'Rain On The Graves' is the second single taken from Bruce Dickinson's upcoming solo album, The mandrake project, which will be released on March 1 via BMG. Riding on a towering guitar riff, with dramatic keyboards and a commanding vocal performance, it was inspired by a rainy visit to the grave of romantic poet William Wordsworth in the Lake District.
The song became a reflection on the nature of mortality and the deal with the Devil that artists have come to feel they are making since Robert Johnson proved it was worth it in the 1930s.
“I had the lyrics to the chorus ever since I visited Grasmere for a wedding in 2012.” Bruce explains, “And years later it wasn't difficult to create the rest of the song with so many rich images in my head!” It's a classic Dickinson/Roy Z collaboration; a catchy but heavy piece, full of melody but removing the spoken vocals from the verses almost poetically, perhaps a further ode to the great wordsmith who inspired the title, somehow juxtaposed with music suitable to resurrect the ghost of Robert Johnson at his metaphorical crossroads.
With a video filmed entirely in a wintry Cornwall, again with director Ryan Mackfall, we get to see actor Bruce, a preacher no less, making his own deal with the Devil and dragging his 'House Band from Hell' into the deal.
The follow-up single from the acclaimed 'Afterglow Of Ragnarok' track, 'Rain On The Graves', showcases the inventive, expansive and all-consuming nature of The Mandragora Project. Sonically heavy and rich in musical textures, the album sees Bruce bring to life a musical vision long in the making. Created with co-writer and producer Roy Z, they have created one of the defining rock albums of 2024.
However, The mandrake project It's not just an album. The comic of the same name is a dark, adult story of power, abuse and struggle for identity against the backdrop of scientific and occult genius. Created by Bruce Dickinson, it is a collectible series of graphic novels written by Tony Lee (Dr Who), lavishly illustrated by Staz Johnson (2000AD) and featuring covers by industry heavyweight Bill Sienkiewicz for Z2 Comics, to be published in 12 issues. quarterly. which will be collected into three annual graphic novels with the first arriving in late 2024. The first individual episode was released in comic stores on January 17 and the special collector's edition sold out within 48 hours of release.
Bruce Dickinson and his phenomenal band will bring the music of The mandrake project will come to life with a major headlining tour this spring and summer. A newly announced extra show in Wolverhampton at the revamped The Halls on May 16 goes on sale next week with pre-sale details at here.
Support in the UK, Paris and Tilburg comes from emerging New Zealand rockers Black Smoke Trigger.
Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project Tour
April 18 – Teatro Diana, Guadalajara, MEXICO
April 20 – Pepsi Theater, Mexico City, MEXICO
April 24 – Live Curitiba, Curitiba, BRAZIL
April 25 – Pepsi on stage, Porto Alegre, BRAZIL
April 27 – Opera House, Brasilia, BRAZIL
April 28 – Sala Arena, Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL
April 30 – Qualistage, Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
May 2 – Quinta Linda, Ribeirao Preto, BRAZIL
May 4 – Vibra, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL
May 16 – The Halls, Wolverhampton, UK +
May 18 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK
May 19 – O2 Academy, Manchester, UK
May 21 – Arena, Swansea, UK
May 23 – Rock City, Nottingham, UK
May 24 – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK
May 26 – L'Olympia, Paris, FRANCE
May 28 – 013, Tilburg, NETHERLANDS
May 29 – De Oosterport, Groningen, NETHERLANDS
June 1 – Blackbeard, Budapest, HUNGARY
June 3 – Arenale Romane, Bucharest, ROMANIA
June 6 – Mystic Festival, Gdansk, POLAND *
June 5-8 – Swedish Rock Festival, Solvesborg, SWEDEN *
June 9 – Rockefeller, Oslo, NORWAY
June 11 – Grona Lund, Stockholm, SWEDEN
June 13 – House of Culture, Helsinki, FINLAND
June 14 – Noblessner Foundry, Tallinn, ESTONIA
June 16 – Huxleys Neue Welt, Berlin, GERMANY
June 17 – Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg, GERMANY
June 19 – 22 – Copenhell, Copenhagen, DENMARK *
June 21 – Graspop Metal Meeting, Dessel, BELGIUM *
June 22 – Summerside Festival, Grenchen, SWITZERLAND *
June 24 – Zeltfestival Rhein-neckar, Mannheim, GERMANY *
June 25 – Circus Krone, Munich, GERMANY
June 26 – 29 – Festival of the Resurrection, Galicia, SPAIN *+
June 27-30 – Hellfest, Clisson, FRANCE *
June 30 – Rockhal, Esch-Sur-Alzette, LUXEMBOURG
July 3-6 – Rockharz Open Air, Ballenstedt, GERMANY *
July 5 – Ippodrome Delle Capannelle, Rock In Roma, Rome, ITALY *
July 6 – Bassano Del Grappa, Metal Park, Vincenza, ITALY *
July 9 – E-Werk, Cologne, GERMANY
July 11 – 14 – Masters Of Rock Festival, Vizovice, Czech Republic *+
July 13 – Hala, Zagreb, CROATIA
July 16 – Kolodrum Arena, Sofia, BULGARIA
July 19 – Kucukciftlik Park, Istanbul, Türkiye
July 21 – Launch, Athens, GREECE *
* – performance at festivals
+ – new date added
The Mandrake Project will be Dickinson's seventh solo album. It will be released through BMG worldwide in multiple formats.
The Mandrake Project – track list
Radiance of Ragnarok (05.45)
Many doors to hell (04.48)
Rain on the graves (05.05)
Resurrection Men (06.24)
Fingers in the wounds (03.39)
Eternity Has Failed (06.59)
Lady of Mercy (05.08)
Face in the mirror (04.08)
Shadow of the Gods (07.02)
Sonata (Immortal Beloved) (09.51)
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