Iron Maiden<\/strong> singer Bruce Dickinson<\/strong> is deep into the making of his next solo album \u2014 and he’s doing it in suitably heavyweight surroundings. The metal icon is currently putting the finishing touches on vocals at Dave Grohl<\/strong>‘s Studio 606 in Northridge, CA, with early reports suggesting the record could be one of the strongest outings of his career outside the Maiden<\/strong> camp.<\/p>\n The as-yet-untitled album will serve as the follow-up to 2024’s The Mandrake Project<\/em>, released via BMG, and isn’t expected to arrive before 2027. While fans will need patience, the names involved \u2014 and the reactions from those who’ve heard the material \u2014 are already fuelling serious hype.<\/p>\n News of the sessions first surfaced thanks to Jeff Scott Soto<\/strong> (Trans-Siberian Orchestra<\/strong>, Yngwie Malmsteen<\/strong>, Talisman<\/strong>), who shared a photo from Studio 606 showing himself alongside Dickinson<\/strong>. In a characteristically enthusiastic post, Soto<\/strong> revealed he’d arrived just as Bruce<\/strong> was wrapping up final vocal takes.<\/p>\n “How lucky am I?” Soto<\/strong> wrote. “I went to say hello to my dear friend Mistheria<\/strong> who I worked with on his Vivaldi Metal Project<\/strong> and of course is part of Bruce Dickinson<\/strong>‘s solo endeavors these days. Arrived at Dave Grohl<\/strong>‘s studio right as Bruce<\/strong> was doing some final vocals to his new album.”<\/p>\n Soto<\/strong> added that after Dickinson<\/strong> finished singing, the Iron Maiden<\/strong> frontman invited him to listen to some of the new tracks \u2014 an offer that clearly left an impression.<\/p>\n “He finished and came out to chat\/hang a little but then asked if I wanted to hear a few of the songs\u2026 umm, YEA!!” Soto<\/strong> continued. “I must say besides the fact that he is still singing at the top of his game, the songs, performances, and the overall vibe I got from all was beyond impressive.”<\/p>\n Perhaps most tellingly, Soto<\/strong> suggested the album could rank among Dickinson<\/strong>‘s finest work outside Iron Maiden<\/strong>. “I think this outing will be one of his strongest ever outside of the Maiden<\/strong> camp,” he wrote.<\/p>\n As if that weren’t enough, the visit also included a bonus perk: a sneak preview of a new Trooper beer variant. “To add frosting on the cake, I got to try a prototype for a new Trooper beer, this one is a nice IPA which I’m normally not a fan of, but this was really good,” Soto<\/strong> joked. “It’s not out yet so I feel pretty lucky to have tried it before the rest of the world haha.”<\/p>\n Dickinson<\/strong>‘s creative circle for the new record builds on the lineup behind The Mandrake Project<\/em>, which was largely recorded at Los Angeles’ Doom Room with longtime collaborator Roy “Z” Ramirez<\/strong> acting as co-writer, producer, guitarist and bassist. That album also featured keyboardist Mistheria<\/strong> and drummer Dave Moreno<\/strong>, both veterans of Dickinson<\/strong>‘s 2005 solo release Tyranny Of Souls<\/em>.<\/p>\n This time around, however, the cast is expanding \u2014 and taking a heavier turn. Sepultura<\/strong> guitarist Andreas Kisser<\/strong> recently let slip his involvement via Instagram, sharing photos from Studio 606 showing him playing percussion alongside Dickinson<\/strong>. He also posted an image of Grohl<\/strong> with mixing and mastering engineer Brendan Duffey<\/strong>, hinting at their roles in the project.<\/p>\n “What a privilege! Truly an honor to participate on the new album of the great master of metal [Bruce Dickinson<\/strong>] \u2014 a gentleman and a fucking legend!” Kisser<\/strong> wrote. “Thank you for letting me play some percussion on the album!”<\/p>\n Switching briefly into Portuguese to thank Duffey<\/strong> for the invitation, Kisser<\/strong> returned to English to praise the studio itself. “And [Dave Grohl<\/strong>], what a studio you created, simply magical. Hope you like the distortion from the new pedal [by Fuel Music Audio],” he added. “Heavy Metal rules!”<\/p>\n Sepultura<\/strong> vocalist Derrick Green<\/strong> also appears to be part of the sessions, sharing a selfie with Dickinson<\/strong> on social media captioned simply: “With the legend himself!”<\/p>\n Dickinson<\/strong>, who has fronted Iron Maiden<\/strong> since 1981, previously spoke about his plans for the album during an appearance on Chris Jericho<\/strong>‘s Talk Is Jericho<\/em> podcast. Last year, he revealed hopes to begin recording in January 2026 \u2014 and emphasized a deliberately old-school approach.<\/p>\n “We’re doing it, everybody on the floor, with the intention of keeping it all,” Dickinson<\/strong> said. “Not with, ‘Oh, we’re gonna do it, everybody on the floor, and then we’re gonna keep the drums and re-record everything.’ No! The idea is, we’re gonna keep it all. Only if it really stinks will we redo it.”\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.<\/p>\n