Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project

If anybody is able to sell this version within the EU please get in touch.
Cheers

My copy of this from tmstores (UK) came with a free patch.

Wow this sounds so much better than the CD that I bought at the beginning of the year before I got back into vinyl. So much more punch and dynamics. Vinyl was flat thankfully, a little dirty out of the package. Still some crackling in the silent parts after a cleaning. Side 3 has a weird minor swooshing in the quiet parts. Other than those minor quibbles, very happy I bought this. Amazing album again from Bruce after so long, and my favourite album of 2024.

Well pressed vinyl. Good sound range with very strong low frequencies. Great Album of Bruce!

Bruce returns to solo stuff after almost two decades

Released in 2024, THE MANDRAKE PROJECT is Bruce Dickinson’s seventh solo album after 19 long years since the previous one. It’s nice ‘n’ diverse, starting out on the right foot with the disk’s best song, the metallic and austere “Afterglow of Ragnarok.” The rockin’ second track shows that Bruce wasn’t interested in doing an album of soundalike ditties.

Other favorites include “Resurrection Man,” which has a Spaghetti Western vibe mixed with some welcome doom; meanwhile “Eternity Has Failed” is a new version of "If Eternity Should Fail" from Maiden’s THE BOOK OF SOULS (2015) with different music and slightly changed lyrics.

The album closes with two other favorites: “Shadow Of the Gods,” which starts as an epic ballad, but eventually morphs into a drivin’ tune with attitude; and "Sonata (Immortal Beloved)" is a moody acoustic epic reminiscent of Queensryche mixed with a little Pink Floyd.

While my favorite albums by Bruce are THE CHEMICAL WEDDING (1998), BALLS TO PICASSO (1994) and ACCIDENT OF BIRTH (1997), this is a well-done addition to his discography.

The ten tracks clock-in at almost 59 minutes.

GRADE: B

This is a double edged sword. A very nicely mastered and cut record, but mine came in a not very pleasant condition. It came in that kind of condition we got used to by GZ Media pressings. It has very audible surface noise between some tracks, some crackle (still after washing it very properly) and lots of microscratches and dirt right out of the box. On the other hand it is cut loudly with decent dynamics, a nice stage und with a certain punch - so the flaws are hidden during the music plays. I kept mine and didn't return as I have the experience, that exchange doesn't help with the GZ Media stuff. It's usable but "really good" and "decent press" I can not confirm. Keep that in mind when buying this on vinyl as the CD is mastered similarly and sounds decent.

rcayres Tip till next time: Blow air into the inner sleeve, and gently remove record.

I'll keep this brief. The music on this disc is amazing. The mix is horrible. It's severely over compressed and Bruce's voice is far back in the mix and difficult to hear. I'm thinking of returning the CD.

Really good Vinyl pressing in a top quality. Voice and the Sound of Bruce is awesome! Excellent album!

In my copy, it is extremely difficult to remove the 2 albums from their booklets, I believe due to static acquired between the booklet and the physical media. In a little while I'm going to tear up the inserts because of this.