I'm wondering exactly what Bruce means when he says it's much more than just music. I wonder if there's some sort of transmedia aspect of this (perhaps a novel or a short film) outside of the music that Bruce is going to reveal.

That might be interesting. Bruce is a creative guy.

Perhaps it's his own red wine brand.

Or it's "Mandrake Search-Your-Ass-Off", his version of "Pokémon Go".

HMV has a single up for pre-order called Afterglow of Ragnarok. The B-side is If Eternity Should Fail. There's also a comic book in the gatefold vinyl. Release date is 01 December

https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/afterglow-of-ragnarok

Large image in spoiler tags

I really hoped he'd lose that ridiculous font.

"If Eternity Should Fail" is the best song on Book of Souls, so I'm curious how this version will be different. And that's a bad ass name for a single, "Afterglow of Ragnarok." Really curious.

Definitely interested in hearing his version of the "Eternity".

Having set the rock and metal world alight in September with the announcement of a forthcoming solo album and Latin American tour dates, further details of Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project are revealed today.

The first single to be taken from it will be ‘Afterglow of Ragnarok’, a dramatic and epic track that introduces the world not just to the music of the album but to the compelling narrative that forms the basis of The Mandrake Project.

“It was important to set the tone of the project with this track,” Dickinson explains. “As befitting its title, it’s a heavy song and there’s a great big riff driving it…but there’s also a real melody in the chorus that displays the light and shade that the rest of the album brings… and just wait until you see the video!”

The Mandrake Project is a dark, adult story of power, abuse and a struggle for identity, set against the backdrop of scientific and occult genius. Created by Bruce Dickinson, scripted by Tony Lee and stunningly illustrated by Staz Johnson for Z2 Comics, the series features 12 episodes that collect into three graphic novels and will be launched in 2024.

An eight-page comic prequel to The Mandrake Project, entitled ‘Afterglow Of Ragnarok’, is included within the vinyl 7” single booklet which accompanies the single of the same name and sets the scene for the story to come. The 7” single also features Dickinson’s original solo demo version of the song ‘If Eternity Should Fail’, which first appeared on Iron Maiden’s album The Book Of Souls in 2015. You can pre-order here (or check your favourite record retalier).

More details regarding The Mandrake Project will be revealed when Bruce Dickinson appears as the keynote speaker on the opening day of CCXP23, Brazil’s huge Comic-Con event in Sao Paulo, on November 30.

Having already announced Brazilian and Mexican live dates for April & May next year, Bruce Dickinson and his phenomenal band – which features guitarist Roy Z, drummer Dave Moreno, bass-player Tanya O’Callaghan and keyboard maestro Mistheria – will continue their touring with a run of European shows, alongside a number of festival appearances in Europe.

The currently confirmed dates are below:

May
18 - Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK
19 - O2 Academy, Manchester, UK
21 - Arena, Swansea, UK
23 - Rock City, Nottingham, UK
24 - O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK
26 - L’Olympia, Paris, FRANCE
28 - 013, Tilburg, HOLLAND
29 - De Oosterpoort, Groningen, HOLLAND

June
01 - Barba Negra, Budapest, HUNGARY
03 - Arenale Romane, Bucharest, ROMANIA
05-08 - Mystic Festival, Gdansk, POLAND *
05-08 - Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg, SWEDEN *
09 - Rockefeller, Oslo, NORWAY
16 - Huxleys Neue Welt, Berlin, GERMANY
17 - Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg, GERMANY
19–22 - Copenhell, Copenhagen, DENMARK *
24 - Zeltfestival Rhein-Neckar, Mannheim, GERMANY *
25 - Circus Krone, Munich, GERMANY
27–30 - Hellfest, Clisson, FRANCE *
30 - Rockhal, Esch-Sur-Alzette, LUXEMBOURG

July
03-06 - Rockharz Open Air, Ballenstedt, GERMANY *
05 - Rock In Roma, Rome, ITALY *
06 - Metal Park, Vicenza, ITALY *
09 - E-Werk, Koln, GERMANY
13 - Hala, Zagreb, CROATIA
16 - Kolodrum Arena, Sofia, BULGARIA
19 - Kucukciftlik Park, Istanbul, TURKEY

( * festival performance)

Tickets for the headline shows are on sale Friday November 10

Didn't realise Tanya O'Callaghan is part of the band, great bassist. Wonder if she played on the album too or just a touring member

The plan was to have the musicians who recorded the album be the touring band, so good chance she will be on the album.

Dave Moreno was the session drummer for Tyranny of Souls, Mistheria did some work on that album, and of course there is Roy Z. Nice to have some continuity.

Any word on who's doing the growls? I'd assume it's not Bruce, but still a bit unexpected.

ugh, good bassplayer but I cannot stand looking at her

I'm waiting to hear it. BD's albums are always a quality.

Do you not like looking at rockstars?


Shouldn't there be a second guitarist for the touring lineup? Bruce solo and Maiden songs need two guitar players.

tickets for this are more than I've ever paid to see a band (over 40 quid after fees). I mean, inflation and all but also Bruce at the moment is clearly much wealthier than other artists I've paid high 30s to see recently (Saxon, Anthrax, K.K.'s Priest). Also those bands had good advertised supports (Diamond Head, Municipal Waste, Paul Di'Anno/Burning Witches) so was happy to pay. Who's going to open for this? His son's project?

Really wanted to see him twenty years ago when I was big into his solo stuff but now I'm really not that arsed. Might have been swung if Adrian Smith was on the bill. Accident of Birth/Chemical Wedding need two lead guitars. There's some big songs there that have show harmonies like Iron Maiden, as well as there being Adrian's solo parts.

Still look forward to the new album, but not buying a ticket in advance to see him. Might get one closer if it doesn't sell out.

That's pretty cheap compared to most shows around here.

I'm paying 24 Euros for Blaze Bayley in March. I could hardly believe the pricing, it's the price for a meal + drink around here.

Well, you should see if the venue has any options: maybe there's a 30 euro "Blaze, chicken & chips deal" - they might even throw in a medium coke.

Blaze is cheap as chips to see but always puts on a great show, makes a tiny club feel like you're front row of an arena, Absolva lads also a great backing band and opener. Will probably see him with Wolfsbane in a couple weeks.

I wouldn't want to eat anything at the venue he's doing the show at, trust me

Using Σ in place of E is a pet peeve of mine. That said, I'm excited for this.
EDIT: Oh god and the Δ for an A...

Yeah, it reads like this now.

THS MDNDRDKS PROJSCT

The single is out!



It's heavy and it rips! I'm a fanboi though so probably biased lol

Oh hell yeah!! This is awesome!!! Cool vid, too.

2:15 minutes in and I'm buying this shit no doubt

I hope the guitars sound a little bigger on the full album as opposed to the video - they probably will.

Song sounds fucking awesome overall. More involved and wordy than his old stuff. I love narrative songwriting like this... dark, occultic bad ass shit. Bruce sounds great. Video is very cool.

Oh this is great! Nice dark and gritty guitar tone, and Bruce's voice fits the darker vibe perfectly.

I’m here for doom metal Bruce

Better than anything Maiden has done in 15 years. But you knew that already.

I've heard some complaints that his voice is buried in the mix, and yeah it kinda is. Weird for the singer to bury his voice on his own solo project.

I am listening to The Chemical Wedding right now, I never listened to that album before, is very different from regular Iron Maiden. It reminds me a little bit of the solo albums of Rob Halford, I think both bands have the same vibe. I don't think this is better than 80s Maiden but is definitively more interesting than modern Maiden. I hope this new Bruce album is better than Senjutsu, that album was mediocre at best and bland/boring at worst.

Good Morning. Well, that was great. Bruce is God.

This is a great song!

Bruce's voice works finely here. The main riff is so bad ass, and it is something we all wanted Black Sabbath's return in 2013 to be like. This feels like it's a mixture of 'Accident of Birth' and 'Tyranny of Souls'. The chorus is fucking unique! I think I've never heard anything quite similar in metal music. It's nothing like Maiden.

That 7" single in mostly sold out I presume... Was hunting for it last week and managed to get one from Italy. Still, I am not 100% that the dealer will get it.

The best!!!!!

It's pretty damn good and teaches a lesson on how it is stupid to have Bruce always sing in standard tuning in Maiden.

The struggling and unnerving high notes he has to hit in his main band sound smooth and badass here when tuned a bit lower. I can't wait for this album (hopefully the mix is a bit better in the final product, but minor complaints).

Tracklist and cover are out... https://www.facebook.com/ironmaiden/pos ... amv41KV3Jl

Tracklisting:
1. Afterglow Of Ragnarok (5:45)
2. Many Doors To Hell (4:48)
3. Rain On The Graves (5:05)
4. Resurrection Men (6:24)
5. Fingers In The Wounds (3:39)
6. Eternity Has Failed (6:59)
7. Mistress Of Mercy (5:08)
8. Face In The Mirror (4:08)
9. Shadow Of The Gods (7:02)
10. Sonata (Immortal Beloved) (9:51)

Seeing the songs' length already hyped me up

Yep. Especially the last two:

9. Shadow Of The Gods (7:02)
10. Sonata (Immortal Beloved) (9:51)