The_7th_one
Ancient Mariner
People in music that influenced him : Peter Hamill, Ian Anderson, Alice Cooper...
People in music that influenced him : Peter Hamill, Ian Anderson, Alice Cooper...
redandtheblack92
Came to witness the death of the Celts
So Necropolis is the survivor on Accident of Birth. That’s what I could infer from this. So Bruce’s sequel to Accident of Birth is a comic and not an album?! Interesting.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Yep, it will be a novelty and the best thing is that it will be longer for such a short song. Great.
Same here. Imagine if this is the reworked song Nightmares!! I hope so. That song is from 1997 after all.
It seems so. Idk if this is a good idea, but it could be very dreamy, and maybe that's where its power lies. Bruce mentioned that it's a very emotional song, I wonder how this can be achieved without heavy use of guitar melodies...
What is curious is that the best songs often listed by the reviewers are the ones with the different parts. On a first read, some things (parts, directions) sound curious and odd for me, but I'm more excited. Maybe Bruce should have saved the experimental bits for the next album, but I understand him. Resurrection Men and Shadow Of The Gods will be the clear favorites, but I feel I'll like some of the other ''hidden gems'' a lot.
That's an interesting point of view, and one very fitting methinks.
chaosapiant
Ancient Marinade
My favorite Bruce cover is Skunkworks. Reminds me of a cross between Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here and Division Bell. The rest of his covers are just kinda whatever.
MindlessPieces
Educated Fool
I like most of the album covers from Bruce' solo.
I think The Mandrake Project album cover is the worst. I'm not fussed on the Chemical Wedding album cover, but I like all the rest of them. Accident of Birth cover is my favorite.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
It would be interesting to read the review in Metal Hammer UK, considering that the journalist was flown to Brazil (I would imagine with all expenses paid) to interview Bruce.
I bet the article will follow this structure:
- Introduction mentioning Bruce’s accomplishments with hyperbolic language (“More impressive than Leonardo da Vinci”).
- Some remarks from Bruce about his hip replacements (“I am made of metal these days”) and his 3rd marriage and his
- The usual promotional stuff about the album that we have read previously (“I have the freedom to explore different avenues”, “Maiden has a completely different way of doing things”, “This album has been in the making since 2014 but cancer, Maiden, and Covid have delayed its release”, “I get bored singing repetitive lyrics”), with some comments about some tracks, including Sonata (“my wife loved the demo!”).
- A long monologue about the comics and the people involved in bringing his brilliant script to fruition.
- Something about the tour, perhaps including a belittling remark about Adrian’s contribution to his solo career.
- A closing paragraph where the journalist would drool (again) over the accomplishments of the polymath (“We are not worthy”).
I can’t wait to see if I got this right!
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Meliegree
Evening The Odds.
Theres a lot of tools that can help achieve that but I'm always afraid of how in recent years Bruce tends to oversell things.
But, to be optimistic, Im still trying to look at this album like its an art project. So if there will be song where Bruce hits two bricks together to show raw emotions of human race I will just rise my eyebrow slightly and say 'art, am i rite?'.
I am not saying you are wrong but how is that an achievement, especially if you portray yourself as the Brexit supporter who wants a more self-sufficient UK.
To put the blame on her if it gets more awful reviews? I am beginning to see this in a completely different light!
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
You’ll have to ask Bruxit about that one!
To put the blame on her if it gets more awful reviews? I am beginning to see this in a completely different light!
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
I have said it before and I will say it again: Storm Thorgerson was a genius! His work, either alone or with Hipgnosis, is absolutely superb.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
Bruce has a weird thermostat: T-shirt and beanie hat! It does not make sense unless you have something to hide!
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How can you make that assumption from a track list before any reviews were released?
Azas
Muted
Looking at the track list I personally can say: I like that song title, or vice versa. Of course, things will change after hearing actual song. It's simply called speculation, you know. Regarding the song that grabbed your attention. It became my favorite in terms of expectations which is based on Italian review. They said that Mistress of Mercy is in the vein of Road to Hell/Starchildren/Accident of Birth. Road to Hell and Accident of Birth are great songs, in my book. So... Following the logic I hope/expect Mistress of Mercy to be equally good. This expectation of mine will be either approved or disapproved after hearing actual song. It's simple as that.
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Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Snippets of an interview for Scream Magazine.
What Bruce says about the album cover, I don't think can be achieved without a proper background with details. He wants people to be drawn into the world of the album with it. For him, the album is old school and should be listened to from beginning to end.
About Eternity Has Failed - he didn't know when he would be able to finish the record and it would be a shame to waste the songs, so he gave Steve all the songs (whatever that means, the ones demoed in 2014 like Resurrection Men, Rain and Nightmares) and lets him choose the one he likes best.
-> Bruce played the percussion bits in the intro of it - and at the end there are choir (backing?) vocals. It would be cool if for example Shadow Of The Gods has such mystical melodies/vibe.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Two new interviews (if someone can find them):
Metal Hammer UK review:
Bruce's vocals ideas and performances are praised and the album is called an epic journey and full of ideas.
It seems the album will incorporate (in a way) all of his previous solo albums vibes (this was expected). I'm curious which will be the song with TCW vibe - maybe Resurrection Men? Skunkworks vibe only in some of the vocals I guess. Many Doors is called a 90's song, even though it was written last year.
Metal Hammer UK review:
Freed once again from the democratic checks and balances, Bruce's extraordinary voice - in every sense: larynx, character and attitude - resonates in the tight and fervent production of guitarist Roy Z.
The singer has rarely seemed so determined, aggressive and direct, while his efforts at storytelling and imagination rarely reached these peaks, pushing him to reach new levels of expressiveness and drama. As with Chemical Wedding, there is a powerful connection throughout the album, even if the themes can seem a bit cryptic and abstruse, with meanings and facets that need to be unlocked like new levels in a game's mission.
Video games, more than films, can be a possible reference to the album's soundtrack impulses. Atmospheric noises and symphonic crescendos that explode and unite with a dark and grainy intensity, making virtue of their synthetic origins. Basically, these orchestrated sonic atmospheres composed of different layers and these sophisticated arrangements are contrasted with the direct barrages of classic Metal releases. 90's songs like Many Doors To Hell, the gothic-tinged metalhead Resurrection Men and the non-ballad part of Shadow of the Gods push you to raise your fists with gritty NWOBHM riffs and pulpy choruses to sing at the top of your lungs.
Bruce's best work has always leaned towards heavier tones. And The Mandrake Project does its best by opening with the advance of Afterglow of Ragnarok, starting with a ferocious riff. An unprecedented fascinating surprise is the remake of If Eternity Should Fail, here renamed Eternity Has Failed. Shorter, slower, heavier and darker than the song we've listened to and loved for nine years, this is technically its original version, which makes you realize how long it took to put this LP together. In any case, it is a great song, certainly superior to the original only for the fact that the fake trumpet in the intro was replaced with a real flute.
The Mandrake Project requires total immersion in its kaleidoscopic sound composition. There are several references to Bruce's solo career that intertwine. There's the easily accessible Hard Rock of Tattooed Millionaire, the ambitious versatility of Balls to Picasso, the lively cosmic Prog of Skunkworks and of course the deep and elegant classic Metal that Bruce does so well - with lyrical references to old songs that add atmospheres of cohesion and celebration. The Mandrake Project is technically an hour long, but it's so full of ideas that time seems to fly when you listen to it, while still feeling like an epic journey
The singer has rarely seemed so determined, aggressive and direct, while his efforts at storytelling and imagination rarely reached these peaks, pushing him to reach new levels of expressiveness and drama. As with Chemical Wedding, there is a powerful connection throughout the album, even if the themes can seem a bit cryptic and abstruse, with meanings and facets that need to be unlocked like new levels in a game's mission.
Video games, more than films, can be a possible reference to the album's soundtrack impulses. Atmospheric noises and symphonic crescendos that explode and unite with a dark and grainy intensity, making virtue of their synthetic origins. Basically, these orchestrated sonic atmospheres composed of different layers and these sophisticated arrangements are contrasted with the direct barrages of classic Metal releases. 90's songs like Many Doors To Hell, the gothic-tinged metalhead Resurrection Men and the non-ballad part of Shadow of the Gods push you to raise your fists with gritty NWOBHM riffs and pulpy choruses to sing at the top of your lungs.
Bruce's best work has always leaned towards heavier tones. And The Mandrake Project does its best by opening with the advance of Afterglow of Ragnarok, starting with a ferocious riff. An unprecedented fascinating surprise is the remake of If Eternity Should Fail, here renamed Eternity Has Failed. Shorter, slower, heavier and darker than the song we've listened to and loved for nine years, this is technically its original version, which makes you realize how long it took to put this LP together. In any case, it is a great song, certainly superior to the original only for the fact that the fake trumpet in the intro was replaced with a real flute.
The Mandrake Project requires total immersion in its kaleidoscopic sound composition. There are several references to Bruce's solo career that intertwine. There's the easily accessible Hard Rock of Tattooed Millionaire, the ambitious versatility of Balls to Picasso, the lively cosmic Prog of Skunkworks and of course the deep and elegant classic Metal that Bruce does so well - with lyrical references to old songs that add atmospheres of cohesion and celebration. The Mandrake Project is technically an hour long, but it's so full of ideas that time seems to fly when you listen to it, while still feeling like an epic journey
Bruce's vocals ideas and performances are praised and the album is called an epic journey and full of ideas.
It seems the album will incorporate (in a way) all of his previous solo albums vibes (this was expected). I'm curious which will be the song with TCW vibe - maybe Resurrection Men? Skunkworks vibe only in some of the vocals I guess. Many Doors is called a 90's song, even though it was written last year.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
And that's the truth (more or less now) and the point of his solo career. But maybe it's also a kind of ''excuse'' for the experiments in the new album.
I'm not sure what you had in mind here, but I think I can't agree with that. Not long now to see about the new album.
Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
Yeah in fairness sometimes the song you’re most excited for based on the title alone is the one you end up loving the most. When Senjutsu was announced, a twelve and a half minute monster called “The Parchment” immediately stood out to me. After listening to the album a few times it more than lived up to my expectations and is now one of my favorite Maiden songs overall.
Is there a song I’m most interested in here? Not really, all the tracks have such enigmatic titles and the reviews have all highlighted different things that I’m mostly just looking forward to hearing the full album and making up my own mind then. My expectations have been tempered after the two singles; I like them, but I’m enjoying them in a different way than I do Accident of Birth or The Chemical Wedding. I was reading some Metal Archives reviews of those two albums from Empyreal, and he mentioned that it feels like they exist in their own unique plane of existence, like this brand of metal was just dreamed up and created from nothing, which adds to the mystic and magic of the music. That’s the way I’ve always felt. The Mandrake Project so far feels like a side project, a way for Bruce to stretch himself creatively without taking the risks he was in the late ‘90s. And that’s okay. I’ll still enjoy the music, but more at a Tattooed Millionaire level than a Chemical Wedding level.
Although it is entirely possible that I’ll play that album and be blown away, in which case I will quote every negative post on this forum and attach the “The Fat Controller laughed, ‘You are wrong’” meme to it.
As for the most controversial song right now, I don’t think “Sonata” is going to be as bad as some think it is, although I’m definitely not expecting a second “Book of Thel” or anything. Frankly sometimes a stream of consciousness creation offers great results, and I think the 20% not from the original recording might be what brings the song up from “midnight ramble” to “proper song”. But we’ll see upon release. The Beatles rearranged Moonlight Sonata and created “Because”, one of their most beautiful and vocally mesmerizing songs. Let’s see what Bruce and Roy do with it.
Is there a song I’m most interested in here? Not really, all the tracks have such enigmatic titles and the reviews have all highlighted different things that I’m mostly just looking forward to hearing the full album and making up my own mind then. My expectations have been tempered after the two singles; I like them, but I’m enjoying them in a different way than I do Accident of Birth or The Chemical Wedding. I was reading some Metal Archives reviews of those two albums from Empyreal, and he mentioned that it feels like they exist in their own unique plane of existence, like this brand of metal was just dreamed up and created from nothing, which adds to the mystic and magic of the music. That’s the way I’ve always felt. The Mandrake Project so far feels like a side project, a way for Bruce to stretch himself creatively without taking the risks he was in the late ‘90s. And that’s okay. I’ll still enjoy the music, but more at a Tattooed Millionaire level than a Chemical Wedding level.
Although it is entirely possible that I’ll play that album and be blown away, in which case I will quote every negative post on this forum and attach the “The Fat Controller laughed, ‘You are wrong’” meme to it.
As for the most controversial song right now, I don’t think “Sonata” is going to be as bad as some think it is, although I’m definitely not expecting a second “Book of Thel” or anything. Frankly sometimes a stream of consciousness creation offers great results, and I think the 20% not from the original recording might be what brings the song up from “midnight ramble” to “proper song”. But we’ll see upon release. The Beatles rearranged Moonlight Sonata and created “Because”, one of their most beautiful and vocally mesmerizing songs. Let’s see what Bruce and Roy do with it.
Ancient Marinator
Educated Fool
Rock Hard Germany 02/2024
My translation
Bruce Dickinson
Even Eternity is Finite
Thinking big has always been one of BRUCE DICKINSON's strengths.
If you add Steve Harris' indomitable will, it is actually only a logical consequence that Iron Maiden are where they are today. 2024, however, is dedicated to the singer's solo activities, and here, too, the focus is on the big picture, not the small stuff. Following the release of "The Mandrake Project" on 1 March, the band will be touring extensively, with Germany not playing an insignificant role with six shows so far in June/July. In addition the story of the album will be revealed piece by piece in a comic series.
The rather "experimental" new work "The Mandrake Project" cannot really be compared with its predecessors, apart from the fact that it exudes a similarly dark aura as "Chemical Wedding" (1998) and "Tyranny Of Souls" (2005) with tracks such as the first single release "AFTERGLOW OF RAGNAROK" or the long track "SHADOW OF THE GODS". "RESURRECTION MEN" also surprises with its unusual rhythms and latin/blues rock/indie coloration.
As "The Mandrake Project" has had what felt like an eternity (19 years) to mature, there is a lot to discover in the ten pieces. The airline captain, fencer, author and beer brewer explains: "In 2014, I got back in touch with Roy Z again and said to him: "Hey Roy, let's do another solo album." One of the songs goes back much further into the past, 20 or even 22 years (laughs). I'm talking about "SONATA". And it's the original version; years ago we decided not to distinguish between a demo and an album version. Of course we record demos, but if we like something we keep it. It's like a painter who makes a sketch and thinks: "I like that, but I'll redraw it again, then it will be even better. " The only problem is that it never gets better in the end. The emotional impression left by the original simply cannot be reproduced. And sometimes you have to admit that. Sometimes you can improve something, but in many cases the original is the best version, even if it contains minor technical errors. That magic of the first attempt cannot be repeated."
Which is a good segue to a piece that occupies a central place and might sound familiar to some: "ETERNITY HAS FAILED ". With 'If Eternity Should Fail ', Iron Maiden opened their excellent 2015 work "The Book Of Souls". The question of original and "fake" arises.
Bruce first has to sort his thoughts a little first:
"Maiden copied the original demo version of "If Eternity Should Fail". There was this spoken passage at the very end, and the band also copied the original intro unaltered. This part, which I played on the keyboard in Roy's living room (sings the melody), and the vocals, which were also recorded there are the elements that Maiden used for the album. Then the band starts to play... Suddenly Steve got back to me and said: "Can't you write a second verse? The song is too short. " (laughs) - "Really? Okay, I'll write you a second verse." And then Maiden made their own song out of it, but roughly copied my original demo, but not in terms of the atmosphere. My demo version is a little slower and has a different groove. More in the vein of "Heaven And Hell" by Black Sabbath than this Maiden gallop. Anything you give to Maiden, no matter what kind of song it is, will end up sounding like Maiden. That's just the way it is."
In fact, the differences between the two versions are interesting. ('Eternity Has Failed' is a reworking by Roy Z and Dickinson.) Bruce chats a little more before the release of 'The Mandrake Project':
"That spoken passage at the end of the Maiden version was simply to test out how it would it would feel if "If Eternity Should Fail" - which is what my new solo album was initially going to be called - was a concept work and there was a narrator. I thought to myself: "I'll just slap a few sentences to the end and then we'll see whether it sounds crazy, stupid or confusing." That was the only reason. In the context of the Maiden album, the narrative makes no sense at all, of course. But Steve didn't care about that, so he went with it (laughs)."
MATTHIAS MADER
My translation
Bruce Dickinson
Even Eternity is Finite
Thinking big has always been one of BRUCE DICKINSON's strengths.
If you add Steve Harris' indomitable will, it is actually only a logical consequence that Iron Maiden are where they are today. 2024, however, is dedicated to the singer's solo activities, and here, too, the focus is on the big picture, not the small stuff. Following the release of "The Mandrake Project" on 1 March, the band will be touring extensively, with Germany not playing an insignificant role with six shows so far in June/July. In addition the story of the album will be revealed piece by piece in a comic series.
The rather "experimental" new work "The Mandrake Project" cannot really be compared with its predecessors, apart from the fact that it exudes a similarly dark aura as "Chemical Wedding" (1998) and "Tyranny Of Souls" (2005) with tracks such as the first single release "AFTERGLOW OF RAGNAROK" or the long track "SHADOW OF THE GODS". "RESURRECTION MEN" also surprises with its unusual rhythms and latin/blues rock/indie coloration.
As "The Mandrake Project" has had what felt like an eternity (19 years) to mature, there is a lot to discover in the ten pieces. The airline captain, fencer, author and beer brewer explains: "In 2014, I got back in touch with Roy Z again and said to him: "Hey Roy, let's do another solo album." One of the songs goes back much further into the past, 20 or even 22 years (laughs). I'm talking about "SONATA". And it's the original version; years ago we decided not to distinguish between a demo and an album version. Of course we record demos, but if we like something we keep it. It's like a painter who makes a sketch and thinks: "I like that, but I'll redraw it again, then it will be even better. " The only problem is that it never gets better in the end. The emotional impression left by the original simply cannot be reproduced. And sometimes you have to admit that. Sometimes you can improve something, but in many cases the original is the best version, even if it contains minor technical errors. That magic of the first attempt cannot be repeated."
Which is a good segue to a piece that occupies a central place and might sound familiar to some: "ETERNITY HAS FAILED ". With 'If Eternity Should Fail ', Iron Maiden opened their excellent 2015 work "The Book Of Souls". The question of original and "fake" arises.
Bruce first has to sort his thoughts a little first:
"Maiden copied the original demo version of "If Eternity Should Fail". There was this spoken passage at the very end, and the band also copied the original intro unaltered. This part, which I played on the keyboard in Roy's living room (sings the melody), and the vocals, which were also recorded there are the elements that Maiden used for the album. Then the band starts to play... Suddenly Steve got back to me and said: "Can't you write a second verse? The song is too short. " (laughs) - "Really? Okay, I'll write you a second verse." And then Maiden made their own song out of it, but roughly copied my original demo, but not in terms of the atmosphere. My demo version is a little slower and has a different groove. More in the vein of "Heaven And Hell" by Black Sabbath than this Maiden gallop. Anything you give to Maiden, no matter what kind of song it is, will end up sounding like Maiden. That's just the way it is."
In fact, the differences between the two versions are interesting. ('Eternity Has Failed' is a reworking by Roy Z and Dickinson.) Bruce chats a little more before the release of 'The Mandrake Project':
"That spoken passage at the end of the Maiden version was simply to test out how it would it would feel if "If Eternity Should Fail" - which is what my new solo album was initially going to be called - was a concept work and there was a narrator. I thought to myself: "I'll just slap a few sentences to the end and then we'll see whether it sounds crazy, stupid or confusing." That was the only reason. In the context of the Maiden album, the narrative makes no sense at all, of course. But Steve didn't care about that, so he went with it (laughs)."
MATTHIAS MADER