3 years since the anything new came out of the Maiden stable. If you don't count the "Best Of." that is. For the first time, in a long time, I hadn't heard the single beforehand, so I didn't have a clue to what to expect of this album. But anticipations were high after the mediocre "The X Factor". The promotion tour for the album was quite a nifty idea though. A football tour to 3-4 major cities in Europe. Great idea. But could some of that creativity be passed along to the tracks on the album?

Futureal: What? Stop! Stop I said! What hell are they thinking? Here I am sitting quiet on my own, with a cold beer and trying to listen to this album/song for the first time, and out of my speakers comes the sound of 666 angels playing their trumpets of Doom, to warn us about the apocalypse! They bloody ripped my speakers apart! What an intro. This is what I missed on "The X Factor" A quick, in your face riff, that rips your guts out and stomps away. Cool track. Vocals actually okay! By far my favorite track on the album. (No I don't think the music, read Blaze, sounds like a horn. It's a metaphor stupid!) J

The Angel And The Gambler: Uhh I can't wait to hear the next song. It has got be a blast away kinda song. But it most certainly isn't. This is, and I kid you not, the crappiest song Maiden has EVER written. In fact, I will take it so far to say, that it is perhaps the worst song ever written by ANY band. Nothing more to that subject, unless of course you disagree? How long can this song possibly be? Definitely gonna be on my remember-not-to-play-ever-again-list! On a final note there's just one more comment to concerning this song. Either you don't like it or you definitely under no circumstances don't like it!

Lightning Strikes Twice: Oh the headache is still present after the last track. Ahh this is better. An okay intro. All in all on an okay number. Not a classic, but it can be heard without your ears are bleeding! Kinda catchy chorus as well. Okay guitars in this one as well. Great drive in the verses and chorus.

The Clansman: In my opinion this song is not as good as many people make it . There's an alright sing along chorus, but that's all. It feels as if the riffs have been heard before. Of course they haven't, but I still get the sense that I've heard it all before. The bass in the intro could be cooler. He stops sometimes in a weird way. Doesn't sound good in my opinion.

When Two Worlds Collide: Starts a little quiet, but soon picks up in speed and intensity. But how about the vocals? Crap! As simple as that. The song could be a great song, but the vocal work by Bayley are by far his worst on this album. It doesn't help that the melody in the song could have been better. And the lyrics! There's some okay guitar parts, especially after the "oh-oh" bit. I like the guitars played there. But why aren't they played twin-lead? On a sidenote it should be mensioned, that just as you thought that Bayley couldn't sing any worse, he does exactly that, right after this cool guitar part. You have got to give the man some credit here. To outdo yourself time after time, is just plain impressing. The guitar riff in the middle, at 2.50 to be exact, sounds very similar to the riff just used in "The Clansman". It's just chords being played, but it sounds the same to me. A mediocre song.

The Educated Fool: I have always fancied this sing. I don't know why. It is not that good actually. It's a very standard song. But I like the drive in it. I like the guitar parts as well. Although some of the guitars, sounds a little to close to the riff from "Be Quick Or Be Dead". Bayley actually sings well on this track. But as many of the other tracks, all but "Futureal" in fact, this has something you can put your finger on. The repetitive singing. Continues singing of the same lines over and over again. It has to drive somebody nuts! Maiden has always done it. Especially in the choruses, but it has never been this bad. Put the repetitive singing in a bag with three 3 kittens and drown the lot in a small creek, and you have a great song! The lyrics are by far the best on the album. (No animals were harmed, while writing this review)

Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger: Some say this is a cool track. I say it's not. I'm simply not impressed with it. It has its moments, and is definetely one of the better songs on this album, but it lacks something. It's nice to hear Maiden play fast, as they do in this song. They don't do if often. But when they do it, it often sounds like a stampede. Only this time it's a stampede of ants! The guitar riffs are just not so "clever" and filled with melody as they used to. And I miss that. Not that all Maiden should sound like "the good old days". It is right for a band to evolve. But to evolve into the worse, breaks my heart. More melody in the guitar riffs please and I can sleep at night. As for the vocals, they are ok on this track, as are the rest of the bands performance.

Como Estais Amigo: Hmm. A quiet intro. Bayley God damn it! You can do a lot better. I know you can. I have heard your "Wolfsbane"-albums. So get on with it man! This number is not that good. An okay mood, but the verses, chorus and lyrics aren't good enough. The guitar parts are cool though. Some of the best on the album. Especially the solo part. Nice work Gers and Murray! Again a mediocre song.

Well. What should I say? I think I covered most of it. It seems strange, but somehow I like this album better than "The X Factor". Not much mind you. Rating 5.5 would be appropiate, so down it goes with the rest in
the growing pile of average Maiden albums. Stop the repetitive singing, and I could have given it 6. Perhaps. Furthermore it sounds as if the band have lost some of the spark, that used drive them foreward. Nicko's drumming is far from perfect, but yet again he's the best on the album.

Written by Ulrick
Monday, July 15, 2002
Show all reviews by Ulrick

Ratings

Ulrick: 5/10

Members: 6.5/10 - Average of 3 ratings.



Member ratings

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JypsyRock Rating: 10/10 If you have not given this album a chance yet, either because it is not Bruce on vocals or... · Read more ·

notrap Rating: 5/10 Mission impossible: Replacing Bruce part II... · Read more ·

Little Drummer Boy Rating: 4.5/10 For starters, I can not believe I read through Jypsyrock's comment. Little bit of sarcasm ... · Read more ·

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Comment by Jochen (Anonymous) - Thursday, January 16, 2003

first of all: This is a GREAT album. OK, it has its failures. But it isn`t as bad as people make it. FUTUREAL is one of the greatest high-speed-granates MAIDEN have ever done. Impressing guitars and aggressive vocals! Ok, the single THE ANGEL... is much too long and not that kind of song you expect of the band. Too nervous chorus and nearly no power in the guitar licks. But the following LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE is also a great one! Very impressing solo and a climbing tension and aggression in its vocals and mood. THE CLANSMAN is one of my live-favorites, but I don`t think that this song is such a masterpiece. It has a great solo and great bass drives. But the chorus isn`t very impressing. TWO WORLDS COLLIDE suffers under a weak chorus, but it still has great guitar parts and strong vocals at the beginning of the song. THE EDUCATED FOOL has a really strange mood and this is one of the songs I simply can`t judge. Not bad, not good. Something in between... EYES OF A STRANGER has a weak chorus but one of the fastest and most energetic riffs in the middle part. It would be a good song if it wouldn`t be too long. The last COMO ESTAIS AMIGOS is one of my ALLTIME FAVORITES of the band. Great vocals, a more than impressing twin-guitar-solo in the middle and also this emotional feeling throughout the song. GREAT! Rating 8/10

Comment by Al (Anonymous) - Saturday, May 10, 2003

Futureal and Educated fool are the gems here. By now means the poor effort the everbody makes it out to be. Blaze is a quality vocalist.

Comment by 7thSon (Anonymous) - Thursday, July 10, 2003

This is a good album. Better than No prayer, but not better than Fear of. X factor is much better. Anyway, all songs except "Angel & the gambler" are very good. About Clansman: a very good song, but I think Harris should have played it with acoustic bass on the record, as he does it live. That's why I prefer the "Rock in Rio" version. About the production: I think that when they recorded the album, the guitar-, bass- and drumsound was fantastic, but the mixing is shit, so the actual sound of the album is mediocrite. Blaze sings very well, I think Dickinson is right: everyone who says "Blaze sucks" is a mutherfucker. if ya don't beleive me, visit the official site, where you can read at the "Questions & answers" part, that Bruce says stop bashing Blaze. Anyway, you should try Blaze's live album, where you can hear a lot of Maiden tracks with perfect production.

Comment by shack (Anonymous) - Tuesday, July 29, 2003

This is very close to the worst record I have ever heard. Blaze Bayley is terrible and has no place in a band like Iron Maiden. As for the rest of the boys, I have never heard them sound so lifeless. Iron Maiden is supposed to kick you in the ass, this album pokes you in the eye. Blaze Bayley? Iron Maiden could have gotten any one they wanted , which leaves me asking "why this guy?". This album is going, because I want my money back.

Comment by Pete (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 7, 2003

Sorry.. not very good! 3!

Comment by kris s (Anonymous) - Friday, September 26, 2003

much better than x i give 8/10

Comment by Digital_Hate (Anonymous) - Friday, October 3, 2003

Not bad at all, and Blaze doesn't sound awfull at all. Compared to Bruce, he's about nothing, but he does his job. 7/10

Comment by neil wilson (Anonymous) - Friday, October 17, 2003

yep blaze doesnt exactly sound good. maybe 6 out of 10? its not better than x factor thats for sure.. i put this at the bottom of the pile of maiden albums

Comment by Hay (Anonymous) - Saturday, January 3, 2004

Ok, so I'm being biast about this, but NO, you can't have a good Iron Maiden album without Bruce! It's just not right! Admittedly Blaze is ok at singing, but you can't replace Bruce!!!! He's got an amazing voice and i dont think anyone else could be as charismatic as him on stage. Good job good old Brucie's back in the band now.

Comment by Mr Torture (Anonymous) - Friday, January 23, 2004

I've read many interesting opinions here... At first, I must say that I really like Blaze, and I think The X factor is a masterpiece, their best along with Seventh Son musically and lyrically. BUT: not in terms of production, cos altough the drums and the bass sounds phenomenal, the guitars sound like CRAP and too quiet. Because of this, and the fact that it's quite progressive and very dark and depressive (and cos Blaze was then the new singer), I can understand that a lot of people don't like this album at first, and if you don't listen to it a hundred times, it will not grow on you. However, if it grows on you, it will become your favourite (as this hapened with a lot of people here, too). And now, on Virtual XI: I think it's the worst IM album along with No Prayer and Fear Of the Dark, but this still means that it's at least 10/7. The main problem is here the production, and some of Steve's horrible long-song-mania. About the songs: Futureal: one of Maiden's absolute best! Fast, in your face, with great lyrics (by Blaze!) and solo. This is such a great song that even the horrible production can't kill it! Get As Live As It Gets, that version rocks! 10/10 The Angel and the Gambler: this song is a victiom of 'Arry's long-song-mania. It's just too long with too much repetition! Someone should have warned Steve. Anyway, the shortened version (for the video) is quite good with it's four minutes. I've played this song on my guitar to see if it's really that bad, and actually it sounds quite heavy and powerful that way. (I also heard that it sounded quite good live.) The solos are great as well. If it had benn put to the album in the shortened version with a kick-ass production, it could have been a heavy, in your face track, maybe 10/8 or 10/9, instead of the long crap that made onto the album, wich is maximum 10/5. Lightning Strikes Twice: really great track, I just love Davey's songwriting! It's slow and melodic at first, then it comes fast and heavy, with kick-ass solos. Shame there's such a crap sound on the guitars. 10/10 The Clansman: at first I didn't like this song, but when I heard the Rock in Rio version, it became one of my favourites. It's the only Blaze-era song wich I think is way better with Bruce. Live it just comes to life; a truly great epic with fantastic vocals by Bruce, great guitars and not to forget 'Arry's acoustic bass in the slow sections (he should have played with that on the record, too). So I rate it on the album 10/9, but live with Bruce 10/10. When Two Worlds Collide: at first I thought it's an okay song, 10/8, but since I have As Live As It Gets, I must say it's at least 10/9. Melodic, complex, and heavy. It only needs a good production. The Educated Fool: I don't think this is such a good song as some say here. Sure, it's got great lyrics, has a great chorus and it's quite complex musically, but it just doesn't grew on me. Still, I think it's a good song, just not the best. 10/8 Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger: at first I really liked this song, and I still find it very good, altough the much repetition in the middle part. I also really like the tempo changes, and it has great guitars as well. Anyway, with a decent production (and maybe if it didn't had the slow section) this could be a truly great number, here it's only a good song. 10/8 Como Estais Amigos: this is one of my favouties on this album! It's very beautiful! Janick's solo is great, and the rythm behind the solo is absolutely brutal. One of Maiden's best ballad-type songs. 10/10 So, that's my opinion about the tracks. Blaze sings very well with a few exceptions, and the others do their job great, especially Davey's and Jan's solos are mindblowing. This album just screams for a good production! As much respect I have for Steve as a song-writer / bass player, I must say that he's the worst producer in the world. With a good producer, who makes a kick-ass sound and tells Steve that long songs aren't always good songs, this could have been a great album (10/9), but as it is, it's one of Maiden's worst (10/7).

Comment by The Kaptain (Anonymous) - Monday, March 8, 2004

Blaze is a legend and the Blaze years with Maiden were awsome, give the guy a break and respect his musicanship

Comment by i.Ron S. (Anonymous) - Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Don't know where that 5/10 comes from. A fine Iron Maiden album, maybe not enough songs after 3 years waiting but the songs on the album sounds great, except The Angel and the Gambler, wich is too long but it sounds good live, the intro makes me even think at Judas Priests Freewheel Burning. My favorite on this album is Lightning Strikes Twice. I don't think the singing was bad, Bayley has his own style of voice and it's good that he didn't tried to fake Dickinsons voice like Ripper Owens sometimes did with Halfords voice(but he's a great singer too). 7,5/10.

Comment by I Maiden (Anonymous) - Saturday, May 22, 2004

First off-There is no such thing as a crappy maiden album, or a crappy maiden frontman, they all rule for their own reasons and talents. secondly at the time metal was really hurting and there was not much else to turn to so you all better thank your lucky stars that Maiden was there not being some trendy sellout (Metallica) and finally I would much rather listen to this album and band than everything else I heard at the time (grunge, Rap, cuntry, boy bands etc). Maiden was my release in a world of fucking n*sink, Backside boys, M'n M and that 49 cent guy. so there shame on you nit pickin' maiden.Man It's all good

Comment by Leslie (Anonymous) - Saturday, May 29, 2004

STOP!!! stop being so biased! Dickison left for a bit, deal with it! Bayley is bloody good, okay??? Like I've said before, it's not like any of you who like to throw eggs at him can even sing half as well as he can... make that a quarter. He's good. That's all there is to it. Don't pretend that NPFTD was usual maiden standard! cos it wasn't (though it missed only by a bit). And the truth is Virtual XI is a very good album too. Face it, you people are so biased that you'd find fault if God himself was their frontman in the no-dickinson years!!! I'd give it a 9 or an 8.5. Ulrick, you're misleading people with your review, you know that? Man, I read it and believed it at first before I heard the album. Found it at a store, boy am I glad I thought what the hell, I'll buy it anyway! It's true - I Maiden whoever s/he is never said a truer thing... there's no such thing as a crappy maiden album, or front man! he was auditioned, for crying out loud, not picked out by drawing lots!!! So unless you pretend to be better judges than Maiden themselves when they picked the best guy for the job... BLAZE BAYLEY RULES!

Comment by I Maiden (Anonymous) - Thursday, June 3, 2004

Hey Leslie, i cant agree with you more, in fact when I went to both Bayley tours (The X factour and virtual XI tour)Bayley kicked some ass, and when I saw Dickinson at the ED Hunter, and BRave new world tours I found that live Bayley was more fun and professional, and dickinson was definately not the same guy who put out the live after death masterpiece back then. oh yeah I am a HE, if lou like Bayley in Maiden check out BLAZE his talent shines through here man.

Comment by Leslie (Anonymous) - Thursday, June 3, 2004

Oh yeah! Bayley totally rocks in BLAZE, got my hands on "As Live As It Gets", and went nuts. He does have a certain something. So all you deafheads out there, give that album a listen before you start Bayley-bashing!!! Blaze Bayley rulz! Incidentally, apologies to I Maiden, just wanted to play it safe, because I'm sick of being referred to as a "he" myself in postings!!!

Comment by I maiden (Anonymous) - Friday, June 11, 2004

Yeah, Leslie you got great taste, gotta love Blaze B, miss him, he kills with "Virus" he is also great live if not better, "Kill and Destroy", is just so excellent, it should have been in Maiden, also "Born as a Stranger" and "The 10th dimension"are 2 excellent Blaze songs that come to mind, I heard Dickinson solo, and it was hard to listen to, he is good, but Blaze and Dianno don't really need Maiden, they are pretty good on thier own.

Comment by Leslie (Anonymous) - Thursday, June 17, 2004

Thank you, kind sir. :) I don't care how many times I say it myself: Blaze Bayley rules! Anyway, it's true, people tend to trash Blaze Bayley and Paul Di'Anno, in their excessive "loyalty" to Bruce Dickinson (who is also gr8). It's something of a habit, but I think you should have a little respect because these guys are brilliant and gave it their 100%. Oh yeah, everyone keeps saying "The Angel and the Gambler" is too long, and there's too much repitition. Sure, I thought so too at first, but if you really sit down and listen to it, it's not all as bad as people like to make out. Maybe it's not what you'd expect from Maiden, but after listening to "Journeyman" I have the feeling that with them, anything's possible. They're not afraid to experiment, I guess, and you've got to hand them that. UP THE IRONS!

Comment by I Maiden (Anonymous) - Friday, June 25, 2004

The way I see it, If angel and the gambler is too long, just do like I did, and tape the video version and listen to that one, That is much better, and if you are feeling brave you can try to tape it and edit it alltogher and make it shorter and sweeter, after all I had to do it with Dream of mirrors and Brave new world, those are 2 songs that are are really repetitive.

Comment by TSIPPO TSAR AGAIN (Anonymous) - Saturday, June 26, 2004

BLAZE SUCKS PAUL DI'ANNO RULES. THANK YOU, MY FRIENDS. PIGPEN (1945-1973) REST IN PEACE.

Comment by Leslie (Anonymous) - Monday, July 5, 2004

Oh, TSIPPO TSAR whoever you are, that's really comprehensive and insightful... NOT!!! i like - no i LOVE - Di'Anno too, but that doesn't mean whoever else who follows is shit! Dickinson or Bayley... You're seriously gonna put people off who might buy this album and enjoy it... Spread the Xtian love... I'll tell Satan... 666BLEEDFORTHEBEAST666

Comment by I Maiden (Anonymous) - Friday, July 30, 2004

Leave Blaze alone you vicious bastards!!!

Comment by R Harris (Anonymous) - Saturday, July 31, 2004

Paul Dianno= cool Bruce Dickinson= cool Blaze Bayley= cool Probably the main Reason why I hold Maiden above all other bans is the simple fact that with 3 different vocalists it makes the band sound fresh, even though the music remains the same, the different singers add a different element to it, with all of thier different ranges and styles of the time they are more than adequate, because after all I probably could not enjoy bruce singing Killers, Because Paul was the perfect puzzle piece for that ominus album,it is his, after all I heard Bruce sing another life, wrathchild, killers, murders in the r.m. and Twillight zone and my nod goes to paul on that one. nextly I could not picture Dianno singing Piece of mind, I would have given up ly right arm to hear Dianno sing the Number of the beast, but not Run to the hills thats all Bruce as is Piece of Mind , I mean no one can top Bruce on Flight of I, Revelations and the Trooper, Those are definately his. Now with Blaze, his ranve is cool too, he can sing his material and some of Dianno's (wrathchild, Iron maiden) and some of Bruces (Afraid To S S. Hallowed and he would have probably killed on Rime of the A M because of his powerful range)but not with wasted years or any of the newer stuff. and bruce can do his clansman but futureal sign of the cross and man on the edge is all Blaze, bruce is just not the same, apples and oranges. but when you listen to thier respective albums it is like a whole different band because the singers are so diverse, but when you hear the solos and the galloping bass and all of the talent you know it is maiden, but what a feel, what a great escape, it is like 3 different bands rolled into one, not the same old band (ie RUSH), but a fresh new album and sound, not like zeppelin and sabbath that suffered the same problems before dio stepped in or Bonzo died which was kind of a sweet release for them. Until Maiden runs out of ideas or someone dies, they will live on forever and no other bands can compare to them, not even Metallicas or acdcs can compare to Maiden. The only way Metallica stays fresh is to cut thier hair play grunge and go with the flow, Fucking hipocrates that's not metal, and when Dickinson played his wasting love I was yelling to kick his ass out of the band , because at the time I blamed dickinson for conforming to Glam, or ultimately pulling a "metallica". Then I saw Blaze singing about war I was in heaven, because no one else was staying the path. (except Megadeth and Overkill) and other bands died or moved on and this was the only good metal available for this period of time, Fucking Manson and Korn suck, thats not music, Alice Cooper is trying to relive the past, and Megadeth got in major shit from "Risk" dont pull a metallica, Mustaine should keep with the good metal. MAiden now has Dickinson under control and no more wasting love shit, but back on track is what we all wanted, Blaze man thanks for your time with us you will be remembered as well as Di'anno in Iron Maiden's Hall of fame with Burr and mabey Stratton. sorry about the long column but.......Iron Maiden Rules all and if you dont like it you can go to hell!

Comment by sexy sarah (Anonymous) - Saturday, September 4, 2004

oh! R Harris i appreciate your honesty and im sure it was hard for you to speak out your mind, but you sound very hot, such firey passion, I hope you look half as good as you sound! $^$#% you make me hot! please reply??

Comment by R Harris (Anonymous) - Wednesday, September 29, 2004

back off ho

Comment by hungry hungry hippo (Anonymous) - Saturday, October 23, 2004

blaze bailey' s rum sucks ass, i agreee with the great tsippo tsar as i too am a friend with the great pigpen (rip)

Comment by ASS-WIPE (Anonymous) - Thursday, February 17, 2005

DO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR TIME WILL COME?

Comment by Ed the great (Anonymous) - Thursday, February 24, 2005

Hmmm... interesting difference. Personaly THE CLANSMAN is one of my all time favorites and i thought all the guitar (i can play it all!) was close to perfection.

Comment by Ashley (Anonymous) - Sunday, May 8, 2005

I'm a big fan of Blaze Bayley, 'The X Factor' was as good as any Maiden release, but unfortunately here the band seem to lose their way for the first time in their illustrious history. To be fair tracks like 'The Clansman' and 'Lightning Stikes Twice' are good enough listens. But as for the rest, well it's all shit for Maidens standards anyway. It's probably Maidens most debatable album, some like it some don't but personally and Ulrick im sure you'll agree, it doesn't do justice to the exceptional talent of Iron Maiden and Blaze Bayley for that matter.

Comment by Ulrick (Anonymous) - Monday, May 9, 2005

@Ashley I totally agree with you. The songs are subsatandard Maiden songs, and they sure don't fir Bayleys' voice. X-factor is more atmospheric and BB's voice creates a great vibe on that album. When I wrote the review I liked VXI better, That's not the case today. There's still some strong tracks on it, but we know they can do better.

Comment by IRON (Anonymous) - Tuesday, June 7, 2005

JESTESCIE PIERDOLONYMI SKURWYSYNAMI...KURWA CO ZA GÓWNIANA STRONA...JA PIERDOLE...WEZCIE COS Z TYM ZRÓBCIE...

Comment by IRON (Anonymous) - Tuesday, June 7, 2005

DROPS

Comment by Master Of Puppets (Anonymous) - Saturday, June 18, 2005

One word wraps up this album: LAME! The constant repitition of choruses, the lack in effective guitar playing, the dull drumming, and the mostly hidden bass sound sink this album. Blaze sounds great but...

Comment by Jumblee (Anonymous) - Thursday, July 28, 2005

Virtual Xi Pros-Futureal, Lightning Strikes Twice, When Two Worlds Collide, The Educated Fool, Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger, Como Estais Amigos Cons-The Angel And The Gambler, The Clansman 8/10

Comment by rich king (Anonymous) - Friday, September 2, 2005

first of all any one who hates this album FUCK OFF, this is a great album no matter wot any one says. pros- all of them except angel and the gambler and como something He aint a bad singer if ppl compare anyone singing with bruces then every singer is shit 8 out of 10 5 out of 10 wot the fuck r u on

Comment by Dimitris (Anonymous) - Monday, September 5, 2005

worst maiden album.I give it a 5.

Comment by HAGEN OF VALHALLA (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 14, 2006

THE VIRTUAL XI A CONTROVERSIAL RECORD, AS A MAIDEN FAN I HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT THIS ALBUM ITS NOT THAT GOOD IN THE MAIDEN CATALOG BUT IT ACTUALLY HAS SOME GREATS SONGS BY FAR BETTER THAN ANY OF THE NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING ALBUM. THE PROBLEM THAT I FIND IN VIRTUAL IS THAT ITS SOUND IS A LITTLE BIT WEAK, BUT THAT IS A PRODUCTION ERROR FOR SOME SONGS LIKE LIGHTNING STRIKE TWICE THE GUITARS SHOULD SOUND STRONGER THAT THEY ACTUALLY SOUND AND THIS WOULD BE THEN A HIT BECAUSE ITS COOL TO HEAR IT A VER CATCHY SONG ALONG WITH FUTUREAL, THE CLANSMAN ITS THE BEST OF THIS ALBUM AND BAYLE BEST VOCALS ON THE ALBUM AGAIN ALONG WITH FUTUREAL. AS A MUSICIAN I SHOULD SAY THAT THIS ALBUM IS QUITE OF FUNNY TO PLAY IT AND SOME SONGS SOUND GREAT LIVE, FOR EXAMPLE CLANSMAN, VERY COOL SONG TO BE PLAYED, THE FAST RIFF OF DON'T LOOK TO THE EYES OF A STRAGER ITS COOL TO PLAYED TOO. IN VIRTUAL XI IRON MAIDEN PLAYS THE SONG DIFFERENT THAN THEY USED TO DO AND THAT IS THE MAIN FAILURE OF THIS RECORD FOR MOST OF THE FAN, THAT IS WHY THIS RECORD SOUNDS SO ESTRANGE FOR TOO MANY. BUT I PERSONALLY FIND THIS REFRESHING FOR THE BAND, I LIKE THIS RECORD A LOT AND IF YOU TAKE SOME LISTENINGS I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU'LL FIND THAT THIS RECORD IS NOT THAT BAD AS YOU THINK, COME ON YOU CALL YOURSELF I MAIDEN FAN? THEN TRY TO LISTEN VIRTUAL XI AND SHOW ME THAT YOU TRULY ARE A MAIDEN FAN AND SO I CAN WELCOME YOU TO THE REAL CLUB OF IRON MAIDEN INCONDITIONALS FANS. 8/10 UPS THE IRONS.

Comment by Joe god of heavy metal (Anonymous) - Sunday, October 8, 2006

blaze bayley can do better but if bruce was still in the band ...the album might have been better

Comment by jordan (Anonymous) - Thursday, October 19, 2006

umm im pretty sure blaze is the man and this album is too

Comment by rh (Anonymous) - Tuesday, October 24, 2006

much better than fear of the dork

Comment by George (Anonymous) - Saturday, April 28, 2007

I never bought the album because I discovered Iron Maiden when I was 12. (About 2 years ago) and whilst researching them I came across the 2 Blaze Bayley albums and attempted to avoid them. I've recently bought/heard a few pieces on ITunes or youtube. Clansman is a great track. Good vocals, good guitar riffs/solos. The Educated Fool is a good track. One of the best tracks with Blaze. Good vocals. The chorus or whatever it is "Time will flow. But I will follow" is repeated to often which spoils it a bit. Ulrick is making a good point about if they stopped the repetitive singing it would be a good album. Finally we get to my favorite track from the album and 1 of my favorite Iron Maiden pieces. The fast and furious Futureal. This track has unbelievable vocals, guitar riffs and is a really well made piece. I think I once heard that The Angel And The Gambler was the longest Iron Maiden piece ever. I think if they weren't so long that would improve it a bit

Comment by George (Anonymous) - Saturday, April 28, 2007

Oh yeah. I forgot to say in my comment. The album overall is in between OK and good everyone I know has got the album is saying. I think Blaze is a good vocalist but he doesn't have IT. I can't explain IT but all I can say is this. Bruce had IT but Blaze didn't. You can't really compare the 2 either as Bruce had a very high almost opera style voice while Blaze has a deep voice

Review by notrap (Member) - Friday, August 7, 2009

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 Mission impossible: Replacing Bruce part II Rating: 5/10 Posted by notrap Friday, August 7, 2009

Review by JypsyRock (Member) - Thursday, July 28, 2011

View Profile Comments: Ratings: 1 If you have not given this album a chance yet, either because it is not Bruce on vocals or you don't like the album cover or whatever...you are missing out on the VERY BEST Iron Maiden ever! No joking here, folks. Yes, it is better than Piece Of Mind and The Number Of The Beast and that is an incredibly high standard. This album absolutely rocks and you must give it a chance. Every song is brilliant and i listen to the whole thing over and over and over and never get sick of it or skip over any songs. I truly believe that Steve and the boys reached the pinnacle of their careers right here with this album. Awesome choice with Blaze, Steve (no offense, Bruce...i love ya man). The Angel And The Gambler is the best song ever by Iron Maiden and don't even listen to the guy who dropped the earlier post. Wow man, you have no taste. I'm talking this song is an absolute masterpiece! The Clansman is fantastic also and truthfully the whole album rocks all the way through. History will have the final word on this album and it is a travesty that it was not marketed better or whatever the hell reason it only sold 84,000 copies in the USA and a million worldwide. Ironically, this bands' finest work through and through somehow became their worse selling album. I tell everybody i know to listen to this album and they won't for some damn reason. Well, it is their own loss and i am not going to beg them. By the way, the synthesizers were an awesome idea...they fitted in perfectly and complimented the songs. My final words are...thank you Iron Maiden for taking the time to put together an exceptional compilation. Blaze Bayley, you have a kick ass voice and did a tremendous job. A perfect 10 album. Not 9.0 or 9.5...this album is a perfect 10. Rating: 10/10 Posted by JypsyRock Thursday, July 28, 2011

Review by Little Drummer Boy (Member) - Tuesday, August 16, 2011

View Profile Comments: 166 Ratings: 46 For starters, I can not believe I read through Jypsyrock's comment. Little bit of sarcasm there. Jypsy, you screwed up the average rating. In all honesty The Clansmen and Lightning Strikes Twice are the highlights. The rest can not be even described as filler for the caliber of talent Maiden has. What a large disappointment after X-Factor (an album worth talking about). The Angel and The Gambler is by far the worst Maiden song ever recorded. Virtual XI has gone down in history as the worst Maiden released. If this were some unknown band they would get an average rating but because this is Maiden, I expect more. Below average release. Flat and Uninspired for the most part. It is slotted in my collection of Maiden albums, but it shall forever collect dust. Rating: 4.5/10 Posted by Little Drummer Boy Tuesday, August 16, 2011