Bruce Dickinson has revealed more details about his upcoming solo album, The Mandrake Project, which is set to be released in 2024. Turns out the album will be accompanied by a graphic novel series of the same name, created by Dickinson and scripted by Tony Lee, with illustrations by Staz Johnson.
The first single from the album, "Afterglow Of Ragnarok", will be released on a 7" vinyl single on November 30, along with an eight-page comic comic prequel to the graphic novel series. The 7" single will also feature 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.
“It was important to set the tone of the project with this track. 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!” Dickinson says.
Start salivating with the single teaser below, and pre-order the 7" vinyl here.
Dickinson has also described The Mandrake Project as a "dark, adult story of power, abuse, and a struggle for identity, set against the backdrop of scientific and occult genius."
The graphic novel series will be released in three volumes, with the first volume launching in 2024. More details regarding The Mandrake Project will be revealed when he appears as the keynote speaker on the opening day of CCXP23, Brazil’s huge Comic-Con event in Sao Paulo, on November 30.
In addition to the previously announced 2024 live dates in Brazil and Mexico, a handful of European shows have been now been confirmed. The tour will continue to Europe in May and June, with festival appearances in Poland, Sweden, Denmark, France, and Germany. Check out the new dates below and get your tickets here.
5/18 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK
5/19 – O2 Academy, Manchester, UK
5/21 – Arena, Swansea, UK
5/23 – Rock City, Nottingham, UK
5/24 – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK
5/26 – L’Olympia, Paris, France
5/28 – 013, Tilburg, Holland
5/29 – De Oosterpoort, Groningen, Holland
6/1 – Barba Negra, Budapest, Hungary
6/3 – Arenale Romane, Bucharest, Romania
6/5-8 – Mystic Festival, Gdansk, Poland *
6/5-8 – Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg, Sweden *
6/9 – Rockefeller, Oslo, Norway
6/16 – Huxleys Neue Welt, Berlin, Germany
6/17 – Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg, Germany
6/19–22 – Copenhell, Copenhagen, Denmark *
6/24 – Zeltfestival Rhein-Neckar, Mannheim, Germany *
6/25 – Circus Krone, Munich, Germany
6/27–30 – Hellfest, Clisson, France *
6/30 – Rockhal, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
7/3-6 – Rockharz Open Air, Ballenstedt, Germany *
7/5 – Rock In Roma, Rome, Italy *
7/6 – Metal Park, Vicenza, Italy *
7/9 – E-Werk, Koln, Germany
7/13 – Hala, Zagreb, Croatia
7/16 – Kolodrum Arena, Sofia, Bulgaria
7/19 – Kucukciftlik Park, Istanbul, Turkey
