Bruce Dickinson's The Mandrake Project

[TravisW]

So here's song number one. At first, I didn't quite know what to think. I listened through a second time and still didn't know what to think. I enjoyed it, but it didn't quite grab me like the late 90's stuff....or so I thought. I stepped away and started cooking supper, and while cooking I realized that I was singing the chorus under my breath (with the wrong words, naturally). Maybe I was a little underwhelmed by the solo, thought the vocals could have been a bit higher in the mix, and kind of wondered about the bridge (not just lyrically, is the bridge literally broken?). 

But then I was still singing that chorus. So then it's automatically something like an 8 out of 10. I'm not going to talk myself out of enjoying it because I don't instantly rank it as high as the Chemical Wedding after 25 years of loving that record. 

[Dinosaur David B]

I dig it!

 
Anything with Bruce and Roy I'm going to enjoy more than the last 35 years of Maiden.
 

[TravisW]

It got its hooks in me. Now I've listened to it 4 times this evening and like it better every time. I wouldn't say it's a grower - it was right there right away, but I like it better with repeated listens. To me, that's the difference between it and the latest Maiden (esp disk 2) - this doesn't need repeated listens for me to enjoy it, it gets repeated listens because I enjoy it. 
 

[Dinosaur David B]

I don't believe it's gonna be better than the other Roy Z albums, but I believe it will be good. 
 


Also, gotta say the latest single, Rain on the Graves is better without the video (IMO). 

[Dr Nick]

Got it ordered - better production than the past few Maiden releases would be a good start. And Roy Z can play. Feeling optimistic.