You gotta give it to him. Bruce Dickinson still has energy to spare at the ripe old age of 65 years.1 Apart from his heavy duties at the helm of the mighty Iron Maiden, he’s off to new pastures on his solo endeavor.
So, here he is with his newest video Rain on the Graves siphoned off his solo album The Mandrake Project. Dickinson in priestly garb, no less, on a journey to sell his soul to you-know-who. He might not be the best of all actors out there. But the cinematography is pretty solid, with a storyline teetering along the lines of all those many horror movies we have seen over the years. A ton of clichés well served against the backdrop of one William Blake. It is the age-old tale that any deal with the devil forever leads to your demise. You just cannot win.
The track itself simply can’t deny all those maidenesque influences. And who are we kidding, right? Somewhat simple in structure and fraught with repetitions, Rain on the Graves strangely reminded me of the Blaze Bayley era. A part of Iron Maiden’s story that Dickinson had no part of. Yet, the song progresses at a lusty chugging pace with some meaty riffing egging this whole gaggle on. And we would be remiss not to mention the stellar, multilayered guitar solos ripe with potent shredding. That, combined with Dickinson‘s high-pitched wail makes for a juicy piece of metal that syncs well with the moving pictures on offer.
Now, hit play and watch the jester in action. But don’t look into his eyes.
Label: BMG | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 24 January 2024
- At the time of writing this blurb, he ain’t getting younger.-↩