Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden has shared a teaser for the song “Afterglow of Ragnarok,” the lead single from his upcoming solo album, The Mandrake Project (arriving sometime in 2024). He has also added a run of 2024 UK/European tour dates in support of the LP.
The teaser is only 27 seconds long and appears to be a snippet of a chorus refrain, with Dickinson busting out a rare growl for the titular phrase: “Afterglow of Ragnarok!” We can already deduce that the song has a epic metal sound, a la Iron Maiden, with surging guitars and prominent synths.
The full track will be available on December 1st in 7″ vinyl form accompanied by an eight-page “prequel” comic and a B-side featuring Dickinson’s demo for the Iron Maiden track “If Eternity Should Fail” (originally released on 2015’s The Book of Souls). Per a press release, the single is meant to introduce the conceptual narrative for The Mandrake Project, which will be “a dark, adult story of power, abuse and a struggle for identity, set against the backdrop of scientific and occult genius.”
“It was important to set the tone of the project with this track,” Dickinson stated in the press release. “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!”
In addition to the music, the narrative will also be explored via three graphic novel supplements that were created by Dickinson, scripted by Tony Lee, and illustrated by Staz Johnson for Z2 Comics. The series features 12 episodes that will be collected in the graphic novels, which will be launched in 2024 following the eight-page prequel in December.
Fans can expect more details on The Mandrake Project when Dickinson appears as the keynote speaker on the opening day of CCXP23, Brazil’s Comic-Con event in Sao Paulo, on November 30th.
In addition to the single teaser, Dickinson has also revealed a new set of UK/European tour dates in support of the album, following the previously announced run of Central and South American dates in April/May. The singer’s touring band will feature guitarist Roy Z, drummer Dave Moreno, bassist Tanya O’Callaghan, and keyboardist Mistheria. You can tickets here.
The 7″ vinyl of “Afterglow of Ragnarok” can be pre-ordered via The Mandrake Project website. Stream the teaser and see the full list of Dickinson’s tour dates below.
“Afterglow of Ragnarok” Artwork:
Bruce Dickinson’s 2024 Tour Dates:
04/18 – Guadalajara, MX @ Diana Theater
04/20 – Mexico City, MX @ Pepsi Theatre
04/24 – Curitiba, BZ @ Live Curitiba
04/25 – Porto Alegre, BZ @ Pepsi On Stage
04/27 – Brasilia, BZ @ Opera Hall
04/28 – Belo Horizonte, BZ @ Arena Hall
04/30 – Rio De Janeiro, BZ @ Qualistage
05/02 – Ribeirao Preto, BZ @ Quinta Linda
05/04 – Sao Paulo, BZ @ Vibra
05/18 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom
05/19 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Academy
05/21 – Swansea, UK @ Arena
05/23 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
05/24 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
05/26 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia
05/28 – Tilburg, NL @ 013
05/29 – Groningen, NL @ De Oosterport
06/01 – Budapest, HU @ Barbra Negra
06/03 – Bucharest, RO @ Arenale Romane
06/5-8 – Gdansk, PL @ Mystic Festival
06/5-8 – Solvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Fest
06/09 – Oslo, NO @ Rockefeller
06/16 – Berlin, DE @ Huxleys Neue Welt
06/17 – Hamburg, DE @ Grosse Freiheit 36
06/19-22 – Copenhagen, DK @ Copenhell
06/24 – Mannheim, DE @ Zeltfestival Rhein-Neckar
06/25 – Munich, DE @ Circus Krone
06/27-30 @ Clisson, FR @ Hellfest
06/30 – Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU @ Rockhal
07/03-6 – Ballenstedt, DE @ Rockharz Open Air
07/05 – Rome, IT @ Ippodrome Delle Capannelle
07/06 – Vincenza, IT @ Bassano Del Grappa, Metal Park
07/09 – Koln, DE @ E-Werk
07/13 – Zagreb, HR @ Hala
07/16 – Sofia, BG @ Kolodrum Arena
07/19 – Istanbul, TR @ Kucukciftlik Park