Great to see different Maiden fans having different favourites…and genuinely please to see these albums be rated so highly by some - that’s the beauty of music! What’s your favourite Virtual XI moment?
Great review and class wee interview with Blaze. Regarding Virtual XI what we have here is a great example of how someone's greatest strength can also being their great weakness. Steve Harris is a very very thran wee man (stubborn for all the non Norn Iron folk) he is as stubborn as a mule, this attitude is the only reason Iron Maiden still exists, down through the decades he withstood great pressure for the band to change (even right at the beginning of their career) they didn't go Punk, they didn't go Glam, they didn't do Thrash or Grunge, they didn't "Sell Out". For many of us Maiden fans, the attitude of the band and how they have gone about things is one of the main reasons we love them. However this great strength of Steve's is also why he stubbornly produced sub power production at the Barnyard, he will not be steered, tell him the Angel and the Gambler is 4 minutes too long, and he'll add an extra 2 minutes. On the flip side tell him you can't have songs over ten minutes long, and you certainly can't have them back to back on an album and Steve will give you, Death of the Celts, The Parchment and Hell on Earth. This is the wonderful and sometimes frustrating paradox of Steve Harris!
This is a great point - and definitely something we should have highlighted! You are so right that Steve’s stubborn streak & refusal to compromise has been a strength on so many occasions throughout Maiden’s journey, yet it was perhaps to the detriment of the Barnyard experiment. This is a point we will pick up on I’m sure in both The Chemical Wedding & Brave New World reviews & we’ll certainly be mentioning you! Great to hear from you 🤟
I 've met all the band in Paris, at the Fnac for an autograph sessions for X-Factor the day of the concert at the Zenith. Blaze and Jannick have spoken with me a few word. A great remind. The second was good as usual with Iron Maiden. Later, i keep on listening Blaze through his own albums. They are very good. My prefered songs in Virtual XI were Futureal, The Angel and the Gambler, of course The Clansman, don't llok to the eyes of the stranger. When two worlds collide feared me cause at this time, everyone spoke about an asteroid would collide Earth lol I saw the Virtual Eleven Tour also in the Zenith.
That’s really cool you got to meet Janick & Blaze! Unfortunately I didn’t get to see this tour (although I did see the Blaze line up in Belfast on The X Factour). What was the Virtual XI show like?
@actor-anironmaidenfa1667 it was in 1998 (I think) so It was a certain time ago ;) It was my 4th concert of Iron Maiden (and I went to the others after Virtual Eleven) What i remember is that the fans sang on the Clansman on the guitar and with Blaze on the Chorus Freedom. As usual, the stage was at the colors of the album. I remember Blaze yelled at us to sing with him. I know many fans don't like Blaze as a singer but I never be disturbed. As I said, I bought Blaze albums after his adventure with Iron Maiden. Blaze is part of Iron Maiden History as well Paul Di'anno and Bruce Dickinson. Each of them had brought his personnality. And whatever the fans said, many songs became cult in X-Factor and Virtual Eleven because of Blaze. I have another song : I don't remember if it was part of X-Factor or Virtual Eleven : Virus. I liked and always like it. I 'm not sure but there was Megadeth as second band to come. Don't remember the first one. Great show too.
I also really like TAATG!. Is it too long? Yes. Are there too many "Don't cha thinks...", Yes but I really like the melodies throughout the song. My favorite song on the album is When Two Worlds Collide. I feel it does need a third verse though, similar to how I feel Evil that Men Do and Die W Your Boots On also should have had third verses. After that, The Educated Fool is my second favorite. The Clansman is just ok to me. This album is fantastic and I wish more people would give it a chance. I prefer it over Fear of the Dark but it's not quite as good as No Prayer.
Interesting to hear your thoughts on this 😊 Seems overall you rate this album at a similar level to ourselves, but you prefer different tracks. Especially cool to hear you really like The Educated Fool - goes to show there are Maiden fans who totally get where Steve was in his writing with this track, wheres we were quite harsh on it…that’s the beauty of music though isn’t it!? Do you think this line up had more in them?
I do enjoy this era and Blaze but no, I'm glad they moved on with Bruce. I love every Maiden album and can't wait till you guys get into the reunion albums as I put albums such as DOD and AMOLAD up there with the 80's output.
I actually think this album is better than it's rumour, but still I would place this album among the worst albums by Maiden together with No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the Dark. The album has some major flaws: 1. The editing and construction of the songs is weak. Many ok parts, but they are stitched badly together. Many songs sound like they are not completely finished. 2. The lyrics are very cheesy on most of this album. It's very simple and reminds me a bit about songs like Deja Vu, but with worse music attached to it. The lyrics are also way too repetitive. 3. I don't like Nickos playing on this album. It is too simple and straight forward. Worst work by a drummer on any IM album. 4. Blaze Bayley was a scapegoat for this period and he sings better than what people say. But his singing is a bit off at some parts on this album. Because he only got one or a few chances to sing them for the most. Too rushed. Therefor it sounds sour sometimes, and he sounded better on X-factor. 5. It has "The Angel and the Gambler" on it, probably the worst song on an Iron Maide album, that is my opinion. The song is a real stinker! Too many repetitions, too weak/cheesy lyrics and way too long. Agree with you that it might sound better live, but at it's full length it has nothing to do on an Iron Maiden album. Here is my list from best to worst: 1. The Clansman Very good song. A bit slow and sounds better live with Bruce, but good in studioversion also. Great lyrics (best on the album). Como Estais Amigo Very good song I think and very underated. Blaze sounds a bit sour in some parts, but a very nice gem. Heartfelt. Futureal Very good track and a perfect opening track! The chorus and prechorus is very repetitive thou, should have had more verses, a musical change or just a bit more variations, but still short and straight to the point. Lightning Strikes Twice A good track with some nice musical changes. Not a fan of everything Gers do on this track, but all in all I like this track. The Educated Fool This is an ok song for me, but not more. Very good intro. Blaze sings good in the more quiet sections. His voice sounds more weird/off when he starts singing "harder". I like the instrumental sections and soloes, but they could have been attached way better together. Ok lyrics, but prechorus is way too repetitive. When Two Worlds Collide Filler. Some good music here with a nice intro. Very simple, almost cheesy, lyrics. The lyrics are very repetive. The track is way longer than it should be. Don't Look to... Filler, almost a stinker. I actually like the intro, but from there it goes horribly wrong. Weak lyrics and the music is also a bit crap. Way too long and repetive. Parts are not attached well together in this song. The Angel and the Gambler Stinker. Way too long and way too repetitive. The drumming of Nicko is flat and boring. Not very much to work with from the guitars except from some guitarsoloes. The keyboard/synth does this track no good. The song has a very commercial sound, but on the wrong side of what stinks and not. The worst song by Maiden? Probably! 👍🤘
@@theedfactor-anironmaidenfa1667 Yes, I do like The X-Factor much more than both Virtual XI, Fear of the Dark and No Prayer for the Dying. But it has some major flaws. I agree with you in what you say about the production on X-Factor even thou I like the production on it better than the production on Virtual XI. Also there are too many tracks that sounds to similar to eachother (Fortunes of War, Look for the Truth and The Aftermath). It is like they have written the same song 3 times and put all of them on the same album. The album would have been better if they had dropped 1-2 of these songs or at least not put them right after eachother on the album. I would actually have prefered that songs like Justice of Peace or Judgement Day had taken the place of at least one of these mentioned songs. I think The Aftermath is the Strongest out of the 3 tracks I've mentioned on the album and that Look for the Truth is the weakest, so I disagree with you a bit on that matter. I have some major problems with liking The Unbeliever (even thou I know you love it) and 2 A.M. I think they are really bad, althou not as bad as The Angel and the Gambler and Don't Look in the Eyes of a Stranger from Virtual XI and The Apparition, Weekend Warrior, Chains of Misery and Fear is the Key from Fear of the Dark Here is how I would rank the songs on The X-Factor: Pure gold: 1. The Edge of Darkness 2. Sign of the Cross 3. Man on the Edge 4. Lord of the Flies Very good: 5. Judgement of Heaven 6. Blood on the World's Hands Ok, not more, not less: 7. The Aftermath Ok-, but could have dropped this or placed it somewhere else on the album: 8. Fortunes of War Very weak songs, should have chosen Justice of Peace and Judgement day instead: 9. Look for the Truth 10. 2 A.M. 11. The Unbeliever
Virtual XI is still one of their best albums and I loved Blaze Bayleys vocals
Great to see different Maiden fans having different favourites…and genuinely please to see these albums be rated so highly by some - that’s the beauty of music! What’s your favourite Virtual XI moment?
Great review and class wee interview with Blaze. Regarding Virtual XI what we have here is a great example of how someone's greatest strength can also being their great weakness. Steve Harris is a very very thran wee man (stubborn for all the non Norn Iron folk) he is as stubborn as a mule, this attitude is the only reason Iron Maiden still exists, down through the decades he withstood great pressure for the band to change (even right at the beginning of their career) they didn't go Punk, they didn't go Glam, they didn't do Thrash or Grunge, they didn't "Sell Out". For many of us Maiden fans, the attitude of the band and how they have gone about things is one of the main reasons we love them. However this great strength of Steve's is also why he stubbornly produced sub power production at the Barnyard, he will not be steered, tell him the Angel and the Gambler is 4 minutes too long, and he'll add an extra 2 minutes. On the flip side tell him you can't have songs over ten minutes long, and you certainly can't have them back to back on an album and Steve will give you, Death of the Celts, The Parchment and Hell on Earth. This is the wonderful and sometimes frustrating paradox of Steve Harris!
This is a great point - and definitely something we should have highlighted! You are so right that Steve’s stubborn streak & refusal to compromise has been a strength on so many occasions throughout Maiden’s journey, yet it was perhaps to the detriment of the Barnyard experiment. This is a point we will pick up on I’m sure in both The Chemical Wedding & Brave New World reviews & we’ll certainly be mentioning you! Great to hear from you 🤟
I 've met all the band in Paris, at the Fnac for an autograph sessions for X-Factor the day of the concert at the Zenith. Blaze and Jannick have spoken with me a few word. A great remind. The second was good as usual with Iron Maiden. Later, i keep on listening Blaze through his own albums. They are very good.
My prefered songs in Virtual XI were Futureal, The Angel and the Gambler, of course The Clansman, don't llok to the eyes of the stranger. When two worlds collide feared me cause at this time, everyone spoke about an asteroid would collide Earth lol
I saw the Virtual Eleven Tour also in the Zenith.
That’s really cool you got to meet Janick & Blaze! Unfortunately I didn’t get to see this tour (although I did see the Blaze line up in Belfast on The X Factour). What was the Virtual XI show like?
@actor-anironmaidenfa1667 it was in 1998 (I think) so It was a certain time ago ;) It was my 4th concert of Iron Maiden (and I went to the others after Virtual Eleven) What i remember is that the fans sang on the Clansman on the guitar and with Blaze on the Chorus Freedom. As usual, the stage was at the colors of the album. I remember Blaze yelled at us to sing with him. I know many fans don't like Blaze as a singer but I never be disturbed. As I said, I bought Blaze albums after his adventure with Iron Maiden. Blaze is part of Iron Maiden History as well Paul Di'anno and Bruce Dickinson. Each of them had brought his personnality. And whatever the fans said, many songs became cult in X-Factor and Virtual Eleven because of Blaze.
I have another song : I don't remember if it was part of X-Factor or Virtual Eleven : Virus. I liked and always like it.
I 'm not sure but there was Megadeth as second band to come. Don't remember the first one. Great show too.
This comes sixth in my album ranking behind powerslave,x factor, amolad, book of souls,, and final frontier
Thanks Paul - safe to say you are a fan of The Blaze era albums then! Great to hear this 🤟
I also really like TAATG!. Is it too long? Yes. Are there too many "Don't cha thinks...", Yes but I really like the melodies throughout the song. My favorite song on the album is When Two Worlds Collide. I feel it does need a third verse though, similar to how I feel Evil that Men Do and Die W Your Boots On also should have had third verses. After that, The Educated Fool is my second favorite. The Clansman is just ok to me. This album is fantastic and I wish more people would give it a chance. I prefer it over Fear of the Dark but it's not quite as good as No Prayer.
Interesting to hear your thoughts on this 😊 Seems overall you rate this album at a similar level to ourselves, but you prefer different tracks. Especially cool to hear you really like The Educated Fool - goes to show there are Maiden fans who totally get where Steve was in his writing with this track, wheres we were quite harsh on it…that’s the beauty of music though isn’t it!? Do you think this line up had more in them?
I do enjoy this era and Blaze but no, I'm glad they moved on with Bruce. I love every Maiden album and can't wait till you guys get into the reunion albums as I put albums such as DOD and AMOLAD up there with the 80's output.
We are looking forward to doing these too! And to hearing your thoughts on each album!
I actually think this album is better than it's rumour, but still I would place this album among the worst albums by Maiden together with No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the Dark.
The album has some major flaws:
1. The editing and construction of the songs is weak. Many ok parts, but they are stitched badly together. Many songs sound like they are not completely finished.
2. The lyrics are very cheesy on most of this album. It's very simple and reminds me a bit about songs like Deja Vu, but with worse music attached to it. The lyrics are also way too repetitive.
3. I don't like Nickos playing on this album. It is too simple and straight forward. Worst work by a drummer on any IM album.
4. Blaze Bayley was a scapegoat for this period and he sings better than what people say. But his singing is a bit off at some parts on this album. Because he only got one or a few chances to sing them for the most. Too rushed. Therefor it sounds sour sometimes, and he sounded better on X-factor.
5. It has "The Angel and the Gambler" on it, probably the worst song on an Iron Maide album, that is my opinion. The song is a real stinker! Too many repetitions, too weak/cheesy lyrics and way too long. Agree with you that it might sound better live, but at it's full length it has nothing to do on an Iron Maiden album.
Here is my list from best to worst:
1. The Clansman
Very good song. A bit slow and sounds better live with Bruce, but good in studioversion also. Great lyrics (best on the album).
Como Estais Amigo
Very good song I think and very underated. Blaze sounds a bit sour in some parts, but a very nice gem. Heartfelt.
Futureal
Very good track and a perfect opening track! The chorus and prechorus is very repetitive thou, should have had more verses, a musical change or just a bit more variations, but still short and straight to the point.
Lightning Strikes Twice
A good track with some nice musical changes. Not a fan of everything Gers do on this track, but all in all I like this track.
The Educated Fool
This is an ok song for me, but not more. Very good intro. Blaze sings good in the more quiet sections. His voice sounds more weird/off when he starts singing "harder". I like the instrumental sections and soloes, but they could have been attached way better together. Ok lyrics, but prechorus is way too repetitive.
When Two Worlds Collide
Filler. Some good music here with a nice intro. Very simple, almost cheesy, lyrics. The lyrics are very repetive. The track is way longer than it should be.
Don't Look to...
Filler, almost a stinker. I actually like the intro, but from there it goes horribly wrong. Weak lyrics and the music is also a bit crap. Way too long and repetive. Parts are not attached well together in this song.
The Angel and the Gambler
Stinker. Way too long and way too repetitive. The drumming of Nicko is flat and boring. Not very much to work with from the guitars except from some guitarsoloes. The keyboard/synth does this track no good. The song has a very commercial sound, but on the wrong side of what stinks and not. The worst song by Maiden? Probably!
👍🤘
Seems we have some similar thoughts on this album! Great to read your breakdown of VXI…can we ask, do you prefer The X Factor?
@@theedfactor-anironmaidenfa1667
Yes, I do like The X-Factor much more than both Virtual XI, Fear of the Dark and No Prayer for the Dying. But it has some major flaws.
I agree with you in what you say about the production on X-Factor even thou I like the production on it better than the production on Virtual XI. Also there are too many tracks that sounds to similar to eachother (Fortunes of War, Look for the Truth and The Aftermath).
It is like they have written the same song 3 times and put all of them on the same album. The album would have been better if they had dropped 1-2 of these songs or at least not put them right after eachother on the album. I would actually have prefered that songs like Justice of Peace or Judgement Day had taken the place of at least one of these mentioned songs. I think The Aftermath is the Strongest out of the 3 tracks I've mentioned on the album and that Look for the Truth is the weakest, so I disagree with you a bit on that matter.
I have some major problems with liking The Unbeliever (even thou I know you love it) and 2 A.M. I think they are really bad, althou not as bad as The Angel and the Gambler and Don't Look in the Eyes of a Stranger from Virtual XI and The Apparition, Weekend Warrior, Chains of Misery and Fear is the Key from Fear of the Dark
Here is how I would rank the songs on The X-Factor:
Pure gold:
1. The Edge of Darkness
2. Sign of the Cross
3. Man on the Edge
4. Lord of the Flies
Very good:
5. Judgement of Heaven
6. Blood on the World's Hands
Ok, not more, not less:
7. The Aftermath
Ok-, but could have dropped this or placed it somewhere else on the album:
8. Fortunes of War
Very weak songs, should have chosen Justice of Peace and Judgement day instead:
9. Look for the Truth
10. 2 A.M.
11. The Unbeliever