"I think you will be really, really excited." Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson reveals that he's been working on upcoming solo album The Mandrake Project for almost a decade

By Merlin Alderslade
( Metal Hammer )
published

Apparently, Bruce Dickinson's The Mandrake Project will be much more than just an album!

Bruce Dickinson in a beanie
(Image credit: Youtube (Bruce Dickinson))

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has released a special video message promising great things from his highly anticipated new solo album, The Mandrake Project. Announced last month, the record marks his first full solo project in almost two decades, and is accompanied by a clutch of live shows across Brazil and Mexico
(plus one freshly announced date at Poland's Mystic Festival), to take place next year. The Mandrake Project will also see the return of Dickinson's previous solo album collaborator Roy Z, and will land in early 2024 via Sony BMG.

"So, everybody, everybody on the planet who's been going, 'Oh my god. What's this solo thing gonna be all about when it finally happens?'" says the singer in the new video clip [transcribed by Blabbermouth]. "Well, it's finally happening. It's called The Mandrake Project, and' of course, it's music. But, it's also much, much, more. More than that, I'm not gonna reveal for now, 'cause it will become self-explanatory and self-evident as we go through and reveal more layers of the onion for you all."

"But, yeah, The Mandrake Project. We've been working on this since 2014, when it wasn't called The Mandrake Project. And it's had time to grow and mature. And, oh my God, has it ever. I think you will be really, really excited. And, I hope you love everything that we've created for you."

Watch the video for yourself below. Iron Maiden have released something of a teaser themselves, having uploaded a video to their official YouTube channel last night that suggests they are far from done with their current run of touring. How this will all fit into Bruce Dickinson's solo plans remains to be seen.

Bruce Dickinson The Mandrake Project tour dates 2024

18th April - Diana Theater, Guadalajara, Mexico
20th April – Pepsi Theatre, Mexico City, Mexico
24th April – Live Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil
25th April – Pepsi On Stage, Porto Alegre, Brazil
27th April – Opera Hall, Brasilia, Brazil
28th April – Arena Hall, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
30th April – Qualistage, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
2nd May – Quinta Linda, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
4th May – Vibra, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Merlin Alderslade
Merlin Alderslade
Executive Editor, Louder

Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.