BRUCE DICKINSON - The Mandrake Project (Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless

Seeing that ol’ Bruce hasn’t put out a solo effort since 2005, and that the latest Iron Maiden record didn’t exactly blow me away, I was a little unsure of what to expect from The Mandrake Project. As time passes on and veteran musicians struggle to keep the capacity going, it often tends to fall into the “hit or miss” category. But, more often than not, more time between records will work to your advantage. Bruce Dickinson further solidified this idea, as his latest effort truly did blow me away.

The Mandrake Project is a culmination of many things not too unordinary for the British frontman, meaning its magic doesn’t rest in anything new. Rather, this is an exceptional exercise of tactics that he had mastered between his own career and his several decades in Iron Maiden alike. Modern production values with deep distortion on the riffing works entirely to this album’s advantage, all the while sneaking in a hefty amount of raw emotion and beautiful story-telling. Writing a record that focuses on only one of these properly is impressive, let alone all of them.

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Galloping rhythms lay the groundwork for a solid foundation no matter which direction the songs go. Whether it’s the wild-west feeling of “Resurrection Main” or the harder punch on opener “Afterglow of Ragnarok,” this mold is bent to fit the shape immaculately. Furthermore, emotional passages do wonders to fill in all sorts of cracks. Blending well with the tough bass rumble as per Roy Z and his genius guitar licks offers up the likes of “Mistress of Mercy,” cooking up a hopeful feeling, where you may find more anguish in the likes of “Many Doors To Hell.” Regardless, the power never dies nor feels limp, even when the songs slow down.

This all further boils down to advanced writing with memorable leads and vocal hooks. I mentioned earlier that the ability to tell a story boosts things significantly here, and the poetic flow mixes wonderfully with Bruce’s classic pipes and the borderline progressive instrumentation. Moreover, we get the treat of “If Eternity Should Fail,” a tweaked Iron Maiden cover that not only aged wonderfully since its initial birth nearly a decade ago, but fits right into the grooves. Perhaps “Shadow Of The Gods” is my favorite tune, as it swiftly combines all of these things in a single piece without feeling even a little awkward. If there was a single complaint to be made, it’s that this would have been the perfect closer, and the actual closer “Sonata” goes on a little too long. Repetition is utilized well on every song, but this one may push that line, if only a little bit.
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While Bruce Dickinson’s vocal range restrictions may show from time to time in his older age, The Mandrake Project is living proof that it matters little when the songwriting comes together so wonderfully. It took me about five listens to fully capture my thoughts on this, and that’s only for good reasons. If you’re a longtime fan of the man’s solo work, this should tickle similar fancies as The Chemical Wedding. For fans who never took the time to dive in, there’s no better time than now. If we held every age sixty-plus artist to this standard, few would survive.

​Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project was released March 1, 2024 via BMG.

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Bruce Dickinson can be found:
​Official website