Bruce Dickinson revealed that the unreleased track "Shadow Of The Gods" was not composed for his upcoming album, The Mandrake Project .
In an interview with the website Wall Of Sound , the Iron Maiden explained that it was meant to be part of another project.
“'Shadow Of The Gods' was written around the time [of the title track of my 2005 solo album] Tyranny of Souls or shortly after. Because Roy [Bruce's longtime collaborator, Roy 'Z' Ramirez] and I were…” ( via Blabbermouth )
Dickinson explained that there was an intention to create the project The Three Tremors , which included Rob Halford and Ronnie James Dio . The goal was to record an album and go on tour—something that didn't happen because of Dio's death.
“The idea was perhaps to involve Geoff Tate , and that kind of didn’t work out. But, in the meantime, we were busy trying to write songs that would feature three singers. When the project came about, we had done two of them. One of them was 'Tyranny Of Souls,' which, if you notice, the opening of 'Tyranny Of Souls' is the speech of the three witches from Macbeth .”
He explained how the verses would be sung, but the project didn't work out. "So I said, 'Well, screw it. I'll do all the parts myself and make them more like my singing style.'"
He continues: “'Shadow Of The Gods' was written for the same project. And basically, the same thing happened with 'Shadow Of The Gods'. So, when the heavy riff happens two-thirds of the way through the song, people say, 'Wow, that sounds like Priest .' I said, 'Yeah, well, guess who should be singing [that part].'”
The Mandrake Project is now available for pre-order at the Wikimetal Store .
Bruce Dickinson: The Mandrake Project
- Afterglow of Ragnarok
- Many Doors to Hell
- Rain On The Graves
- Resurrection Men
- Fingers In The Wounds
- Eternity Has Failed
- Mistress of Mercy
- Face in the Mirror
- Shadow of the Gods
- Sonata (Immortal Beloved)
READ ALSO: Iron Maiden: Bruce Dickinson wanted a female vocalist to replace him in 1993
