BRUCE DICKINSON 'More Balls To Picasso' Reimagined Album Review by The Metal Voice

REVIEW BY JIMMY KAY: The Metal Voice

"Balls to Picasso" marks the second solo endeavor of Iron Maiden's iconic vocalist Bruce Dickinson, originally released in 1994. This album stands out as the first in his solo career released after his official departure from Iron Maiden—though he would later rejoin the band in 1999. The album was also the first record with collaborator Roy Z, and recorded with Z’s band Tribe Of Gypsies, it went through various iterations before its release. The album was also produced by Shay Baby

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Roy played guitar on "Balls To Picasso" and went on to produce, co-write and perform multiple instruments on Bruce's subsequent four solo albums, "Accident At Birth" (1997),"The Chemical Wedding" (1998),"Tyranny Of Souls" (2005) and "The Mandrake Project" (2024).

And now we have MORE BALLS which will be released July 25, 2025 via BMG

At a High level, the More Balls album as a whole, breathes new life into the album, enhancing clarity and depth while showcasing Dickinson's powerful operatic vocals.

As a general statement the production of "More Balls" features a better separation of instruments, with guitars doubling and tripling in stereo. More delay, less reverb. Added keyboards to the mix hovering in the background, while solos and the midsection are pushed more to the forefront. The original had a lot groove and this remake highlights the drum groove, making it more groovy. It is like a brand new studio from Bruce!

Let's not forget that the metal scene in 1994 had crumbled and vanished in the mainstream mostly due to the popularity of grunge and rap. This pushed traditional metal bands into making more experimental metal music. So the direction on this album is not your traditional sounding metal album.

Track-by-Track quick Breakdown:

Cyclops (7:58)

The "More Balls" reworked version of "Cyclops" is a big win. The added keyboards and the bass is higher in the mix and gives it more of a funky, thumping vibe. Also I find in this new mix Bruce's operatic vocal delivery really soars. In contrast, the original version presents a drier guitar and a more muted drum delivery, giving the whole song a more mono rather than stereo feel.

Hell No (5:08)

"More Balls" improves the clarity of the overall song and highlights the Middle Eastern groove more so than the original, again a winner.

Gods of War (5:05)

"More Balls" offers less heaviness on this track, but more of an elevated tribal epic soundscape. Whereas the original version is heavier and rawer, reverb-heavy experience.

So if you like heavy, the original is for you and vice versa. Win for the original, win for the More Balls version.

(Note from Bruce) -Brazilian composer Antonio Teoli added some stunning orchestral arrangements, and in a unique contribution, added indigenous instruments from the Amazon (recorded by himself when he lived there!) at the beginning of ‘Gods Of War’

1000 Points of Light (4:24)

The "More Balls" version offers a new slick keyboard riff in the chorus, transforming and elevating the song musically. Whereas the original is more brash and raw especially the cymbals crashing drums. It's like comparing the production style of Black Sabbath's "Dehumanizer" (Balls original) to well balanced production of "Heaven and Hell" (More Balls). One this track which is better the original or More Balls it becomes more of personal taste at the end of the day. I prefer the Heaven and Hell approach just works better.

Laughing In The Hiding Bush (4:22)

The remix revitalizes this track, turning it from a mediocre song into a standout track, at least for me. Its full sound contrasts sharply with the thinness of the original version. I get it that this has always been a fan favorite and it is difficult to mess with what works but it works messing with this song, win.

Change of Heart (5:01)

The jazzy original always sounded good to me however the remix presents a cleaner sound with improved keyboard integration. Remix has more of a dynamic flair. Win

Shoot All The Clowns (4:35)

Here Bruce jumps into the funky rap-influenced style, reminiscent of the Red Hot Chili Peppers heyday. Once again, the "More Balls" version outpaces the original on sound alone but both. version has the infamous Bruce rap, so...ya know...got to be open minded either way.

(Note from Bruce)- ‘Shoot All The Clowns’ gets the benefit of a horn section fronted by the Berklee College of Music, and all of the record gets the benefit of the mix by Brendan Duffey, (who worked on The Mandrake Project), with notes along the way from Shay Baby, the original father of the album”.

Fire (4:32)

Bruce going filler Doom. I wasn’t overly impressed with this slow grinder of a song back in the day or with this new remix, I always found it uninspiring. But maybe that's just me? Same deal the quality of the track has improved so if you are a fan of this song you will enjoy. Great guitar solo thought.

Sacred Cowboys (3:55)

A great track about the world moving backwards which is relevant today as there is no one left to play the hero's role. The song screams for me 90's metal. Loved this fast paced song back in the day and the new remix outpaces the original in sound again, love the chorus. Winner.

Tears of the Dragon (6:26)

A fan favorite of the original but this new remix just takes it into the stratosphere. Again more dynamic, more guitars, more separation of the layers. Beautifully executed and well done. Highlight of the album. Goosebumps stuff.

(Note from Bruce)- beefed up the guitars - courtesy of our ‘Swedish shredder’ Philip Naslund and we added some really beautiful work by Adassi Addasi on ‘Tears

The two bonus tracks are just a nice have. Live in studio tracks similar the original remasters

Gods of War (Live in the Studio) (4:55)

Shoot All The Clowns (Live in the Studio)

Conclusion

As a lover of most of Bruce's work I was never impressed with this album upon it's release but this new Reworked version made me a big fan. It's like a totally new experience. This album is a must-listen for fans and newcomers alike. 8.2-10

Tribe of Gypsies[edit]

Roy Z – guitar

Eddie Casillas – bass guitar

David Ingraham – drums

Doug Van Booven – percussion

Dean Ortega – vocals

Mario Aguilar – percussion on "Shoot All the Clowns"

Additional musicians

Dickie Fliszar – drums on "Tears of the Dragon"

Richard Baker – keyboards and programming

Production

Shay Baby – producer, mixing

Spencer May – additional engineering

Sean De Feo – engineer at Townhouse 3

Andy Baker – engineer at Westside Studios

Bjorn Thorsrud – engineer on "Shoot All the Clowns

Greg Fulginiti & Andy Van Dette – mastering at Masterdisk, New York

This Summer, Bruce Dickinson will embark on his first extensive North American solo tour in almost 30 years in support of his current studio album The Mandrake Project, with a setlist encompassing his entire solo career. “The Mandrake Project Live 2025” North American Tour kicks off in Anaheim, CA. at The House of Blues on August 22nd and takes the band across North America including shows in New York, Los Angeles, Texas, Florida and Canada, with festival appearances at “Rocklahoma” (OK) and “Louder Than Life” (KY) with more to be announced. The tour also includes a quick return to Brazil for the prestigious “The Town” Festival at the City of Light in Sao Paulo.

'Gods of War'

Album Tracklisting

1. Cyclops

2. Hell No

3. Gods of War

4. 1000 Points of Light

5. Laughing in the Hiding Bush

6. Change of Heart

7. Shoot All the Clowns

8. Fire

9. Sacred Cowboys

10. Tears of the Dragon

11. Gods of War (Live in the Studio)*

12. Shoot All the Clowns (Live in the Studio)*

* Previously unreleased

FURTHER INFORMATION

In 1994, having left Iron Maiden for a time (he rejoined in 1999), Bruce Dickinson released his second solo album, entitled Balls To Picasso. Named in honour of the cubist pioneer whose representations of spherical objects were as squares and reflected on the cover in graffiti style on a tiled bathroom wall, the album belied its irreverent title by solidifying Dickinson’s reputation as a serious solo artist.

His first record with collaborator Roy Z, produced by Shay Baby and recorded with Z’s band Tribe Of Gypsies, it went through various iterations before its release. The original album included a number of classic tracks and live favourites from Dickinson including the singles “Tears Of The Dragon” and “Shoot All The Clowns,” alongside the much-loved epic “Laughing In The Hiding Bush,” which was the original title for the album.

Yet despite its positive reception at the time, it never quite captured Dickinson’s original vision which was even more expansive in scope and ambition. However, with the ability to revisit his solo catalog – and following on from Dickinson’s hugely acclaimed album The Mandrake Project in 2024 – the brand-new part re-recorded, remixed and newly mastered version of the album, now entitled More Balls To Picasso, reimagines it as a fresh and contemporary release;.

Dickinson says of it, “While mixing all my catalogue into Dolby Atmos I had a nagging desire to revisit and reinvent the record. So putting more balls into ‘Balls…’ was a labour of love.

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