed of the dead

"Mistress Of Mercy"

Give me my freedom, release me from pain
Mistress of mercy, come thrill me again
Time to return to the world which I came
No more tomorrows, no judgement or blame

I can be what I never was
Skeletons of fury 'cause my mind was lost

Far from the old ways, sleep of the awake
Lost in the harmony, the majesty, the ecstasy

Hunting down souls of the blackened and damned
Burnt from the future, who knows where I'll land?
I do believe there's a god in this world
For I can become what my science has learned

I can be what I never was
Now that I am ready 'cause my mind is lost

Far from the old ways, sleep of the awake
Lost in the harmony, the majesty, the ecstasy

I can be what I never was
Now that I am ready, now my mind is lost

Far from the old ways, sleep of the awake
Lost in the harmony, the majesty, the ecstasy

Another world, another life, an afterlife again
Lost in the ecstasy, the harmony, the majesty

"Face In The Mirror"

I can read between the lines
When people sing along
I can see the innocence
The spirits in their heart
I drink to ease the pain
To dull this maddening roar
Oblivion again
In a house that has no door

Face in a mirror
It's a waiting game
Look at your face in the mirror
Does it look the same?
Look at your face in the mirror
It's a crying shape
Look at your face in the mirror
A waiting game

There are people all around
They're standing in the crowd
They are all looking down
At the fool on the ground
So welcome to my world
To the bottom of a glass
When I hold it I see through you
To the future and the past

Face in a mirror
It's a waiting game
Look at your face in the mirror
Does it look the same?
Look at your face in the mirror
It's a crying shame
Look at your face
Look at your face
Look at your face

I can't see paradise
Even though I live in hell
So don't look in my mirror
You might see yourself as well

It's a face in a mirror
It's a waning name
Look at your face in a mirror
Does it look the same?
When you stare into your eyes
It's a crying shape
Take a look at your face
Look at your face
Look at your face

Face in the mirror
It's a waning name
Take a look at your face In the mirror
Does it look the same?
Take a look at that face In the mirror
It's a crying shape
Look at your face
Look at your face
Look at your face

"Shadow Of The Gods"

And so we lay under the moon
The stars have crossed our paths tonight
So journey on, our wandering souls
Let our tears fall on our road
Against the sun, there are shapes in the fire
Around the stars are blue and grey
Halos, forever
Into the light

A pathway, silvered and untold
A frozen river, a river of souls
Let your tears fall on the ice
In the shadow of the gods
Somewhere there is hope
In this heartless world, together
To come again on this new earth
Once more, forever, evermore

Journey on beyond the stars
Our weary souls, the road is long
We live in shadows of the gods
The soundly homeland is not far

Absolute night, in absolute zero
The universe stops
A fetus in vitro
I have a river of souls on the foot
One drop creates the light
One drop will fill the night

I need a necromancer, the science has no use
I need your skill to raise the veil
Sanctify release
A sacrifice at midnight
Do what must be done
I need your help to save them all
Save my only son

This is my world, world of the dead
This is my life, world of the dead

Before a body had grown cold, you were there to steal its soul
Your son is dead, he told me so, I gave him peace, he is let go
So now a double threat unfolds and purgatory awaits
The travel head and hellhound fox had opened up the gates

Look at your life, world of the dead
This is your life, world of the dead
You have no life, world of the dead
World of the dead

We are part of the temple gates
Like the crucible again
We watch the phoenix rises in fire
Burning by the ritual flames
So lay me down in the shadow of the gods

"Sonata (Immortal Beloved)"

Here in this dark forest where nothing will live
I see the frozen eyes
Maybe something can be heard
Frozen raindrops hanging on the trees
Here in the dark forest
Where angels live and angels sleep
Herein my heart is raging
Again, again

Save me now, save me now
Save me now, save me now
Save me from this pain, save me now
Save me now
Until you help me live again, again

I'll walk into the halls of ice and thorns
Decaying frozen walls
I'll blame myself I was not here
For this king could have lost his crown
But still is your heartbeat
Your breath hangs frozen in the air
Some poisoned enchantment
Your beauty, it will not last

You said, "Save me now, save me now"
Save me now, save me now
Save me from this pain, save me now
Bring me back
Save me now and help me live again

The king returned and all was silent
The body of his frozen queen, tragic
The acolytes around her
Expressions of horror
Make me whole again
Bring back my queen
Make me whole again
And bring the ice queen now
Come back to me
Come back to me

Save me now, save me now
Save me now, save me now
Save me from my grave, save me now
Save me now
Help me, help me live again

He kissed her on the lips
And his tears melted the stiff, unyielding flesh
As his lips touched her last frozen breath
A strange light illumined her eyes
In the shadow of the valley of death

He kissed her on the lips
His tears melted the stiff unyielding flesh
As his lips touched her last frozen breath
A strange light illumined her eyes
The shadow of the valley of death approached
And the king cried
"For I am damned, what have I done?"
And the ice queen shrieked as the angel of death appeared
"Who pays the price?" He laughed

For love has brought you here
And love will tear you apart
For love, I've brought you here
And love will tear you apart
For love has brought you here
And love will tear you apart
For love has brought you here
And love will tear you apart

I'll take you there
Let me take you there

Shadow Of The Gods has amazing lyrics. Almost all are pretty good.
 
Also, regarding the recent leak discussion, here's me single-handedly saving Bruce from bankruptcy with my selfless sacrifice and monetary support of his solo project:

TMP.jpg


And here's me with not only one but two copies of Maiden's masterpiece. One could say I'm known for helping poor, struggling millionaires by keeping them out of poverty:

VXXII.jpg

You're welcome folks :D
 
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Vaenyr said:
Also, regarding the recent leak discussion, here's me single-handedly saving Bruce from bankruptcy by my selfless sacrifice and monetary support of his solo project:

View attachment 34659


And here's me with not only one but two copies of Maiden's masterpiece. One could say I'm known for helping poor, struggling millionaires by keeping them out of poverty:

View attachment 34660

You're welcome folks :D
Click to expand...

A brave man owning two copies of that abomination that is Virtual XI!!!!!

I do own two copies too: the CD and the LP :ninja:
 
Do we know when the vocals were recorded? Or have there been several sets of vocal recordings before TBOS and much more recent?

Although it does strike me we're hearing a younger Bruce voice in at least some of the tracks, he also sounds more Senjutsu-era at times. I also wonder if the production where it's drowning his voice out a bit also serves the purpose of convincing the listener we're listening to a MUCH younger Bruce voice (I'm thinking 00s).
 
Brigantium said:
Do we know when the vocals were recorded? Or have there been several sets of vocal recordings before TBOS and much more recent?

Although it does strike me we're hearing a younger Bruce voice in at least some of the tracks, he also sounds more Senjutsu-era at times. I also wonder if the production where it's drowning his voice out a bit also serves the purpose of convincing the listener we're listening to a MUCH younger Bruce voice (I'm thinking 00s).
Click to expand...

There are vocals from the late 90s in Sonata, from the 10s, and some recorded last year. The difference in quality is quite noticeable.
 
Vaenyr said:
Also, regarding the recent leak discussion, here's me single-handedly saving Bruce from bankruptcy with my selfless sacrifice and monetary support of his solo project:

View attachment 34659


And here's me with not only one but two copies of Maiden's masterpiece. One could say I'm known for helping poor, struggling millionaires by keeping them out of poverty:

View attachment 34660

You're welcome folks :D
Click to expand...

The expression on your face clearly shows your dislike for TMP:D
 
Brigantium said:
Do we know when the vocals were recorded? Or have there been several sets of vocal recordings before TBOS and much more recent?

Although it does strike me we're hearing a younger Bruce voice in at least some of the tracks, he also sounds more Senjutsu-era at times. I also wonder if the production where it's drowning his voice out a bit also serves the purpose of convincing the listener we're listening to a MUCH younger Bruce voice (I'm thinking 00s).
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Yeah, like @GhostofCain said as far as we know there are recordings from at least three different eras: Sonata is late 90's, EHF, SOTG and some others have vocals from around 2014 and Afterglow and some others are from 2022/2023.

SOTG was written during/for Tyranny Of Souls, so the vocals might be from even as early as that.
 
Brigantium said:
Do we know when the vocals were recorded? Or have there been several sets of vocal recordings before TBOS and much more recent?

Although it does strike me we're hearing a younger Bruce voice in at least some of the tracks, he also sounds more Senjutsu-era at times. I also wonder if the production where it's drowning his voice out a bit also serves the purpose of convincing the listener we're listening to a MUCH younger Bruce voice (I'm thinking 00s).
Click to expand...
Rain was from 2012 based on Bruce’s field trip to William Wordsworths grave.
Sonata from 1998 (second verse was recorded more recently)
Shadows from 2005 probably
Afterglow & Doors to hell from 2023
Eternity from 2014
Resurrection Men is from 2008 (could be wrong here)
Face in the Mirror could be from 2022 (Leana had posted an Instagram short back in 2022 of Bruce playing an acoustic with Roy in the studio)
 
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I think the album has to have multiple listens to be fully absorbed (no excuse for trying to like a bad album); Many Doors To Hell has a simple, but, catchy vibe in every bit of the song and it surely is a highlight (a prettier cousin to Stratego); Resurrection Men's Sabbathical riff tone and its bent power chords reminds me more of Cathedral, which already happened on Tyranny Of Souls, (on River Of No Return and Believil) and it's a very interesting track; Fingers In The Wound mid section sounds like some mad twist Faith No More would do on The Real Thing, and also, has a vibe of Balls To Picasso b-sides, such as No Way Out... and Over And Out; Eternity Has Failed is as fantastic as Maiden's version, even better in some aspects; Mistress Of Mercy chorus has a Rush vibe to it and I love the song; on Shadow Of The Gods, Bruce clearly mentalized both Rob and Ronnie on the parts written for them and has great effect to the theatricals of the song, also, the heavy riff is reminiscing of Sabbath's Psycho Man and here and on Sonata, there's Peter Hammill's influence all over the place, ; Face In The Mirror is simple, but, touches deep and the lyrics are pretty effective, specially, if one is a teetotaler, like myself (cool nod to Van Der Graaf Generator, on the first verse); Sonata instrumental is pretty hypnotic and the arrangements in it are to be appreciated with good ear or headphones. A really amazing album closer.

An unexpected vibe to the album as a whole that might sound too simple or weak if one keeps comparing to the last 3 or to their expectations. I think Maestro Mistheria is a master of the keys and his lines and arrangements give colours to the album's land and soundscapes, 'cos it's a very visual album with great lyrics.

Still don't know where I'd rank it as it's too early, but, even if it gets to the 6th or 7th spot, I tend to give The Mandrake Project 8 or 8,5 out of 10.
 
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I noticed a different vibrato and phrasing on Eternity Has Failed 3rd solo, I think and wondered if Roy tried to emulate another soloist and it turns out Gus G played leads on the song.
 
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