Bruce Dickinson - The mandrake project ALBUM REVIEW

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7 ай бұрын

my review of the mandrake project
#brucedickinson
#ironmaiden
#metalreview
#hardrock
#themandrakeproject

Пікірлер: 25

@deniztuncer 7 ай бұрын

Actually, most of the tracks would be more likeable if the production was better. But unfortunately their listenability decreases due to bad production. No decent low end, the vocals are too buried in the mix and the drum sound is very artificial and weak. But the biggest disappointment of all is that I expected this album to tell a story from beginning to end like Operation: Mindcrime, because the promotion before the album was released was in this direction. But I think only 2-3 songs are related to the Mandrake Project.

@Danimal77 7 ай бұрын

A very honest review and I agree with everything you said. I would have added "Accident of Birth" to the list of stellar Bruce solo albums. I also really like Balls to Picasso, especially all the bonus tracks (Fire Child, The Breeding House, and No Way Out... To Be Continued) which are even better than the ones on the official release. Skunkworks is also underrated. Imo, the last 2 albums that Bruce still had his vocals completely intact were on Dance of Death (2003) and Tyranny of Souls (2005). Starting on A Matter of Life and Death (2006), Bruce's vocals started sounding strained and lifeless (lack of aggression and energy).

@danw4490 4 ай бұрын

I have listened to this album at least 100 times now, mostly at the gym. Mistress of Mercy has really grown on me. I just start the album from the first track and let it run. For me, I'll take solo Bruce over anything else. This album is just spectacular. Chemical Wedding is still my favorite but this is right up there.

@weshoward450 7 ай бұрын

I haven't heard the whole thing yet, but like what I have so far. Although I would love nothing more than to get more of Chemical Wedding, I have zero expectation to ever hear that repeated. Bruce started doing the solo stuff as an outlet to experiment with different directions than he can take in Maiden, so I always expect to get a mixed bag.

@gregburcham1911 7 ай бұрын

I'm very happy with the album overall. I've been about the biggest Maiden fan for 40+ years but I never expected Maiden or a 40 year old Bruce on this. This is his own thing, and this is why musicians do solo albums. Having said that, I think it's a very good album. Bruce sounds great. The melodies and song structures are much more variable than an IM album but they're still catchy and interesting to me. Some of the moodier or softer songs and sections aren't my favorite music style in a vacuum, but hearing what Bruce imagined and created as a whole is interesting and enjoyable to me. The sound gets a bit muddy in places but it almost fits with the dark theme so I'm ok with Roy's mix on this. On a weird production note, I initially downloaded this from Apple Music (I had to sort a new payment method so I just downloaded it when it first came out) and the level of the lead vocal track was so ridiculously low in the mix as to be inaudible and made the album nearly unlistenable. Basically it was an instrumental version of the album. I purchased the album (as I do with all my music and once the payment thing was sorted) from iTunes the next day and now everything sounds fine. Anyone else have this problem?

@ScaRy_StyX 7 ай бұрын

The album does change greatly with each listen…. I’ve probably listened to it a dozen times and now I only get hung up on Mistress of Mercy…. That song is really uneventful …. The first listen I was really disappointed…. It was very unwarranted and I was wrong

@thepredator666qc4 7 ай бұрын

great album, great musician, love it!

@giannipalagi74 7 ай бұрын

I purchased the digital album and after a first listen I can say that it is a good album, but the production quality for me is not as good!

@JibberzOneill 7 ай бұрын

The album is awesome.

@stephanea5364 7 ай бұрын

Another review coming too quick. At least you listened to it three times, already better than many reviewers. As for the production, I'd be curious to know on which device you listened to it and why songs were lesser quality ojn production.

@iridiumrockandmetalreviews2128 7 ай бұрын

Hey mate, really appreciate your comments....I actually do agree that reviews can be done too quick....I have done it myself....sometimes it works the other way round...because of the excitement of a release I have rated it, and later on, the album is less liked from me....because I'm a huge fan of Bruce I will continue to listen to this album.....it could still end up being a favourite album of the year.....its happened before

@stephanea5364 7 ай бұрын

Good point, it's true that the excitement can cause someone to be over entusiastic@@iridiumrockandmetalreviews2128

@gregburcham1911 7 ай бұрын

I figured this production issue was unique to me as I haven't seen anyone mention it elsewhere, but I initially downloaded the album from Apple Music and the lead vocal is barely audible through my iPhone. Background vox and screams and oooohs come through fine, but I could barely hear the lyrics and certainly couldn't distinguish them. I got around to purchasing the album from the iTunes Store and the purchased copy sounds perfectly fine on that same phone. I've never had this problem with any other music from Apple on my phone. Weird.

@stephanea5364 7 ай бұрын

I purchsed the cD listening to it on hi-fi system and it sounds really good, I don't really understand criticism on production but maybe you gave me an answer here.@@gregburcham1911

@marcalhanaty4636 7 ай бұрын

I agree. Was disappointed after his last few albums. Was hoping for something like chemical wedding and we got skunkworks 2.0 instead. Must say the production is really good.

@stephanea5364 7 ай бұрын

The only thing that reminds us of Skunwork is the verse of one song. Or tell me more.

@Melodic_power_metal 7 ай бұрын

Disappointing His voice struggles in higher levels.. As you said its good but not great even though im a big maiden fan... The best singing of bruce was in 7th son of a 7th son maiden album in my opinion....

@Therionsylar 7 ай бұрын

he's 66 years old and you expect him to sound like when he was 30 years old...

@jeffkib134 7 ай бұрын

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it great? No. Is it good? No. Does it at times make me ask: What the hell am I listening to? Yes. There isn’t a song on this album that I ever want to hear again. At some point Bruce (as well as Maiden) lost the ability to put out a rocking song with hooks that you’d want to sing along too and it makes me sad.

@DownMemoryLaneParis 7 ай бұрын

I love this album personally. I feel the production is spot on, the solos great, most songs nail it for me ( much more than tyranny of souls ) and i finally forgot the ugly MV that made me dislike the singles. I dont love the 3/4 of the album... until Face in the mirror. I DISLIKE this song so much. I can listen to it waiting for the next... but i would have wanted a less poppy crappy song.

@iridiumrockandmetalreviews2128 7 ай бұрын

That's the beauty of music....we all have different tastes....its great that you and so many fans are loving the album

@DownMemoryLaneParis 7 ай бұрын

@@iridiumrockandmetalreviews2128 indeed. I was doubtful at first because the singles did not do it for me. But the album is brilliant in my ears. Still chemical is above...