Bruce Dickinson has unveiled the official music video for his latest solo single, “Afterglow Of Ragnarok”
Directed by Ryan Mackfall, this cinematic short is inspired by the graphic novel co-written by Dickinson and Tony Lee, featuring artwork by Staz Johnson.
This track serves as the debut single from the IRON MAIDEN frontman’s upcoming solo album, “The Mandrake Project,” set to release in early 2024 through BMG.
“Afterglow Of Ragnarok” is a dramatic and epic track that introduces the world not just to the music of the album but to the compelling narrative that forms the basis of “The Mandrake Project”.
“It was important to set the tone of the project with this track,” Dickinson explained. “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!”
“The Mandrake Project” unfolds as a dark, mature narrative exploring themes of power, abuse, and the quest for identity, set within the realms of scientific and occult brilliance. Conceived by Dickinson, scripted by Tony Lee, and illustrated by Staz Johnson for Z2 Comics, the series comprises 12 episodes that amalgamate into three graphic novels, scheduled for launch in 2024.
An eight-page comic prelude to “The Mandrake Project,” titled “Afterglow Of Ragnarok,” is incorporated in the vinyl seven-inch single booklet accompanying the identically named single. This serves as a prologue to the unfolding narrative. The seven-inch single also treats fans to Dickinson’s original solo demo version of “If Eternity Should Fail,” a track initially featured on IRON MAIDEN‘s “The Book Of Souls” album in 2015.
Further insights into “The Mandrake Project” are anticipated as Bruce Dickinson takes the stage as the keynote speaker on the opening day of CCXP23, São Paulo’s massive Comic-Con event, on November 30.
After initially announcing live dates in Brazil and Mexico for April and May next year, Dickinson and his formidable band, featuring guitarist Roy “Z” Ramirez, drummer Dave Moreno, bass player Tanya O’Callaghan, and keyboard maestro Mistheria, will extend their touring with a European run and several festival appearances.
Bruce Dickinson previously stated about “The Mandrake Project”: “This album has been a very personal journey for me and I am extremely proud of it. Roy Z and I have been planning, writing and recording it for years, and I am very excited for people to finally hear it. I’m even more excited at the prospect of getting out on the road with this amazing band that we have put together, to be able to bring it to life. As you can see, we’re playing as many shows as we can, in as many places as possible, for as many people as we can!”
Marking Dickinson‘s seventh solo album and his first since 2005’s “Tyranny Of Souls,” “The Mandrake Project” will hit global audiences through BMG across various formats. In a statement back in December 2017, Dickinson hinted that his next solo release would likely include a reworked version of “If Eternity Should Fail,” originally composed as a solo track before finding its place as the opening track on IRON MAIDEN‘s 2015 album “The Book Of Souls.”