Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson Debuts Heavy Solo Song ‘Afterglow of Ragnarok,’ His First in 18 Years

Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson has just released a theatrical music video for "Afterglow of Ragnarok," the debut single from his first solo album since 2005, The Mandrake Project.

Written with longtime songwriting partner and bandmate Roy Z, "Afterglow of Ragnarok" is a thumping track anchored a burly, bruising yet boisterous riff and flanked by Dickinson's still impressive vocal range and knack for shimmering hooks.

Dickinson has expressed that The Mandrake Project is more than just an album, with a companion graphic novel series arriving next year along with the record, which means "Afterglow of Ragnarok" will also have to be appreciated with proper context. Despite it's non-epic runtime, the single certainly feels episodic with moody, mystical passages countering Roy Z's bouncing riffs. You can pre-order "Afterglow of Ragnarok" here.

Watch the music video for "Afterglow of Ragnarok" below.

Bruce Dickinson, "Afterglow of Ragnarok"

READ MORE: The Most + Least Played Song Live Off Every Iron Maiden Album

Bruce Dickinson + Iron Maiden in 2024

It will be a busy year for the 65-year-old Dickinson, balancing his solo pursuits alongside the demands of being in Iron Maiden.

As a solo artist (backed by a top-shelf band), the singer will tour around the globe with headline and festival dates all on the books. And next fall, North America will finally get its share of Maiden's The Future Past tour, which launched in Europe earlier this year.

In addition to Dickinson's The Mandrake Project graphic novels, Iron Maiden have one of their own on the way as well, also through Z2. Head here to learn more about the epic 40th anniversary Piece of Mind graphic novel, which even features a chapter written by Dickinson himself.

'The Soundhouse Tapes' Demo (1979)

All three songs played

'Iron Maiden' (1980)

All nine songs played and "Burning Ambition," the "Running Free" B-side was also played

'Killers' (1981)

10 out of 11 songs played

Not Played:

“Prodigal Son”

'The Number of the Beast' (1982)

Seven out of nine songs played*

Not Played:

“Invaders”
“Gangland”

*“Total Eclipse” appeared on the album in later reissues and was originally released as a B-side to the “Run to the Hills” single

'Piece of Mind' (1983)

Seven out of nine songs played

Not Played:

“Quest for Fire”
“Sun and Steel”

'Powerslave' (1984)

Five out of eight songs played

Not Played:

“Flash of the Blade”
“The Duellists”
“Back in the Village”

'Somewhere in Time' (1986)

Seven out of eight songs played

Not Played:

“Deja Vu”

'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' (1988)

Six out of eight songs played

Not Played:

“The Prophecy”
“Only the Good Die Young”

'No Prayer for the Dying' (1990)

Seven out of 10 songs played

Not Played:

“Fates Warning”
“Run Silent Run Deep”
“Mother Russia”

'Fear of the Dark' (1992)

Five out of 12 songs played

Not Played:

“Fear Is the Key”
“Childhood’s End”
“The Fugitive”
“Chains of Misery”
“The Apparition”
“Judas Be My Guide”
“Weekend Warrior”

'The X Factor' (1995)

Seven out of 11 songs played*

Not Played:

“Judgement of Heaven”
“Look for the Truth”
“2 A.M.”
“The Unbeliever”

*not including Japanese bonus tracks

"Virus" Single (1996)

Not played: "Virus"

'Virtual XI' (1998)

Seven out of eight songs played

Not played:

“Como Estais Amigos”

'Brave New World' (2000)

Eight out of 10 songs played

Not played:

“The Nomad”
“The Thin Line Between Love and Hate”

'Dance of Death' (2003)

Six out of 11 songs played

Not played:

“Montségur”
“Gates of Tomorrow”
“New Frontier”
“Face in the Sand”
“Age of Innocence”

'A Matter of Life and Death' (2006)

All 10 songs played

'The Final Frontier' (2010)

Five out of 10 songs played

Not played:

“Mother of Mercy”
“The Alchemist”
“Isle of Avalon”
“Starblind”
“The Man Who Would Be King”

'The Book of Souls' (2015)

Seven out of 11 songs played

Not played:

“When the Rivers Runs Deep”
“Shadows of the Valley”
“The Man of Sorrows”
“Empire of the Clouds”

'Senjutsu' (2021)

Six out of 10 songs played

Not played:

“Lost In a Lost World"
"Darkest Hour"
"The Parchment"