Bruce Dickinson premieres cinematic 'Rain on the Graves' video featuring The House Band of Hell
Another audio-visual feast from the Iron Maiden singer
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has premiered the cinematic and horror-themed music video for his new single ‘Rain on the Graves.’
Following hot on the heels of the Planet Rock playlisted anthem ‘Afterglow of Ragnarok’, ‘Rain on the Graves’ precedes the Friday 1st March release of Bruce Dickinson’s first solo album in 19 years, ‘The Mandrake Project.’
‘Rain on the Graves’ had its first radio play on Breakfast with Paul Anthony this morning (25th January), and the newly premiered video is an audio-visual feast.
Directed by Ryan Mackfall and written by Bruce Dickinson, the seven-minute ‘Rain on the Graves’ video once again starts with a William Blake quote, this time from Auguries of Innocence, and it sees Bruce play the role of The Preacher who has a run in with the Devil himself.
Initially filmed in stark black-and-white before exploding into colour midway through, the video introduces Bruce’s live band - guitarist Roy Z, drummer Dave Moreno, bass-player Tanya O’Callaghan and keyboard maestro Mistheria – who play The House Band of Hell.
Watch Bruce Dickinson’s ‘Rain on the Graves’ video:
A description of ‘Rain on the Graves’ reads: ‘Riding on a towering guitar riff, with dramatic keyboards and a commanding vocal performance, it was inspired by a rainy visit to Romantic poet William Wordsworth’s grave in the Lake District. The song grew into a rumination on the nature of mortality and the deal with the Devil that artists have come to feel themselves making ever since Robert Johnson proved it worthwhile back in the 1930s.
‘It is a classic Dickinson/Roy Z collaboration; a catchy but heavy piece – full of melody but stripping out the spoken vocals of the verses in almost poetic fashion – maybe a further ode to the great wordsmith who inspired the title, somehow juxtaposed with music fit to raise the ghost of Robert Johnson at his metaphorical crossroads.’
Bruce Dickinson comments: “I had the chorus lyric since I visited Grasmere for a wedding back in 2012, and it wasn’t difficult years later to create the rest of the song with so much rich imagery in my head!”
Bruce’s first album since 2005’s ‘Tyranny of Souls’, ‘The Mandrake Project’ features 10 tracks including ‘Eternity Has Failed’, a song originally intended to be a Bruce solo track but it first appeared in a different form as ‘If Eternity Should Fail’ on Iron Maiden’s 2015 album The Book of Souls.
With Bruce’s long-time collaborator Roy Z on co-writing and production duties, a description of ‘The Mandrake Project’ reads: ‘Sonically heavy and rich in musical textures, it sees Bruce bring to life a musical vision long-in-the-making, and features some of the finest vocal performances of his career.’
Together with his band, Bruce Dickinson takes ‘The Mandrake Project’ on the road throughout 2024.
The UK leg visits Glasgow, Manchester, Swansea, Nottingham and London. CLICK HERE to check ticket availability.
Bruce Dickinson’s UK tour dates:
MAY 2024
Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom – 18th
Manchester O2 Academy – 19th
Swansea Arena – 21st
Nottingham Rock City – 23rd
London O2 Forum Kentish Town – 24th
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