Don't you hate it when bass player repeat themselves?... Repeat themselves?... But yea, I don't understand what was with the repetitive lines on actually both the Blaze albums. Not all the songs, but some songs suffered from it a lot, also ones that are otherwise pretty good. - They could've at least come up with a second line or maybe change the harmony or key, or keep one line quiet in between others, or just not repeat it 8 times to begin with. Shouldn't be that difficult for him to do at that point...
@@mummifiedcr You completely missed the entire dartboard with that video remark. When your Biden took office, he raised the Federal Minimum wage $4.05 to $15.00 an hour through his executive order. This means theater workers 'DID' receive a raise. Not too long after, several deep blue states followed suit with their minimum wage requirements. We have been close to two years, for a few states, living under $15.00 minimum wage. California looked to punish Fast Food specifically by raising minimum wage, for fast food, to $20.00 an hour. Depending on what state someone was living in, their fast food experience may differ. Minimum wage in North Carolina, for example, is $7.25. You'll fakkkin' pay $15 for a bucket of theater movie popcorn to watch (the WOKE) soon-to-be-released, Snow White? Imma-gonna-slappa-yo-ignorant-arse!! Mama Mia!
Exept for The angel and the gambler, this is a very good album. Its very Iron Maiden. The only thing i miss, is that they need to play more of the Blaze era live. They have two albums full of good songs to choose from.
the only weak song on Virtual XI is "Uneducated Fool", all the rest is good. Usually I dislike every long song of Iron Maiden, but "The angel and the gambler" is so good that it's better than "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" and all the other tapeworms.
I thought Angel.... was the best thing on the album. Interesting watching this 20 years later bearing in mind what happened shortly after. Blaze seems like such a nice bloke, the only thing he did wrong was not being Bruce.
If Maiden tuned down for Blaze's voice, it would have worked. I opened for Blaze last August in Poughkeepsie, NY and I have to admit that Blaze impressed me more than I expected. Really nice guy too!
Maybe technically, but I believe in a "correct" tuning. - I feel that if you tune a song down even half a step it loses its essence. - Like MetallicA did this with their older stuff live, and I feel they're not even the same songs. - Maybe it could've been OK for a while, as long as Blaze had been there, also for HIS sake (cause the poor guy needed to push so hard and couldn't do it) and anyone listening. But I feel the lower you go the more excitement it loses (which is why so much modern Metal sounds so boring), and Iron Maiden is one of those bands that goes HIGH. They don't even really bang the low E string all the time, it's more "up" sounding and reaching up there is what brings excitement to their songs.
@@michaelangeloh.5383 * *Michael Angelo H,* * Sammy Hagar joined Van Halen back in the mid-80's. I remember Eddie in an interview saying, "Finally, a lead singer where we don't need to tune-down a half step." I wasn't aware that all the albums with David Lee Roth were actually tuned-down a half step. Crazy, right?
I think VIRTUAL XI is a powerful and enjoyable album, so out of the pattern in Maiden's catalogue along with his soulmate THE X Factor. The mixture between raw energy and melancholy is showcased much better in this opus, dragged down only by it's repetitiveness. Long live Blaze Bayley and a big Hail for this atypical era in Iron Maiden !!!
@Rita Lovett nah it's not underrated . While it has a few nice songs it's by far the weakest iron maiden album they had recorded since then, but afterwards the maiden had some albums that are even weaker such as AMOLAD .
Blaze is a one off great bloke he's never had any ego before maiden in Wolfsbane During Maiden & after still nowadays hes still totally down to earth every time you meet him.
It is great album, like all Maiden's stuff truly is. I like listening to it while driving. It's a boooooost and always make me feel better when I feel blue.
I agree. I love virtual ix. It's refreshing. A lot of fans don't enjoy this album simply because Bruce is not on it or simply because it's a tad different. It took me many years to really appreciate this album. At first, I was very critical of it, but slowly over the years it grew on me.
I totally agree, this album is definitely a grower. At first I wasn't particularly enamored with it but I didn't hate it. After a few listens I really heard some great stuff out of all of the songs. Now I know it word for word, note for note, back to front. Love it to bits!
0:16 Blaze is spot on. - People can whine and complain about the "Blaze era" all they want, but this album, even after revisiting as a much more developed person and musician myself, is really good. - Not perfect, but neither are any of the other Maiden albums. - "X Factor" is rather drab and dull in comparison, but "Virtual" is just really solid throughout. - It has a reall raw and chunky sound, it's exciting, it has aggresion and emotion, beauty, smaller and calmer sounding parts, big and epic parts, what more do you want? - Yes, it has some cheesy, and suffers from the repeated lines here and there (some songs more than others), but those are minor issues compared to what good there is about it. And maybe a criticism could be that it's very "mid"-heavy in its sound, plus that it's unfortunately too loud for dynamic range (it even distorts in places), unlike the X Factor which has fantastic dynamics (which is weird, just like the "Real Live One" and "Real Dead One" live releases that are similarly different in loudness). Though, the solution to the loudness would be to go with Vinyl release, as on that one it has its dynamics intact. - I know I still want a copy, because I've always had the CD. If I could give one more creative complaint about it is that I don't like how Steve (probably) forced the football theme into some places. What point does it have on the album cover that's otherwise pretty frickin' cool?... And what point does it have in the booklet to have like a Maiden football team with the band-members and some football-stars?... I know one can be fanatical about something, and sure there are fans that also love football, but tacking it on to an unrelated product doesn't really make sense. Where was all the soccer stuff on any of the other albums?... Why this one?... Just because it's the 11th and there are teams of 11?... So weird. Childlike logic even. But anyway...
@@Elixium Bruce is in a class all his own. Blaze is okay, Paul is good, but Bruce is great. Blaze just isn't as bad as some thought. His voice was just not progressive enough for Maiden material.
@@maldororlotreamon105 You must be high on crack. If you personally like it better that’s one thing, but objectively it’s a much better album and liked by more people than Virtual XI. Don’t get me wrong I can definitely listen to Virtual XI and enjoy it, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the rest of their albums.
@@booshting3520 yeah but he wasn't defeated. in later interviews he said he just missed the vibe that Adrian brought to the table. basically the entirety of 90's maiden felt to be missing something , That somethign was Adrian smith. Not Bruce . though bruces return was also a re-invigoration of the band it wasn't agiven thing , talks with H had started before Blaze was fired. I still to this day wonder what a blaze-maiden album would have sounded like with H there along side murray and Janick.
@@DenverStarkey I agree, Smith is on another level compared to Gers. I've never like the chaotic style of the latter, especially because it clashes with the similar Murray's style.
i remember when they came to Portugal still have the newspaper, they played soccer against our best team S.L.BENFICA ,result Benfica 11x Iron maiden 1, was nice.
Esperei muito por esse álbum, na época do lancamento eu tinha 17 anos e comprei o ingresso para o show em Curitiba que seria em dezembro de 1998, sendo que faria 18 em novembro. Curti muito o show apesar das cristicas quanto o vocal do Blaze. Gosto muito do Virtual XI, o definiria como "medieval futurista" fugindo um pouco do clima mais sombriu do X Factor que é uma obra prima. Na noite tocaram o Helloween e o Raimundos. Grande noite, show incrível, inesquecível!!! Up the Irons 🤘🏾
Blaze is such a great bloke no ego or anything & so easy to talk to when you meet him etc i was a big Wolfesbane fan in the 80's & have to say however much i like Maiden Wolfesbane were / are 100% better..
So many people consider Virtual XI to be the band's weakest album, and while it certainly isn't the greatest, I actually enjoy it quite a lot, and would consider it the best album from the 90s. Futureal is good, The Angel and the Gambler is different and I enjoy it for the most part, but the repetitive chorus is pretty weak, Lightning Strikes Twice is good, Clansman is good, When Two Worlds Collide is really good, The Educated Fool is really good, Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger is pretty bland for the most part, except for the middle section, where the music is wonderful but where the chorus is repeated like in TAatG, Como Estais Amigos is really good.
So, basically for one or two songs the album is average.... LOL The X Factor is by far the best album from Blaze era, but from the 90s Fear of the Dark is the best.
I prefer this album to The X Factor. Better production, shorter running time, the songs have more energy, Blaze's vocals suit these songs better and The Clansman is a legit Maiden classic.
When Virtual XI works, it works well. Futureal, Clansman... but when it doesn't work, it suffers. The poor parts of the album kill it because they are so sub-par for Maiden. X Factor was a much better album.
I think exactly the other way round. - "X Factor" only has about 4 solid tracks for me. Out of how many, 10-11?... But for "Virtual" all tracks are at LEAST good. But all of them get 5 out of 5 stars excep for "Angel" and "Don't Look". - "Two Worlds" and "Como Estais" are up there with "Clansman", and I really like "Lightning" and "Fool" as well. - "Angel" is just a little cheesy at times, dragging itself down, and "Don't Look" is just kind of awkward, and the other track that suffers from the repetition like "Angel" does.
@@michaelangeloh.5383 The X factor is full of good songs, from the sign of the cross to lord of the flies, from man on the edge to blood on the worlds hands. Judgement of Heaven and Look for the Truth... except for one or two all of them are great songs. Virtual XI is weak in the sense that except for Clansman almost everything is average
@@mikatu Well I happen to think exactly the other way around. Most of the songs on X Factor to me are kinda forced. Even the good ones can still use some tweaking. Not that those on Virtual XI are all perfect, but that's like a 4/5 album, while to me X Factor is like a 2-3/5 album. It's just loaded with draggy mediocrety, and a bunch of riffs here and there that have potential. - Steve's not good when he's depressed, clearly. That said, I probably still like 'Fear of the Dark' even less. Eh... Maybe similarly as much. And by the way; How can you not think 'Futureal' is just kick-ass, as well as "Lightning" and "Two Worlds" are epic, and "Como Estais" is beautiful? At the very least... "Angel" isn't much different a Rock 'n' Roll song from something like 'Man On The Edge', except it just suffers from that reptition everyone complins about (and I agree with).
Blaze (and these heavy hitting boys) held it together thru the dreaded 'Grunge-era'. Judas Priest did the same, along with Ozzy & Alice Cooper. It was a fucked-up time for hardrock/heavy metal. They continued to hold the torch!
NO just no , the best over all metal album of the 90's i'd have to say would probably be Mega Deth's Countdown to Extinction . That was a completely powerful album with not a single bad song on it. not even a uuugh "slog" song. every song was an amazing hit that could have been main single material. Mega Deth really hit that one out of the ball park. and for the record , i'm a much bigger fan of IM than a fan of mega deth. but i'm also a realist. second best metal album of the 90's i'd have to say is a tie between Slayer's Seasons in the abyss , and Sepultura's Chaos AD Third (for me) would be The X Factor. Then after that i'd have to some real thinking on it . maybe pantera's cowboys from hell.
I LOVE the X factor and virtual xi, in fact I believe the X factor and the final frontier are my top 2 maiden albums, yet the chemical wedding? To me? That's not just the best heavy rock/metal album of the 90s... But of all time. From start to finish, lyrically, sonically, structurally, it's perfect.
I don't see how any fan of the post-reunion albums would hate Virtual XI. This album laid the foundation for their future sound going into the 2000s and beyond.
X factor did definitely and my god it is awful for the most part, though its all based off Afraid to Shoot Strangers. Slow intros then a plodding middle bit and chorus repeated to death
most repetitive album i've ever heard, but it doesn't even matter. i love it. its the only iron maiden album i like. probably because he's the only singer i like. everyone bitches about angel and the gambler but i dig that shit. i think memories linked to songs play a big part in to how much you like them or enjoy them later on in life and a friend gave me this album to listen to in high school when life was good and now its legendary for me, start to finish.
I love this album on the merits it does things differently and also the songs are good. The problem is that with 8 tracks they padded the shit out of songs like The Angel and the Gambler and made them go from great jams to monotonous trods. I love the album, I LOVE The Clansman and Lightning Strikes Twice. But Angel and Gambler could have easily had six minutes shaved off and been an incredible successor to Lord of the Flies from the last record
Blaze was and is still an amazing singer, his albums after leaving Maiden are just incredible and I can't stand the stick his 2 Maiden albums get, I personally think they are great albums and let's be honest no one can they are as weak as No Prayer for the Dying, im a massive Maiden fam and if I was to rate every album that would be last on this im sorry to say.
the most disapointing 90's album in my hoenst opinion. was probably fear the of the dark. in hindsight you can tell bruce was getting burnt even as they recorded this album. but like Chris above said , you can still pick out 3 good songs from this album for me those are - Fear of the dark (of Course), From here to Eternity , and Afraid to Shoot strangers (which oddly enough i prefer the live version with blaze , his voice just fit this song so well it's the only bruce song where i prefer blaze)
No he’s right. Steve is a genius and can co engineeri but he’s not a producer like Kevin Shirley, who can make the third guitar and the drums sound crisp. The guitars on this album sound muddy and the drums sound terrible compared to Brave New World and everything after. Remember I’m not talking about the notes I’m talking about the timbre and clarity of the instruments.
Virtual XI Team photo print. How do I get one? Jacket inlay? Really late. Still great.! I'd the 11 jersey name custom designed back. Tremendous.. mates. Wish the Best to 2020 British Lion tour. Phased off IMFC merchandise, I'll seek the Virtual XI on ebay or Amazon..
I didn’t mind this album. They should have included Virus on this one rather than Best of the Beast imo. Would have fleshed it out a bit more and it fitted the theme of the album.
Honestly, the production is dull and the vocals sound like demo "guide vocals". I've always thought that. It just doesn't sound professional - Blaze is just so mismatched in Maiden, it's like having Brian Johnson in Maiden .. actually that sounds like a good idea!
Agree. With all the money they had made, they can affort that, just from an "artistic fun" point of view...i would do that if could...and push the others to pull that out😂...thing is they never got fixed even the DOD cover, so...😠
I don't think they should re-do them with Bruce, but still with Blaze as a guest now. All those tunes have a Blaze-like charm and Bruce will sound like an outsider. At least they should offer a slightly better mix, because I'm afraid they won't be able to re-perform those songs with the same energy.
I think they were after a much different and darker sound than what Bruce provided. The X-Factor era was very negative for Steve after all, with family problems, his father dying and all that, so of course it had its effect in the stuff he was writing and how Maiden's sound in general evolved. Was Bayley the best choice? Probably not, considering his voice wasn't the best kind for the songs they did with Bruce. However he was perfect for the two albums he was in, and could've done very well with some of their newer stuff, if he had the chance to remain in the band.
jonas brave You obviously are not musically challenged? You'll understand and get it when you're a bit older, and you watch this again and only then will you get it!!
You want to hear something crazy?... I loved this album right along ones like 'Powerslave' when I became a fan the first few years. - I didn't think it was the same thing, definitely very different, but plenty of songs on "Virtual" worked for me, and they still do after over 15 years. Now for the crazier part; I really dislike "Final Frontier" and "Book of Souls". They don't grab me, sound forced, just nothing like how "Brave" and "Dance" were still fantastic. "AMoLaD" was already showing signs of degradation in songwriting to me, even though it's still solid after growing on me (thought that took years). - But I don't care for "No Prayer", "Fear", "X Factor", "Frontier" and "Souls", apart from a few tracks. - Just to give a perspective of one fan in the world.
Blaze goes more and more good to me!Of course cant compare or reach Bruce,but anyway,is not that bad,how I felt first!Sorry for eventually bad words from me,if I written it somewhere out!I cant remember if I done,but in case of I had,sorry a lot and show me were it is and I will turn it back!!And even sorry for my bad english,Im out of training and practice....(and school is a long time behind me/past(?))
I like virtual xi, the repetitiveness of the vocals is a big factor to it's negative reception. Repeating choruses/lyrics is Maidens thing. Somewhere in time, the wicker man, out of the silent planet, no more lies, the evil that men do etc etc.
This was the last maiden album I ever bought. I didn’t think there were any new ideas or epic songs. Angel and the gambler has the annoying, repeating chorus and while the clansman is a great song, the instrumental parts at the beginning sound off time and so do the vocals at certain parts. Other than the opening song, none of the other songs are really that impressive.
I remember the joy when maiden announced the comeback of bruce and adrian to the band. the chemical wedding was overclassing maiden at that point. bruce = maiden after all
Futureal, The Clansman, Lightning Strikes Twice and Como Estais Amigos are all good or great songs. The rest of the album is just sort of whatever, but not bad. Biggest problem is of course The Angel and the Gambler, and that's mainly with how repetitive it is, even by Maiden standards. Blaze does a good version of it live where he cuts down on the song and gives the band solo spots.
Blaze surely one of the most rotten vocalists in rock and metal. How plastered was Steve when he picked up this guy? He should have gotten Dianno back into the fold instead. One of the great mysteries but luckily Bruce returned soon after they realeased this atrocity and all was forgiven.
You think Di’Anno could sing any of the Dickinson stuff??? Blaze couldn’t even sing it. Di’Anno started dying on the vine in 1980. He can’t even sing his OWN songs now.
i know u're trying to be sarcastic, but u failed because it's actually true. yes notb has some awesome songs but also some crappy ones. it's the worst as an album and is the second most overrated Iron Maiden album. seventh son being no. 1 imo
Marin Hrabrić - sorry man I can't back you on Beast being the worst Maiden album. Every song has this bright amazing propulsive energy, and the menacing lyrical themes and riffs and melodies and solos are cool. It even has the best b-side of the whole Maiden catalog. NOTB is a massive, well-written album, perhaps only a bit dated sounding and Gangland sounds a bit like filler but that's it.
Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger...that's about how many times they repeat that line. Same thing with Angel and the Gambler...Maiden has been my fav band for 36 years but c'mon...
I think he meant in terms of subject... One being about, assumingly, planets crashing into each other. And the other is about war. - However, I must say that Como Estais is meant to be a positive gesture. Blaze was talking about how that song came about because of the Falklands War and how people who would otherwise be totally fine hanging out with each other are just killing each other. - The song is about remembrance and wanting to rather have peace.
These 2 albums with Blaze were not Maiden's best work, but it wasn't Blaze's fault. He was simply not the right lead vocalist for Iron Maiden! If anything, it was Steve's songwriting that became very lackluster! Blaze is a very good singer!
Steve: you don't want to be repeating yourself... "Writes angel and the gambler"
Don't you hate it when bass player repeat themselves?... Repeat themselves?...
But yea, I don't understand what was with the repetitive lines on actually both the Blaze albums. Not all the songs, but some songs suffered from it a lot, also ones that are otherwise pretty good. - They could've at least come up with a second line or maybe change the harmony or key, or keep one line quiet in between others, or just not repeat it 8 times to begin with. Shouldn't be that difficult for him to do at that point...
i really like angel and the gambler
Out of the planet
LOL
...and "Don't look at the eyes of a stranger", which I believe he plagiarized from Queensryche
I like that Dave’s Murray face always happy
Eddie Garza he looks like moonface from the faraway tree
According to original vocalist Paul Di'anno, the band gave Murray the nickname "Smurf".
he looks like master yoda from star wars
Couldn't have listened to the album
Both álbums underrated, they are great
The x factor and virtual xi is good álbums 👍
I couldn't agree more
Absobloodylutely mate!
Great fails😂
@@mummifiedcr You completely missed the entire dartboard with that video remark.
When your Biden took office, he raised the Federal Minimum wage $4.05 to $15.00 an hour through his executive order. This means theater workers 'DID' receive a raise.
Not too long after, several deep blue states followed suit with their minimum wage requirements. We have been close to two years, for a few states, living under $15.00 minimum wage. California looked to punish Fast Food specifically by raising minimum wage, for fast food, to $20.00 an hour.
Depending on what state someone was living in, their fast food experience may differ. Minimum wage in North Carolina, for example, is $7.25.
You'll fakkkin' pay $15 for a bucket of theater movie popcorn to watch (the WOKE) soon-to-be-released, Snow White?
Imma-gonna-slappa-yo-ignorant-arse!! Mama Mia!
Exept for The angel and the gambler, this is a very good album. Its very Iron Maiden. The only thing i miss, is that they need to play more of the Blaze era live. They have two albums full of good songs to choose from.
True i agree
Marin Hrabrić e man ima nas po cijelom yt hahaha
the only weak song on Virtual XI is "Uneducated Fool", all the rest is good. Usually I dislike every long song of Iron Maiden, but "The angel and the gambler" is so good that it's better than "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" and all the other tapeworms.
I thought Angel.... was the best thing on the album. Interesting watching this 20 years later bearing in mind what happened shortly after. Blaze seems like such a nice bloke, the only thing he did wrong was not being Bruce.
Better than Hallowed be thy name ? Are you mental ?
If Maiden tuned down for Blaze's voice, it would have worked. I opened for Blaze last August in Poughkeepsie, NY and I have to admit that Blaze impressed me more than I expected. Really nice guy too!
Maybe technically, but I believe in a "correct" tuning. - I feel that if you tune a song down even half a step it loses its essence. - Like MetallicA did this with their older stuff live, and I feel they're not even the same songs. - Maybe it could've been OK for a while, as long as Blaze had been there, also for HIS sake (cause the poor guy needed to push so hard and couldn't do it) and anyone listening. But I feel the lower you go the more excitement it loses (which is why so much modern Metal sounds so boring), and Iron Maiden is one of those bands that goes HIGH. They don't even really bang the low E string all the time, it's more "up" sounding and reaching up there is what brings excitement to their songs.
I don't believe Dickinson can hit his old range theses days, he just shouts.
* *Steve Bello* * - Blaze was on tour and in NY? I live near Niagara Falls and definitely would have driven the distance.
@@michaelangeloh.5383 * *Michael Angelo H,* *
Sammy Hagar joined Van Halen back in the mid-80's. I remember Eddie in an interview saying, "Finally, a lead singer where we don't need to tune-down a half step."
I wasn't aware that all the albums with David Lee Roth were actually tuned-down a half step.
Crazy, right?
It gave the tunes more weight imo.
People dont like it, but this album bring great memories to me. I remember each one track .
Thank God for South America and Eastern Europe during this period of Maidens career. They're ravenous fans who'll pretty much cheer at anything.
como estais amigos , one of the best songs ... amazing... very underated...
"Futureal" and "The Clansman" were my favourite tracks from Virtual XI.
Mine is The Educated Fool
When two worlds collide is my favorite track, as far as I know it's the only metal song to include the word declination in the lyrics
Same, also my favorite track
I think VIRTUAL XI is a powerful and enjoyable album, so out of the pattern in Maiden's catalogue along with his soulmate THE X Factor. The mixture between raw energy and melancholy is showcased much better in this opus, dragged down only by it's repetitiveness. Long live Blaze Bayley and a big Hail for this atypical era in Iron Maiden !!!
I like this ablum a lot:)
it’s there weakest Album for me and a lot of people
@@tripinhiphop2095 EXACTLY!!
CRAP!!
@Rita Lovett nah it's not underrated . While it has a few nice songs it's by far the weakest iron maiden album they had recorded since then, but afterwards the maiden had some albums that are even weaker such as AMOLAD .
@@ricardorodriguesrr18 AMOLAD is the strongest album in their whole discography!
@@XtremeDestroyer wow ! For me it's so repetitive! Their worst album I can't listen to it. I've been Maiden fan since I was teenager.
Blaze is a one off great bloke he's never had any ego before maiden in Wolfsbane During Maiden & after still nowadays hes still totally down to earth every time you meet him.
It is great album, like all Maiden's stuff truly is. I like listening to it while driving. It's a boooooost and always make me feel better when I feel blue.
I agree. I love virtual ix. It's refreshing. A lot of fans don't enjoy this album simply because Bruce is not on it or simply because it's a tad different. It took me many years to really appreciate this album. At first, I was very critical of it, but slowly over the years it grew on me.
Don't Ya Think I'm A Saviour?
Don't Ya Think I Could Save Ya?
Don't Ya Think I Could Save Your Life?
I totally agree, this album is definitely a grower. At first I wasn't particularly enamored with it but I didn't hate it. After a few listens I really heard some great stuff out of all of the songs. Now I know it word for word, note for note, back to front. Love it to bits!
Virtual XI is a very good Maiden album imo, and it got me through some truly though times in high school.
Virtual XI is the 3rd best Maiden's album, right after Number and Killers
0:16 Blaze is spot on. - People can whine and complain about the "Blaze era" all they want, but this album, even after revisiting as a much more developed person and musician myself, is really good. - Not perfect, but neither are any of the other Maiden albums. - "X Factor" is rather drab and dull in comparison, but "Virtual" is just really solid throughout. - It has a reall raw and chunky sound, it's exciting, it has aggresion and emotion, beauty, smaller and calmer sounding parts, big and epic parts, what more do you want? - Yes, it has some cheesy, and suffers from the repeated lines here and there (some songs more than others), but those are minor issues compared to what good there is about it.
And maybe a criticism could be that it's very "mid"-heavy in its sound, plus that it's unfortunately too loud for dynamic range (it even distorts in places), unlike the X Factor which has fantastic dynamics (which is weird, just like the "Real Live One" and "Real Dead One" live releases that are similarly different in loudness). Though, the solution to the loudness would be to go with Vinyl release, as on that one it has its dynamics intact. - I know I still want a copy, because I've always had the CD.
If I could give one more creative complaint about it is that I don't like how Steve (probably) forced the football theme into some places. What point does it have on the album cover that's otherwise pretty frickin' cool?... And what point does it have in the booklet to have like a Maiden football team with the band-members and some football-stars?... I know one can be fanatical about something, and sure there are fans that also love football, but tacking it on to an unrelated product doesn't really make sense. Where was all the soccer stuff on any of the other albums?... Why this one?... Just because it's the 11th and there are teams of 11?... So weird. Childlike logic even. But anyway...
Blaze, you are one classy bloke
Blaze is a good singer !
when you're dead drunk at 4am maybe...
Agreed. The fans really should not have written him off the way they did, because many never really gave him a chance.
Well, if Blaze is good then Bruce must be?
@@Elixium Bruce is in a class all his own. Blaze is okay, Paul is good, but Bruce is great. Blaze just isn't as bad as some thought. His voice was just not progressive enough for Maiden material.
@@Elixium Blaze is good, Bruce is god
"- the old cliché:" - our best album since the seventh son ...
Yeah ahahahha they aways say the same thing about every album
It was
The X Factor was better thsn 7th Son
@@maldororlotreamon105 You must be high on crack. If you personally like it better that’s one thing, but objectively it’s a much better album and liked by more people than Virtual XI. Don’t get me wrong I can definitely listen to Virtual XI and enjoy it, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the rest of their albums.
Theres a lot to enjoy on This album
Yes, people only need to give it a chance.
the best part is when it ends, blaze is insufferable
Steve was very defeated at this point. When Bruce and Adrian came back, he was certainly rejuvenated.
He doesn’t come across as defeated in this interview in fairness.
@@pcorcoran100 He's trying to sell a product
@@booshting3520 yeah but he wasn't defeated. in later interviews he said he just missed the vibe that Adrian brought to the table. basically the entirety of 90's maiden felt to be missing something , That somethign was Adrian smith. Not Bruce . though bruces return was also a re-invigoration of the band it wasn't agiven thing , talks with H had started before Blaze was fired. I still to this day wonder what a blaze-maiden album would have sounded like with H there along side murray and Janick.
@@DenverStarkey Interesting idea.
@@DenverStarkey I agree, Smith is on another level compared to Gers. I've never like the chaotic style of the latter, especially because it clashes with the similar Murray's style.
At the time this video was filmed I truly believe they were still behind Blaze .
Thanks for this. Dont hear them x-factor is a masterpiece and virtual was a good enjoyable album.
Great Blaze Bayley!
2:23 perfect.
i remember when they came to Portugal still have the newspaper, they played soccer against our best team S.L.BENFICA ,result Benfica 11x Iron maiden 1, was nice.
Esperei muito por esse álbum, na época do lancamento eu tinha 17 anos e comprei o ingresso para o show em Curitiba que seria em dezembro de 1998, sendo que faria 18 em novembro. Curti muito o show apesar das cristicas quanto o vocal do Blaze. Gosto muito do Virtual XI, o definiria como "medieval futurista" fugindo um pouco do clima mais sombriu do X Factor que é uma obra prima. Na noite tocaram o Helloween e o Raimundos. Grande noite, show incrível, inesquecível!!! Up the Irons 🤘🏾
Legal, gosto bastante da fase Blaze, estava nesse show, foi na Pedreira...
Blaze is such a great bloke no ego or anything & so easy to talk to when you meet him etc i was a big Wolfesbane fan in the 80's & have to say however much i like Maiden Wolfesbane were / are 100% better..
So many people consider Virtual XI to be the band's weakest album, and while it certainly isn't the greatest, I actually enjoy it quite a lot, and would consider it the best album from the 90s. Futureal is good, The Angel and the Gambler is different and I enjoy it for the most part, but the repetitive chorus is pretty weak, Lightning Strikes Twice is good, Clansman is good, When Two Worlds Collide is really good, The Educated Fool is really good, Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger is pretty bland for the most part, except for the middle section, where the music is wonderful but where the chorus is repeated like in TAatG, Como Estais Amigos is really good.
So, basically for one or two songs the album is average.... LOL The X Factor is by far the best album from Blaze era, but from the 90s Fear of the Dark is the best.
The Clansman is not good, The Clansman is AWESOME
I agree whole heartedly.
Well described.
@Andrew Salter"Dance of Death" had the worst album cover ever!
Blaze’s voice got me into Iron Maiden.
This album was Iron Maidens Jar Jar Binks moment
The Angel and the Gambler would be a good 3-4 minute song.
I prefer this album to The X Factor. Better production, shorter running time, the songs have more energy, Blaze's vocals suit these songs better and The Clansman is a legit Maiden classic.
This tour was amazing.
Love this album!! “Lightning strikes twice” is soo sik!!!
Anyway, these guys just look the same, except of Blaze:-)
Btw Blaze, you're fired!!
When Virtual XI works, it works well. Futureal, Clansman... but when it doesn't work, it suffers. The poor parts of the album kill it because they are so sub-par for Maiden. X Factor was a much better album.
I think exactly the other way round. - "X Factor" only has about 4 solid tracks for me. Out of how many, 10-11?... But for "Virtual" all tracks are at LEAST good. But all of them get 5 out of 5 stars excep for "Angel" and "Don't Look". - "Two Worlds" and "Como Estais" are up there with "Clansman", and I really like "Lightning" and "Fool" as well. - "Angel" is just a little cheesy at times, dragging itself down, and "Don't Look" is just kind of awkward, and the other track that suffers from the repetition like "Angel" does.
@@michaelangeloh.5383 The X factor is full of good songs, from the sign of the cross to lord of the flies, from man on the edge to blood on the worlds hands. Judgement of Heaven and Look for the Truth... except for one or two all of them are great songs. Virtual XI is weak in the sense that except for Clansman almost everything is average
@@mikatu Well I happen to think exactly the other way around. Most of the songs on X Factor to me are kinda forced. Even the good ones can still use some tweaking. Not that those on Virtual XI are all perfect, but that's like a 4/5 album, while to me X Factor is like a 2-3/5 album. It's just loaded with draggy mediocrety, and a bunch of riffs here and there that have potential. - Steve's not good when he's depressed, clearly.
That said, I probably still like 'Fear of the Dark' even less. Eh... Maybe similarly as much.
And by the way; How can you not think 'Futureal' is just kick-ass, as well as "Lightning" and "Two Worlds" are epic, and "Como Estais" is beautiful? At the very least... "Angel" isn't much different a Rock 'n' Roll song from something like 'Man On The Edge', except it just suffers from that reptition everyone complins about (and I agree with).
The X Factor is the most epic and the darkest Iron Maiden album. There is nothing like that album it is once in a lifetime masterpiece.
went to see them promote this album live in Sheffield city hall and it sounded much better live than on cd
mr g I could really see that. Dull lifeless record no fire and spark, but the better of these songs an NPFTD are good live material.
Piece of Mind - nuff said
UP THE IRONS....from Texas
U p The Irons from Michigan
@Celestial Dragoness hello to you from San Antonio,the Alamo City.....................
I think it just underscores the importance of the writing impact of Bruce and H.
10/02/1999, X-Day for heavy metal and Maiden in particular...
Blaze (and these heavy hitting boys) held it together thru the dreaded 'Grunge-era'.
Judas Priest did the same, along with Ozzy & Alice Cooper. It was a fucked-up time for hardrock/heavy metal.
They continued to hold the torch!
Meanwhile bruce was releasing the chemical wedding. The best metal album of the 90s
LOL, no.
NO just no , the best over all metal album of the 90's i'd have to say would probably be Mega Deth's Countdown to Extinction . That was a completely powerful album with not a single bad song on it. not even a uuugh "slog" song. every song was an amazing hit that could have been main single material. Mega Deth really hit that one out of the ball park. and for the record , i'm a much bigger fan of IM than a fan of mega deth. but i'm also a realist.
second best metal album of the 90's i'd have to say is a tie between Slayer's Seasons in the abyss , and Sepultura's Chaos AD
Third (for me) would be The X Factor.
Then after that i'd have to some real thinking on it . maybe pantera's cowboys from hell.
Chemical Wedding is a masterpiece
I LOVE the X factor and virtual xi, in fact I believe the X factor and the final frontier are my top 2 maiden albums, yet the chemical wedding? To me? That's not just the best heavy rock/metal album of the 90s... But of all time. From start to finish, lyrically, sonically, structurally, it's perfect.
Three goals ... Steve Harris!
Say what you want about Blaze, but nobody could sing The Clansman like he did.
I don't see how any fan of the post-reunion albums would hate Virtual XI. This album laid the foundation for their future sound going into the 2000s and beyond.
X factor did definitely and my god it is awful for the most part, though its all based off Afraid to Shoot Strangers. Slow intros then a plodding middle bit and chorus repeated to death
Bom dmais
most repetitive album i've ever heard, but it doesn't even matter. i love it. its the only iron maiden album i like. probably because he's the only singer i like. everyone bitches about angel and the gambler but i dig that shit. i think memories linked to songs play a big part in to how much you like them or enjoy them later on in life and a friend gave me this album to listen to in high school when life was good and now its legendary for me, start to finish.
I don't care how long ago this was, I'm still glad they beat Blur in that football match.
Blur played against Maiden?
@@jjrj8568I'm no expert on football, but that's what it looked like at the start there.
Better than X Factor. When Two Worlds Collide is a good overlooked song.
I love this album on the merits it does things differently and also the songs are good. The problem is that with 8 tracks they padded the shit out of songs like The Angel and the Gambler and made them go from great jams to monotonous trods. I love the album, I LOVE The Clansman and Lightning Strikes Twice. But Angel and Gambler could have easily had six minutes shaved off and been an incredible successor to Lord of the Flies from the last record
I didn't make this but whoever did has the right idea
ua-cam.com/video/7hUDVFrTY-c/v-deo.html
Really enjoyed Blaze and Blaze era wish they just would of d tuned live for Blaze on Bruce era material from 80s
Would have been better with “judgement day,I live my own way, Justice of the peace, and Virus” on it
The sound quality of Virtual XI sounds like a cross between the debut album and Somewhere In Time.
Blaze was and is still an amazing singer, his albums after leaving Maiden are just incredible and I can't stand the stick his 2 Maiden albums get, I personally think they are great albums and let's be honest no one can they are as weak as No Prayer for the Dying, im a massive Maiden fam and if I was to rate every album that would be last on this im sorry to say.
I think you can pick out at least 3 good songs from every Iron Maiden album, even the really disappointing 90s albums.
The X Factor wasn't disappointing at all.
the most disapointing 90's album in my hoenst opinion. was probably fear the of the dark. in hindsight you can tell bruce was getting burnt even as they recorded this album.
but like Chris above said , you can still pick out 3 good songs from this album for me those are - Fear of the dark (of Course), From here to Eternity , and Afraid to Shoot strangers (which oddly enough i prefer the live version with blaze , his voice just fit this song so well it's the only bruce song where i prefer blaze)
the problem with this album is the prodution, sounds like midi guitars
No he’s right. Steve is a genius and can co engineeri but he’s not a producer like Kevin Shirley, who can make the third guitar and the drums sound crisp. The guitars on this album sound muddy and the drums sound terrible compared to Brave New World and everything after. Remember I’m not talking about the notes I’m talking about the timbre and clarity of the instruments.
am i the only maiden fan that likes angel and the gambler??
No, i like too...
yes
brucedickinson12 SHAME
Yes. You are literally the only human being to ever live that actually enjoys that abomination.
@@benedictdonald4338 that better be sarcasm
Iron maiden got me in to playbing bass drum lesson 4 guitar ozzy yngwie sweep picking
Virtual XI Team photo print. How do I get one? Jacket inlay? Really late. Still great.! I'd the 11 jersey name custom designed back. Tremendous.. mates. Wish the Best to 2020 British Lion tour. Phased off IMFC merchandise, I'll seek the Virtual XI on ebay or Amazon..
Podia por legendas em português viu.
I didn’t mind this album. They should have included Virus on this one rather than Best of the Beast imo. Would have fleshed it out a bit more and it fitted the theme of the album.
Honestly, the production is dull and the vocals sound like demo "guide vocals". I've always thought that. It just doesn't sound professional - Blaze is just so mismatched in Maiden, it's like having Brian Johnson in Maiden .. actually that sounds like a good idea!
Add to that the "urban leyend" about Nicko didn't played on most of that album, because he couldn't stand to be even near Blaze back then 😒
they should re-do the blaze era songs but in a better version
with bruce u mean
yeah, but not just that man, fix them, some of them are really bad
Agree. With all the money they had made, they can affort that, just from an "artistic fun" point of view...i would do that if could...and push the others to pull that out😂...thing is they never got fixed even the DOD cover, so...😠
I don't think they should re-do them with Bruce, but still with Blaze as a guest now. All those tunes have a Blaze-like charm and Bruce will sound like an outsider.
At least they should offer a slightly better mix, because I'm afraid they won't be able to re-perform those songs with the same energy.
its funny goin back and hear them talking about how amazing the albums are then they almost act like they don't exist years later
*Virtual IX* is not a step up from *X Factor*
What a weird choice for a singer. Shouty style and much deeper sounding, he's hollering the lyrics, it's hilarious.
I think they were after a much different and darker sound than what Bruce provided. The X-Factor era was very negative for Steve after all, with family problems, his father dying and all that, so of course it had its effect in the stuff he was writing and how Maiden's sound in general evolved. Was Bayley the best choice? Probably not, considering his voice wasn't the best kind for the songs they did with Bruce. However he was perfect for the two albums he was in, and could've done very well with some of their newer stuff, if he had the chance to remain in the band.
jonas brave You obviously are not musically challenged? You'll understand and get it when you're a bit older, and you watch this again and only then will you get it!!
He's way better today.
Surely an awful choice for replacement, Steve Harris must've been plastered out of his mind during the auditions...
Steve Harris flex, including footage of his hat trick.
This album nearly ended it for me with Maiden...nearly, but I gave it a chance and overall, it did win me over...but only just!
You want to hear something crazy?... I loved this album right along ones like 'Powerslave' when I became a fan the first few years. - I didn't think it was the same thing, definitely very different, but plenty of songs on "Virtual" worked for me, and they still do after over 15 years.
Now for the crazier part; I really dislike "Final Frontier" and "Book of Souls". They don't grab me, sound forced, just nothing like how "Brave" and "Dance" were still fantastic. "AMoLaD" was already showing signs of degradation in songwriting to me, even though it's still solid after growing on me (thought that took years). - But I don't care for "No Prayer", "Fear", "X Factor", "Frontier" and "Souls", apart from a few tracks. - Just to give a perspective of one fan in the world.
Blaze goes more and more good to me!Of course cant compare or reach Bruce,but anyway,is not that bad,how I felt first!Sorry for eventually bad words from me,if I written it somewhere out!I cant remember if I done,but in case of I had,sorry a lot and show me were it is and I will turn it back!!And even sorry for my bad english,Im out of training and practice....(and school is a long time behind me/past(?))
I like virtual xi, the repetitiveness of the vocals is a big factor to it's negative reception. Repeating choruses/lyrics is Maidens thing. Somewhere in time, the wicker man, out of the silent planet, no more lies, the evil that men do etc etc.
Esse album tinha algumas musicas boas, mas a mixagem ficou estranha.
Blaze always sounded like meatloaf to me.
Dave rolls his eyes lol 😂
he knows what we’re all thinking haha
Gers always says the same thing yes we always want to sound live on the album...zzzzzzzzz
This was the last maiden album I ever bought. I didn’t think there were any new ideas or epic songs. Angel and the gambler has the annoying, repeating chorus and while the clansman is a great song, the instrumental parts at the beginning sound off time and so do the vocals at certain parts. Other than the opening song, none of the other songs are really that impressive.
I'm wealy 'appy wiv' the album"
Steve Harris
I remember the joy when maiden announced the comeback of bruce and adrian to the band. the chemical wedding was overclassing maiden at that point. bruce = maiden after all
it wasn't and never will overclass Maiden and especialy at that time
Erik Verbove Steve Harris is Iron Maiden not Bruce mate..Understand that!!
Honestly, people that say that the Blaze Bayley albums suck clearly don't know shit about Iron Maiden
A fair six-sided die is rolled 6 times. What is the probability of getting all outcomes as unique?
Você é um cara foda Elias. Up the Irons!
Futureal, The Clansman, Lightning Strikes Twice and Como Estais Amigos are all good or great songs. The rest of the album is just sort of whatever, but not bad. Biggest problem is of course The Angel and the Gambler, and that's mainly with how repetitive it is, even by Maiden standards. Blaze does a good version of it live where he cuts down on the song and gives the band solo spots.
Mi spiace per gli altri,ma la migliore band metal sono loro..❤️
Blaze surely one of the most rotten vocalists in rock and metal. How plastered was Steve when he picked up this guy? He should have gotten Dianno back into the fold instead. One of the great mysteries but luckily Bruce returned soon after they realeased this atrocity and all was forgiven.
You think Di’Anno could sing any of the Dickinson stuff??? Blaze couldn’t even sing it. Di’Anno started dying on the vine in 1980. He can’t even sing his OWN songs now.
One of the best albums ever made!
Are you serious? Lol
yes bitch now go back to your docter dre bullshit
Gammit Garm because NOTB is one of the worst it's so obvious, duh!
i know u're trying to be sarcastic, but u failed because it's actually true. yes notb has some awesome songs but also some crappy ones. it's the worst as an album and is the second most overrated Iron Maiden album. seventh son being no. 1 imo
Marin Hrabrić - sorry man I can't back you on Beast being the worst Maiden album. Every song has this bright amazing propulsive energy, and the menacing lyrical themes and riffs and melodies and solos are cool. It even has the best b-side of the whole Maiden catalog.
NOTB is a massive, well-written album, perhaps only a bit dated sounding and Gangland sounds a bit like filler but that's it.
Was Nicko not allowed to use toms in This album? Sounds strange. Good album, though.
the album is terrible
Animação do Eddie lembrou o Thanos 🤣
Blarghhh.
"positive album"
When Two Worlds Collide
Como Estais Amigos
Futureal, The Angel and the Gambler, The Clansman, and Don't look to the eyes of a stranger? You obviously haven't given the album a proper chance.
Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger.Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger. Don't look to, Don't look to, Don't look to the eyes of a stranger...that's about how many times they repeat that line. Same thing with Angel and the Gambler...Maiden has been my fav band for 36 years but c'mon...
I think he meant in terms of subject... One being about, assumingly, planets crashing into each other. And the other is about war. - However, I must say that Como Estais is meant to be a positive gesture. Blaze was talking about how that song came about because of the Falklands War and how people who would otherwise be totally fine hanging out with each other are just killing each other. - The song is about remembrance and wanting to rather have peace.
Sub italian please!!!
And Blayze wouldn't even last another 6 months from recording this interview...
These 2 albums with Blaze were not Maiden's best work, but it wasn't Blaze's fault. He was simply not the right lead vocalist for Iron Maiden! If anything, it was Steve's songwriting that became very lackluster! Blaze is a very good singer!
The Angel and the Gambler....the song that destroyed the album.
Blaze is a great vocalist poor crazy what mistreats him all some failures
Better than Powerslave
Ok I have to admit the book of souls seem like great album compared to the Virtual xi :D
Keimpe J. Visser Well what :D
Ok let’s solve this: The X Factor or Virtual XI ??
The two
The x factor and virtual xi is good álbums
i’d rather chew glass
The X Factor
I can’t get into blaze. I just can’t do it
had some good solos.but was probably there weakest album
blaze bayley doesnt look like a lead band material, more like a failed trucker, yet i oddly like his two albums