BRUCE DICKINSON · The Chemical Wedding | BLACK 2LP

Black double vinyl in Gatefold-Cover with printed inner sleeves.

Background information about 'The Chemical Wedding'

Let's get one thing straight right from the start: Bruce Dickinson didn't just make a metal album with "The Chemical Wedding" — he carved a monolith out of William Blake's fever dreams and set it to riffs that could level mountains. Originally released in 1998, this 2017 Remaster breathes new, scorching life into what many (including yours truly) consider the finest solo record any Iron Maiden frontman has ever unleashed.

From the moment the crushing riffs of "King in Crimson" kick in, you know you're in for something different. This isn't Maiden — this is darker, heavier, more unhinged. Dickinson channels the prophetic madness of poet and painter William Blake throughout, weaving mysticism, alchemy, and apocalyptic visions into a tapestry of thunderous metal. Tracks like the title track "Chemical Wedding" and the colossal "The Tower" are pure, unadulterated heavy metal perfection, while "Book of Thel" stretches out into almost eight minutes of brooding, atmospheric brilliance. The production by Roy Z is thick as concrete and hits like a sledgehammer.

The remaster treatment only enhances what was already a masterpiece — clearer, punchier, with every cymbal crash and bass growl sitting exactly where it should. The closing epic "The Alchemist" is a near nine-minute journey through occult imagery and face-melting solos that leaves you breathless. This is not background music. This is headphones on, volume max, full-attention-required metal.

For fans of:
Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Saxon

This vinyl edition: Gatefold-Cover. Double vinyl.

Track listing

LP 1:
A1. King In Crimson
A2. Chemical Wedding
A3. The Tower
B1. Killing Floor
B2. Book Of Thel

LP 2:
C1. Gates Of Urizen
C2. Jerusalem
C3. Trumpets Of Jericho
D1. Machine Men
D2. The Alchemist

Manufacturer: Universal Music GmbH, Mühlenstrasse 25, 10243 Berlin, Germany, Contact: www.universalmusic.com