I admit it has been years since I last played ‘Balls to Picasso’, probably not since just after it was originally released in 1993, and this reissue with additional elements and some re-recorded sections has really expanded on the original. I have been a fan of Dickinson since the Samson days and can remember being upset that not only had Di’Anno left Maiden, but they had pinched Dickinson from Samson, as they were two of my favourite bands of the time. I first saw him sing with Maiden on the third date of The Beast on the Road tour in 1982 and saw him on the ‘Tattooed Millionaire’ tour (as well as plenty of other times with Maiden). So, I have been a fan for a long time, and what we are being presented with here is a re-imagining of his first solo album after leaving Maiden. There was a lot to prove at the time, as Maiden were one of the biggest bands in the world, which is why he abandoned his first efforts with Keith Olson and instead started working with Roy Z, using Tribe of Gypsies as the backing band. It was released to great acclaim, but apparently it never fully met Bruce’s expectations and desired and following on from the success of 2024’s ‘The Mandrake Project’ the decision was made to part re-record, remixed and newly mastered the album, with so many changes that it has been issued with a slightly revised title.
There are more guitars, care of Philip Naslund, while Brazilian composer Antonio Teoli added some stunning orchestral arrangements plus some indigenous instruments he recorded himself from the Amazon. The result is a reimagining of the album which really has lifted to it, so much so, that in my opinion the cover just does not do this justice as it musically this now grandiose and massively over the top. Brendan Duffey, (who worked on ‘The Mandrake Project’) has made this sound as if it has just been recorded, as opposed to mostly being songs which were originally put to bed more than 30 years earlier. The album ends with two bonus cuts, live versions of “Gods of War” and “Shoot All The Clowns” which have not previously been made available. Given the choice of listening to this re-imagining or ‘Senjtusu’, I must be honest and say this holds the upper hand.
