The Mandrake Project is Bruce Dickinson’s seventh solo album and his first since 2005 Tyranny
Of Souls. The album according to Bruce, along with its multi-media tie-ins, is an ambitious story
about “...power, abuse, and a struggle for identity, set against the backdrop of scientific and occult
genius”. Accompanying Bruce is long-time collaborator and co-writer Roy Z handling both guitar and
bass parts, drummer Dave Moreno, and keyboardist extraordinaire Mistherisa.
The fittingly resurrected “Eternity has Failed” (which Iron Maiden nicked and reworked into “If
Eternity Should Fail” for their album Book of Souls), was the original seed that brought the story
to life and introduced the troubled character Dr Necropolis. Against this setting Bruce has woven his
lyrics into a tale with a recurring theme of death and rebirth and the battle for control of immortality
that is ripe with metaphors and analogies culled from various religious, cultural and philosophical
sources. The Norse mythological overtones of the aftermath of Armageddon in “Afterglow of
Ragnarok.” The Biblical undercurrents in “Rain on the Graves” (But you came to be saved…Let it wash
your soul of dying). In the Middle-Eastern flavored “Fingers in the Wounds” Bruce proclaims to “Take a
pearl from an oyster and feed it to swine” a coining of a proverbial phrase. The battle of mysticism
versus science in “Eternity has Failed” (Time to speak to the Shaman again/conjure the jester again) and
the methods described in “Resurrection Men”. The namesake characters, Dr. Necropolis, Professor
Lazarus, the Lord of Light, the Poet (found to be William Blake, who had his own supposed brushes with
mysticism and angels, referenced in both videos) and the mandrake, a plant known for its hallucinogenic
properties associated with magic rituals, invoke their own mysterious intrigue to the story.
Musically the songs are well constructed, drawing on various musical influences, with heavy
emphasis on the melodic choruses provided by Bruce’s powerful vocals: “Afterglow of
Ragnarok”, with its ominous war drum beat overtaken by a massive riff that would fit right in on an
Amon Amarth album. “Rain on the Graves”, a bluesy number that could be a long lost Deep Purple cut
with its chugging Hammond organ filled riff and vocal delivery. “Resurrection Men”, which has a
Spaghetti-Western feel that bookends the monstrous Black Sabbath breakdown that bulldozes its way
into the middle segment. “Shadow of the Gods”, that provides a similar call-back Iommi-inspired guitar
line, taking the primarily piano driven song to a sinister level. The punchy, rhythmically locked down
“Many Doors to Hell” has a classic 80’s heavy metal vibe. “Face in the Mirror”, a somber acoustic song
of regret with Bruce adding a poignantly thoughtful guitar solo. The apex of the album is the
electrifying “Mistress of Mercy”, the aggressively forward moving arrangement that builds a constant
tension that is unleashed in the soaring chorus that will have listeners “Lost in the harmony, the
majesty, the ecstasy.” And “Sonata (Immortal Beloved), the solemn final track, where Roy Z lays down
subtly intricate guitar work underneath Bruce’s operatic repetition closing line “Save me now, Save me
now…”.
The Mandrake Project is an epic album that has its roots dating back to the year 2000. It is an
album that given its wide-reaching concept could have easily flown off the rails, yet each spin
brings a new interpretation as one delves into the lyrics, characters and imagery keeping it fresh with
each repeated listen. One can tell that Bruce and Roy Z weren’t out to just make a solo album but to
curate a crowning achievement to Bruce’s career and the end-product is a rousing success that is sure
to make most end of year Best of 2024 lists!
Vince McDowell: MMROC Correspondent
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