The Chemical Wedding  by Bruce Dickinson

The Chemical Wedding is the fifth solo album by Bruce Dickinson and is considered by many to be his greatest achievement outside of Iron Maiden. The Chemical Wedding was released on September 15, 1998, by Air Raid Records. It was Bruce's last solo venture before his historic return to Iron Maiden in 1999.

The album was recorded in the first half of 1998 at Sound City and Silver Cloud studios in Los Angeles. It was produced by Roy Z, who composed the music along with Dickinson. Of particular importance is the participation of Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) on guitar, creating a powerful duo with Roy Z. The style is dark, heavy, and "modern" for its time, avoiding the classic Maiden formula in favor of a more compact and aggressive metal sound. The central theme revolves around alchemy and the work of visionary poet and painter William Blake (1757 – 1827). Standout tracks include King In Crimson, Killing Floor, and Jerusalem, whose lyrics are directly from William Blake's poem "And did those feet in ancient time." Another presence of the poet is on the album cover, as it features William Blake's painting, "The Ghost of a Flea."

In conclusion, The Chemical Wedding is a dive into a world where metal meets the occult and high poetry. Dickinson, free from the expectations of the colossal band (Iron Maiden), delivers a performance full of passion and theatricality. The low-tuned guitars and the solid production by Roy Z created a sonic landscape both grim and lyrical, standing as a beacon for late '90s heavy metal. It reached No.55 on the UK charts.