Spreading Creativity and Joy While Forgetting about the Poster - A Review of Bruce Dickinson's Resurrection Men

Resurrection Men is the third single from Bruce Dickinson's very good conceptual heavy metal record The Mandrake Project that was released last winter and supported by a tour around the globe throughout spring and summer. Two elements seemed particularly promising about this particular release: the inclusion of two live songs and a double-sided folded Mandrake movie poster.

However, the version that I have been able to purchase in Canada didn't include any sort of poster at all. This is also the main reason why I'm writing this review, so that potential fans might not get disappointed by this inexplicable lack of bonus material. That's quite a bummer to be honest since I would have appreciated honouring this strong comeback by putting an imaginative poster upon my wall.

As for the live songs, they are both excellent and make me hope for an actual live release in the near future. Both songs have never been played in concert before this tour. "Afterglow of Ragnarok" opens with a short speech by Bruce Dickinson himself followed by a slow overture with atmospheric doom metal elements before all hell breaks loose in form of an energetic heavy metal anthem that was rightfully chosen as first single for the most recent studio album. Up next follows fast-paced "Abduction" from previous studio record Tyranny of Souls that flirts with liberating thrash metal tones and was also chosen as that record's first single and supported with a quite memorable music video that you should most certainly check out if you haven't done so already. Both selections convince with organic band chemistry, enthusiastic fans from São Paulo and excellent musicianship.

Needless to say that title track Resurrection Men comes around in its studio version that is identical to the album version. This song is perhaps the one that has grown the most on me on The Mandrake Project. It is an energetic heavy metal epic with a few minor progressive elements in form of changes of mood and pace. This song includes a few almost danceable folk guitar sections and quite dynamic percussive elements that complement the heavier style of the song creatively and refreshingly. This is what great heavy metal should sound like in this day and age.

At the end of the day, the missing poster is this single's only downfall. The title song is a grower with wonderful songwriting and the live tracks remind me of the astonishing concert I have been attending with my father this summer. Bruce Dickinson's extended play Resurrection Men will thus always remind me of a wonderful time in my life.

Final Rating: 63%