Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project (Album Review)
Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project
Released: March 1, 2024
Line Up
Bruce Dickinson | lead vocals
Roy Z | guitars, bass, producer, engineer, mixing
Dave Moreno | drums
Maestro Mistheria | keyboards
Online
It’s been a long time coming, but here we are. Finally, the release of The Mandrake Project. In the lead up the internet was awash with chatter around the theme of the album. The early word was we’d be seeing a concept album and, given the imagery around the announcement, this was probably a fair call. The first single and opening track ‘Afterglow of Ragnarok’ went a long way to fuel online speculation. Combined with the cinematic music video, I was certain Bruce Dickinson had composed a rock opera and the rest of the album would follow in the same vein.
With that in mind, on my initial listen I couldn’t find an overarching storyline, nor any link between the songs. No matter how much or how hard I listened, I couldn’t grasp the concept of the album, and with good reason: there isn’t one. I mentioned this to Bruce in my interview with the singer, where he explained that although it’d been twenty years in the making, The Mandrake Project was not a concept album. Or as he put it, “There’s no Robin Hood on ice”.
The first thing I noticed about this album are the myriad musical styles throughout. I wouldn’t use the word eclectic, but it is certainly Dickinson’s most diverse album to date. Outside of the confines of Iron Maiden, Dickinson has demonstrated that those rules don’t apply. His solo efforts, going right back to his first album, Tattooed Millionaire, have always reflected the singer’s style, with that style changing over the years.
To pull that all together on The Mandrake Project, Bruce grabbed a few old friends including longtime collaborator Roy Z, along with Maestro Mistheria, the latter proving once again that you can play heavy metal on keyboards. The Italian enigma’s keys add layers of symphonic complexity to the album, nowhere more effective than on the curiously titled ‘Fingers In The Wounds’, although being sandwiched in between two much longer tracks, the fullness and drama Mistheria brings makes the sub four minute cut feel a lot longer.
Coming to the mid-point of The Mandrake Project the not-for-the-squeamish track sets up the tone of the album’s second half. There’s the bluesy grungy galloping ‘Mistress of Mercy’ which could almost be mistaken for an Iron Maiden song. Given Steve Harris grabbed the Dickinson penned ‘Eternity Has Failed’ appearing on The Book of Souls as ‘If Eternity Should Fail’ I can only think the bass player didn’t hear this one.
With a cracking opening and a solid middle, all this album needed was a great finish, and that’s exactly what Dickinson gives us. The final three tracks slow the tempo, crank up the drama and deliver a surprising finish. Surprising if you’re expecting the usual rock album formula, a strong start, the singles on side one of the vinyl, with the odd gem buried somewhere on side two. Not so here. I’d go so far as to say the strongest tracks round out the album. ‘Face In The Mirror’ is the singer at his most restrained, the human Air Raid Siren resists the urge to go full noise on what is a haunting and emotional track, tackling the serious subject of addiction.
We don’t so much finish with a bang as a symphony. Short three minute radio-friendly songs have never been Bruce’s forte. The frontman loves to tell a story, often taking the shape of meandering historical tales of ill-fated airships or mythical towns where the streets are paved with gold. This time he gives a nod to one of history’s greatest composers.
Much like Ludwig van Beethoven’s ‘Piano Sonata No. 14’ the song ebbs and flows before building to a dramatic crescendo and ‘Sonata (Immortal Beloved)’ certainly has plenty of opportunity to go completely off chops in a heavy metal whirl-wind. But as dramatic as the song is, it’s also restrained. Grab a good pair of headphones, turn the volume up to 11, close your eyes and let the song wash over you. The contrast from the first track to the last had me reaching for the replay button and wanting to experience it all over again.
The Mandrake Project is nothing short of a masterpiece and showcases the talent, vision and extraordinary performer that is Bruce Dickinson.
Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project tracklisting
1. Afterglow of Ragnarok
2. Many Doors to Hell
3. Rain on the Graves
4. Resurrection Men
5. Fingers in the Wounds
6. Eternity Has Failed
7. Mistress of Mercy
8. Face in the Mirror
9. Shadow of the Gods
10. Sonata (Immortal Beloved)
Rating: 10/10
The Mandrake Project is out Friday, March 1st. Pre-order hereReview by Gareth Williams
