Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has confirmed that his upcoming eighth solo album is shaping up to be a seriously heavy affair, with the singer describing the new record in no uncertain terms: “The album is heavy as shit.”
The long-awaited follow-up to 2024’s The Mandrake Project is currently expected to arrive in early 2027 through BMG, and Dickinson has revealed that the new album will take a different direction from his most recent solo effort.
Speaking with VSX at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con, Dickinson discussed the evolution of The Mandrake Project, his approach to songwriting, and what fans can expect from his next solo release.
According to Dickinson, the concept behind The Mandrake Project began nearly two decades ago. What started as an idea for a single comic book intended to accompany a solo album eventually expanded into an ambitious multimedia project featuring a 12-issue adult comic book series published by Z2 Comics.
The music and comics share conceptual elements involving science, the occult, and the human soul, but Dickinson now believes The Mandrake Project has developed a life of its own within the world of comics.
“I've got a new record coming out next year, new solo album. It's kind of standalone. There's one song that has a bit of something to do with ‘Mandrake.’ Now, the album is heavy as shit.”
Dickinson also made it clear that he does not want to force the new album into the Mandrake universe simply for the sake of maintaining a connection.
“I'm not digging into ‘Mandrake.’ I think ‘Mandrake’ has a life now on a comic book level.”
That separation could make the upcoming album particularly interesting for longtime fans of Dickinson's solo career. Rather than revisiting familiar territory, the Iron Maiden singer says he wants to continue pushing his songwriting in different directions.
Bruce Dickinson Wants to Avoid Repeating Himself
When asked whether he thinks about his previous solo albums when writing new material, Dickinson explained that he tries not to simply recreate what he has already done.
For Dickinson, experimentation does not necessarily mean abandoning his musical identity. Instead, it means finding new ways to present familiar elements.
“Music is something which you try not to stick too much of a format,” Dickinson explained, while acknowledging that he remains firmly within his own musical style.
The approach has been a consistent part of Dickinson's solo career. From Tattooed Millionaire and Balls To Picasso through Accident of Birth, The Chemical Wedding, Tyranny Of Souls, and The Mandrake Project, his solo work has allowed him to explore territory that sometimes differs considerably from Iron Maiden.
This new album appears poised to continue that tradition, but Dickinson's description of the record suggests fans may be in for one of his heaviest solo outings yet.
New Bruce Dickinson Album Was Recorded at Studio 606
Much of Dickinson's upcoming eighth solo album was recorded during January and February 2026 at Studio 606 in Northridge, California, the legendary recording facility associated with Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters.
Producer Brendan Duffey is handling the production, mixing, and mastering work. Duffey previously worked on the expanded and reworked version of Dickinson's 1994 solo album Balls To Picasso, released in 2025 under the title More Balls To Picasso.
The new album is currently being mixed at Duffey's high-end Brendan Duffey Audio studio in Jupiter, Florida.
Dickinson has also revealed that the recording sessions were completed using his touring band, featuring:
Mistheria – keyboards
Dave Moreno – drums
Tanya O'Callaghan – bass
Chris Declercq – guitar
Philip Näslund – guitar
The album will also feature a guest appearance from Andreas Kisser, legendary guitarist of Brazilian metal giants Sepultura, who revealed earlier this year that he contributed percussion to the record.
Bruce Dickinson and His Son Austin Collaborate
Another intriguing element of the upcoming Bruce Dickinson solo album is a collaboration with his son Austin Dickinson.
Austin is a musician best known for his work as the former frontman of British metal bands Rise To Remain and As Lions. Bruce recently confirmed that Austin will appear on the new record.
Dickinson has also indicated that fans will not have to wait until the album's 2027 release to hear it.
The singer said that some tracks are expected to surface during 2026 and revealed plans to shoot four or five videos for the project.
With the album now moving through the mixing stage, the first official taste of the new material could be coming sooner rather than later.
16 Songs Recorded in Just Three Weeks
Dickinson previously revealed that he recorded 16 songs for the new solo album during an intense three-week period earlier this year.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, he emphasized that the sessions were performed completely live, describing the approach as the “anti-A.I. generation.”
That detail should grab the attention of old-school metal fans.
Rather than building an album piece by piece through heavily edited modern production techniques, Dickinson and his band captured the performances together in the studio. The result could give the new record a rawer, more organic feel while still benefiting from modern recording technology.
And if Dickinson's “heavy as shit” assessment is anything to go by, there may be plenty of volume involved.
From Iron Maiden to a Legendary Solo Career
Bruce Dickinson made his recording debut with Iron Maiden on the band's landmark 1982 album The Number Of The Beast, one of the defining records in the history of heavy metal.
He left Iron Maiden in 1993 to focus on his solo career, with Blaze Bayley stepping into the vocalist position.
Dickinson released several solo albums during his time away from Maiden, including collaborations with former Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith. He eventually returned to Iron Maiden in 1999, with Smith also rejoining the band.
Since then, Dickinson has continued to maintain both his Iron Maiden career and his solo work.
His most recent solo album, The Mandrake Project, was released in 2024 and spawned an extensive touring campaign. The accompanying multimedia project expanded the album's story into a comic book series, turning what was originally envisioned as a promotional tie-in into a much larger creative universe.
Now, Dickinson appears ready to leave that world behind musically and start another chapter.
What Can Fans Expect From Bruce Dickinson's New Album?
Details surrounding the new album remain limited, including its official title and track listing. However, several important pieces are already in place.
The album:
Is expected in early 2027 via BMG
Will be Dickinson's eighth solo studio album
Contains 16 recorded songs
Was largely recorded at Studio 606
Features Dickinson's current touring band
Includes percussion from Sepultura's Andreas Kisser
Features a collaboration with Austin Dickinson
Was recorded largely live
Is being mixed by Brendan Duffey
Is expected to receive its first previews during 2026
Most importantly, Dickinson himself says it is going to be heavy.
After decades of creating some of heavy metal's most recognizable music, Bruce Dickinson clearly isn't interested in simply coasting on his legacy. If the new album delivers on his promise, 2027 could bring another major chapter in one of metal's most enduring solo careers.
And honestly, when Bruce Dickinson says a record is going to be “heavy as shit,” we're probably going to want to hear that one for ourselves.
https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29295/bruce-dickinson-says-his-new-solo-album-will-be-heavy-as-shit-and-arrives-in-2027?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger
No comments:
Post a Comment