This is why Virtual XI ACTUALLY is so (dis)liked | Iron Maiden Reaction
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- Some Iron Maiden fans consider Virtual XI as the weakest in the band’s discography, and yet still the songs from it are being played live way more often than the ones from many other Maiden albums. Released on March 23, 1998, Virtual XI became the eleventh studio album by the legendary UK Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden, so as a part of our Up The Irons Series, let’s take a look some of the lesser known facts about it and discuss why some fans might actually not like it… and why it has nothing to do with Blaze Bayley.
We will take a look at the history behind the themes which Iron Maiden have chosen for Virtual XI, the song writing process and which songs have not been included on Virtual XI, yet instead made it on Brave New World, the history of the Virtual XI artwork created by Melvyn Grant and much more.
00:00 - Intro
00:57 - When 3 worlds collide
03:21 - The gamble
05:47 - Artwork
08:47 - Please 'em all
11:09 - Verdict
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*Which track from Virtual XI you think deserves more attention?*
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When Two World's Collide would be my choice only because The Clansman gets so much attention. Stay safe. Thoughts and prayers for you, your family and your country.
I'm a big fan of the song Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger.
"Lightning strikes twice"!!! Definitely!!!
It is an excellent album. Aside from The Angel and the Gambler, can you name any REALLY bad song that justifies Virtual XI's undeserved bad reputation?
There are great choruses like "The educated fool" Solid heavy songs like "When two worlds collide" and "Don't look to the eyes of a stranger"... maybe the slow part is a bit long? But it contrasts nicely with the fast part (one of the fastest parts of an Iron Maiden song dver!!).
And from minute 1:30 the song is a bomb!
I don't even need to mention classics like "Futureal" and "The Clansman"
And since I am Argentine... "Cómo estáis amigos" has a special meaning for me. But, objectively, it's an excellent song with different musical climates and very interesting harmonies. Blaze does a great job here.
While it's true that the production on the album isn't the best, I think Virtual XI unfairly pays the price for The Angel and the Gambler. Personally, I consider it vastly superior to The X factor, an album with an excessive amount of filler songs.
I really enjoyed this video
Lightning strikes twice ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE
The Educated Fool I think is way too overlooked Maiden fans. It's a phenomenal song.
The Educated Fool is underrated and badass. Futureal, Two World's Collide, Clansman, Como Estas Amigos, Lightning Strikes Twice. Definitely a overlooked album.
The educated fool was my favorite as well 🤘
Yup. The Educated Fool is the star of this show.
One of my favorites!
The Educated Fool my fave too! Wasn't too repetitive like some others.
an overlooked*
Futureal is one of their best "short" songs. Como Estais Amigos is a gem and I wish they played it more often.
played it more often is a pretty big understatement considering they never, not a single time played this masterpiece live
Futureal is one of my favourite Maiden Songs. This Song is really written for BB.
It would be great if it would have opened a second side of the record. Wicker Man on one, and Futureal on the other one!
I heard Bruce sing that song, and it sounded so flat. It really was made for Blaze's much darker, richer timbre.
Well, he did co-wrote it
That was a good opening song!!!!!🤗🤗🤗
Mine too!!
My personal favorite unsurprisingly is The Clansman. But a very solid track that unfortunately was not played live during Virtual XI World Tour is Como Estais Amigos. It is a beautiful song beautifully performed by Blaze when I saw him live last time in my hometown. Speedy recovery to Blaze!
To me, Clansman seemed to be made for Bruce right from the start.
Get well soon, Blaze!
They did ''The Clansman'' in Tulsa, September, '22.
So happy to see a lot of appreciation for Blaze's work with Maiden, I think his contribution was amazing, plenty of classic songs. In my honest opinion, Clansman is the best Maiden song from 90'.
For me Blaze's voice was always more suited to the scrappy sound of Wolfsbane. Their Down Fall the Good Guys album was epic and perfect for him.
Yeah totally agree. He sounded great in Wolfsbane. All Hells Breaking Loose…… is an amazing (mini) album.
Blaze is a Baritone not a Sopranist like Dickenson, not fair comparison.
My first contact with Maiden was when I got Best of the Beast as christmas present, therfor Virtual XI was the first brand new Maiden album I experienced. And I loved it. I am still loving it.
The melodies on most of this album are deep and melancholic. That for me is it's strength. I love that feel. Lightening Strikes Twice, two worlds collide, the last track, songs like these have melodies that are not your average melodies, they are like a deep silent pool of water, dark and mysterious.
Absolutely. When Two Worlds Collide has one of my all time favorite melancholic melodies ever starting at around the 5 minute mark. Lightning Strikes Twice is also a hauntingly beautiful song. I'm not into its chorus that much but the rest of it is really good. Como Estais Amigos is great too. Truly an underrated album.
Coincido contigo. When two worlds collide para mi tiene esa melodía al final absolutamente hermosa y profunda.
As someone who got into Maiden around the BNW era, I discovered the Blaze albums without any baggage and loved them.
Few years back Blaze sang on an accoustic cover of Blood Brothers and I highly recommend checking it out.
Thanks for the video. My heart goes out to you and your people. I just wanted to say that The Clansman is one of my all time favorite Iron Maiden cuts, which fortunately the band HAS continued performing live on occasion. Thanks for all you do!
My first metal album that i ever heard and im still loving it.
Same, together with Priests Jugulator and Saxon's Unleash Thé Beast
I really love this album. I agree that The Angel and the Gambler could be shorter, when Blaze plays it live he cuts it down and it is simply amazing. That is the only low point for me and still only because of the track length. I wouldn't put this album on my top 3, or maybe top 5, but I still like it a lot. It just shows how I rate their albums highly as a whole.
I consider Virtual XI the second most underrated Maiden album, with No Prayer For The Dying being the most underrated. There are no single tracks I would rank among my all time favorites, but it was very consistent, as there are no tracks I dislike, not even “The Angel and the Gambler”. Yes, it drags on longer than it needs to, but you can say the same about many of their 21st century tracks.
The Clansman is a straight up Maiden Classic!
Absolutely agree!
Man, again, I love your channel. Reminds me of how I used to nerd about every single maiden detail with my friends and you are just like one of us!
I remember when I bought Virtual XI in the record shop in 98. I was working in Blockbuster Video back then! One forgotten masterpiece of this album is Como Estais Amigos... so deep and intense. If you haven't seen it, Blaze talks in detail about that song after his acoustic version that he recently recorded.
I hated that album when he came out but today i like most of the songs on it. I think « Don’t look to the eyes of a stranger « is the one i still don’t like. Blaze still play these songs live, and it’s truly awesome on stage. Good recovery to Blaze, Hope to see him live again soon.👍
Don't look to the Eyes of a Stranger is what we all thought The Angel and the Gambler sounded like on our first listen. Angel is a good song that drags it's chorus on for too long, but there's alot more to love beside hating on the chorus.
Stranger is just Angel but worse in every aspect, and what I don't get is how Angel is still hated today, but Stranger is still praised as being a good song on the album and better than Gambler. I just don't see it
Great episode!! Kinda makes you think of what kind of an album Virtual XI could have been if Blood Brothers and the other songs would've "made it" there!
Love both X Factor and Virtual XI. And let's not forget about VIRUS. Wishing a quick recovery for your upcoming surgery Blaze!
Futureal, Clansman, Como Estais Amigo. Have a slight soft spot for Educated Fool. But X Factor is far darker broodier and more rewarding to listen to.
The intro of When Two worlds Collide is for me is one of the best maiden intros ever, I love that album
Stay strong Blaze!!!
I would love to see you make a video on each of the Maiden albums.. i know there are already videos on CZcams doing that, but I really love your style of presentation and the way you tell a story..
I wonder if Bruce’s album Accident of birth coming out in ‘97 effected this album negatively. That album was received very well and many argued it was more maiden than what maiden was doing lol.
It was. Bruce's last three solo albums were way heavier than any Maiden album since Powerslave.
It is a great album. And yes, I'd love to know if there were any last minute changes after the band has heard it!
Agree
A new Dickinson album is coming out
It was the same thing with Rob Halford's solo albums during the Ripper-era of Judas Priest. People loved Rob's albums more than the Priest stuff. Which is a shame because both Jugulator and Demolition are masterpieces.
Lightning strikes twice is probably my favourite song off this album with a close second being when two world collide. I wasn’t a fan of either of the blaze era albums the first time I listened to them. But now I see them as an essential part of iron maidens history and every time I here them I like them more and more
Absolutely love both of the Blaze albums.
The Educated Fool and Como Estas Amigos are favourite tracks from VXI ❤
I never listen to the Blaze Bayley Maiden albums. They aren't bad but they aren't Maiden's best. But Blaze has talked alot about how much he learned working with Maiden. And I love his solo stuff and listen to it all the time. The Infinite Entanglement albums are so good.
Damn that whole trilogy was amazing
i saw him perform some of the songs live, and he was incredible. get well soon, Blaze.
This video came up just as I had been enjoying X Factor and Virtual XI for the past couple weeks. And that comment about escaping from reality for a bit, well. It hit home. Keep fighting, Defend the Faith and Up the Irons!
Great topic and crazy you found so much footage! That's a rare era.
Bravo, man. This is a spot-on analysis of VXI's place in Maiden's evolution. VXI isn't perfect, but it's very interesting. And, crucially, we don't get modern Maiden without it. I believe we can make a similar case for The X-Factor, and to some extent, Chemical Wedding. Three important steps on the road to the modern Maiden sound.
An excellent analysis! Perhaps it's time l take a new listen to this most maligned of Maiden records.
And yes, please do a video about the evolution (and indeed influence) of Maiden's signature font
Saw Blaze live in Norwich a week before his heart attack. He was on top form and knocked out a fantastic set. I wish him all the best. His Planet Rockstock set in December 2022 was an all Maiden set from his tenure with them and reminded everyone how good those 2 albums were.
Mr Pilgrim! Love all your videos! Thanks .
Educated Fool is my fave on album ,after Clansman.
Virtual XI is one of my favorite albums by Iron Maiden, maybe i have a diffrent outlook as a "newer" fan, but i love it so much, great bangers through out the entire album!
Love your vids. Keep going!
Thank you very much for your great and well-made video.
Learnt a lot I didn't know about...as a big Maiden fan.
The Clansman is probably my favourite song on their eleventh album, though I like the entire album.
All the best wishes to you and your country 🇺🇦!
Dude....I love this channel. In a perfect world where you have a television channel dedicated to music or rock. Metal Pilgrim would definitely be a show on Friday or Saturday night like at 10pm before you get your night started with partying or whatever your plans were that evening. This is actually how it was back in the late eighties and early nineties with Head Bangers Ball....
Damn those were the good ol days.
It’s my least favorite IM album YET it’s still a cool album. Futureal, Clansman, Como estais amigos, amazing songs. Wishing all the best to Blaze, what a nice guy and talented singer
A solid proof that IM have not yet released a bad album. Virtual XI has great songs,Lightning Strikes Twice - When two Worlds Collide being my personal favorites.
Saw Blaze live a few months ago in Greece,he was amazing! Get well soon buddy!
Very interesting video friend!! I've always loved Virtual XI... I think it's very underrated: songs like Futureal, Clansman, World Collide or Educated Fool are incredible!!
By the way, I always liked the fact that the band (er, Harris) let Blaze do some compositions on both albums, unlike Judas Priest who refused to let Ripper do the same.
Stay strong! With love from America
Awesome video as usual! Salute!
Virtual XI is an album that will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first album I bought for my own money.
I’ve always been certain the reason Virtual XI didn’t really resonate with the audience is the production, and the fact that Steve didn’t listen to Rod’s suggestion to release Futureal as the first single. A good production and Futureal as a single would’ve appealed to both old fans and new kids.
I really hope Futureal is on the coming tour. It would tie in great with the theme of the tour and the anniversary of the album.
Speedy recovery for Blaze! Freedom for Ukraine!
The Clansman is not just my favourite song on this album but my favourite song of all time
Id love an evolution of the iron maiden logo video!
Great episode! Futureal is my favorite on Virtual XI. Overall, I enjoy the album. However, “Angel and the Gambler” is the only Maiden song that I actually hate. 🤘🏼
Would love to see a video on the Maiden logo. I have always wondered if it came from some generic font, because I have seen a lot of completely unrelated things using VERY similar lettering, including a Green Day logo and the title on a Hedley album. Did they rip off Maiden, or is it just a common font?
I remember first hearing Brave New World and thinking "I never thought I'd say this, but these songs, especially Blood Brothers would sound better in Blaze's voice".
When I heard Blaze's cover of Blood Brothers my thought was confirmed.
Really?? Wow -- finding it so hard to believe. Such a difference in perception of the same era... The only thing I felt when Brave New World came out was tears of joy -- finally! the real Iron Maiden was back. I loved the songs of Virtual XI ... but Blaze ... felt like an embarrassment ... it was a horrible feeling ... first Judas Priest got ruined in 1997 with the Jugulator and then Maiden in 1998 still struggling with Bailey ...
Love this album even more now than when it released. Educated Fool, when two worlds collide amd clansman...not to mention futureal! I hope Blaze gets well and back on tour soon!! UP THE IRONS 🤘
Where Virtual XI works it’s sublime. Futureal, The Clansman and Como estais Amigos are all premier league maiden tunes. Angel and the gambler is a 3 minute belter squeezed into 9 minutes of utter agony. Blaze singing Blood Brothers is perfection, I’d love to hear him singing the other missing tracks. In many ways I prefer virtual xi to many other maiden albums inc,using Senjutsu. My favourite tune is como estais amigos. 🇺🇦 ❤
I'd love to see the history of maidens logo, yes pleaseee
as a guitar player i do play Futurereal as a warmup, and it happens that I play the clansman and Como está, amigo. Där Como está, amigo is a forgotten pearl.
I Love Blaze Bayley’s albums as much as I love Paul Di’Anno’s records with Iron Maiden, always in my top: X Factor, then Killers and finally Virtual XI 🖤🖤🖤
I'm going to say this I got the album when it came out and I've loved it ever since. It's not the absolute strongest but DEFINITELY NOT the weakest. Every metal fan should hear it.
Being a setlist fanatic, I have to be an annoying nitpicker for a second here.
00:07: "...and yet the songs from it are being played live way more often than the ones from many other Maiden albums".
I mean... Sure 'The Clansman' is kind of the hidden gem on the album that has been played more during these 20+ years. But what other songs really? Let's break it down:
Futureal (Not played since 1999)
The Angel and the Gambler (Not played since 1998)
Lightning Strikes Twice (Not played since 1998)
When Two Worlds Collide (Not played since 1998)
The Educated Fool (Not played since 1998)
Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Not played since 1998)
Como Estais Amigos (Never played)
But cheers and thanks for this video! \m/
Lightning strike twice and clansman are my favorite. Coll video thx you for all your hard work !!
I have a playlist which is the entire catalogue front to back (Prowler through to Hell On Earth) which I listen to at least a couple of times a year, and as it happens I’m right in the middle of the Blaze era, the day after Blaze’s heart attack (power through it Blaze 🤘🏻), and I actually tend to look forward more to V11 than XF, for me Futural and The Clansman are the strongest songs they recorded with Blaze, Lightning Strikes Twice is a bit of a hidden gem too. The Angel And The Gambler would’ve been ok if it was the video edit instead of the full 10mins that made the album… I know choruses are meant to be repetitive, but good lord! You could definitely tell they were more comfortable with Blaze, and vice versa. There’s also the stand alone track Virus, which is criminally neglected, even Blaze has only performed it a couple of times with his band, it’s almost a shame that it wasn’t included on V11, it might get more recognition.
XI is one of those albums I play once every 2 or 3 years just out of the novelty of it.
I still have Virtual XI on cassette, got it right after I finished highschool; loved that album, a lot!
Great album! first time I saw maiden live too. Also better than all albums they released after Brave new world. I also got that plastic album poster from the record store.
love the artwork by Melvyn Grant!
Such an underrated album. Blaze is a great singer🤘🤘
Cmon please. The album sucks. Nothing memorable. Not even the Clansman.
Listen to Futureal on Blazes live recording. It’s much better than the IM one.
Como Estas Amigos is such an underrated song, especially that solo (that I think Janick does?) in between the harmony bits.
X factor and Virtual 11 try finding them on vinyl Lol!!! I like those albums Blaze was awesome and you my friend hang in there 🤘🏻
The sign of the cross and Man on the edge, right up there with classics like Hallowed be thy name etc.
Youre best Video 🔥🤘
My Favorit Song from it IS in the Moment The Educated Fool
Would love to see the Maiden Logo Video
Would love to see a video covering the IM logos over the decades!
On a recent re-listen it's much stronger than I remember, and I got to the end thoroughly enjoying almost every track! There's some bonafide classics in here. The only real duffer is Angel and the Gambler, but apart from that it's a very strong album! Futureal, Lightning Strikes Twice, Clansman, Educated Fool, Two Worlds Collide, Como Estas Amigo - All excellent songs.
There was some proper butthurt from the fandom going on around that time, and I don't think Blaze got even half the chance he deserved, because both this and The X Factor are great albums.
it's funny how 3 of the best songs from Brave New World, one of the most loved albums from Iron Maiden, where originally made for Virtual XI (I'm not a big fan of "Mercenary"), and imo it also has some of the greatest songs from Maiden's discography, with only one song being bad (The Angel and the Gambler, which would be pretty decent if it was short, like, 2~3 minutes long) and all the rest being either very good(The Educated Fool), great(Lightning Strikes Twice, When Two Worlds Collide and Futureal), or masterpieces (The Clansman, Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger and Como Estais Amigos). Como Estais Amigos is kinda my favorite btw, it makes me feel I should stay alive.
You are fantastic. Which club you support?
I love this album. Futureal, Clansman, Lightning strikes twice, etc. lovely songs. Some aren't quite as heavy as the opener or the previous album, but the sound is incredible nonetheless.
I rember seeing the album tee for sale at a department store in the 90s. But I never listened to the album until last year.
I've always liked Virtual XI. I've seen them live on the Virtual tour with Halloween and Dirty Deeds in 1998 and it was a great show. I wouldn't say it's one of my favorite Maiden albums and as far as Blaze era goes I do prefer the X Factor, but honestly this was the last album that I really followed Maiden with. Everything that came after that album I just did not really check out. Idk. I did listen to the Brave New World a few times and it was a pretty good album. I've seen them on that tour also, but for me it just didn't cut it anymore and everything after that it just felt more of the same. For me the best Maiden albums are : Somewhere in Time, Fear of the Dark, Power Slave, X Factor, Piece of Mind and Killers. Virtual XI and No Prayer for the Dying a bit behind but still good. One thing I have to say : I did like that single that came out last year. Was it last year? The one with a cartoon video? The folk style song. I loved that one.
Loved The X Factor and Virtual has it moments, but one thing from both is I became a big Blaze fan, he has tons of great songs
I do love the 25 minute edit of The Angel and The Gambler that's up here on CZcams.
25 mins??? 😳...😁🤣🤣🤣
Bless you mate❤
Keep up the phenomenal work !!!
Love these : looking forward to the next one 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
This album is awesome. One of my favourite Maiden albuns. I love the first 4 tracks.
I have very fond memories of the Blaze era. That was the time when I listened to Maiden the most and was really getting heavily into not only maiden but metal too, so the blaze era is nostalgic for me and I can listen to those albums from now and then.
Its very cool you are following this chanlel
Apart from "The Angel and the Gambler" and "Don't look to the Eyes of a Stranger" this album is absolutely amazing especially "The Clansman" and "Como Estais Amigos".
For sure one of if not the most underrated Maiden album together with "A Matter of Life and Death".
I love Lightning Strikes Twice. It’s definitely in my top 20 songs of all times
It took me some time to enjoy the Blaze albums but they are absolute gems. Don’t look to the eyes of a stranger, Clansman, Sign of the cross, The aftermath…..WOW
I really love The Clansman and Como Estas Amigos, but in truth I like Virtual XI a lot. Blaze doesn't get enough credit, honestly. My favorite version of Blood Brothers (from Brave New World) is a version that Blaze sings, accompanied by Thomas Zwijsen on guitar. That version is stripped down to its essential parts and it sounds wonderful. I hope that as of March 27, 2023 that Mr. Blaze Bayley Cooke is recovering well from his heart trouble and will soon be back. He's having a bit of a War Within Me at present, so get well soon Blaze!
I never could get Ed Hunter to work. Pissed me off so much I didn’t really give the album a break. It seemed -like you said, the whole thing was contrived to fulfill what the fans wanted.
Fun facts: I am Maiden`s hardcore fan since 1982. In the mid-nineties, I open a music shop. As soon as I heard Blaze on vocals, I gave up on Maiden......................After Dance of Death album, I came back.. Somehow I started listening Virtual 11 and liked it a lot in 2014. Year after, life met me with a guy, who wasn't metal head, but he loved X- Factor and Virtual 11. When I asked him Why he loves those so much, he said "This was the first heavy metal I loved"" ......What to say!?! ...... At that moment I realized that's a simple thing, he is an unbiased mind, music is great. Couple of years later I had a beer with Blaze, who seems to be very cool.. Overall Up The Irons!
Love both Blaze albums a lot. He is an extremely amazing vocalist.. Kind of like a darker, boomier Bruce meets Colin Hay. The X factor is in my top 3 maiden records and sometimes is my outright favourite. Virtual 11 is great too despite having a couple less than stellar tracks.
I think it’s a very underrated album. Blaze’s work in the studio was excellent and worked with the new music being written.
I agree regarding the songs carried over to BNW, they had a Blaze feel - in the best sense which is why I liked them and I do think they would have sounded stronger with Blaze.
The only major flaw of Virtual XI is the length and consequent repetition of Angel & Gambler. All of the other tracks are excellent. My favourites being Lightning Strikes Twice, When Two Worlds Collide, Como Estas Amigos, and The Clansman.
I remember a few rumors surrounding the time of Virtual XI, I wonder if these were true to any extent. Supposedly Nicko hated Blaze to the point of refusing to work together in the studio. Nicko was also so uninspired recording the album it was Steve who played drums in the studio. And the last one - after Blaze was let go, the band went into hiatus before rejoining with Bruce and Adrian, making the future of Iron Maiden uncertain to the point of breaking up being an option. Maybe it's an idea for a video ;)
It’s untrue
FUTUREAL is an awesome song! Clansman is awesome live! Iron Maiden played this live when I saw them last October. This album stands the test of time. While Blaze might not be the best vocalist to grace the stage with Iron Maiden, the songs were very strong!
Yeah,, I really dig both albums, that blaze bailey did, with maiden,👍
Thire overlooked and underrated,, yet I get far more enjoyment listening to those two albums,,
Then I do listening to their last two albums,, that's for sure,,,
All the best blaze,, get well soon,,, 🙏
Fantastic album! For sure the most progressive album up to that point, and for sure took the band to a new level moving more progressivley ever since. I was sad to see Bruce (and Adrian) leave and overyjoyed at their return, but also love Blaze's vocals. He has an incredible voice.
I haven´t listen to both of the albums for about 20 years, at the time I thoght Blaze voice didn´t fitt Maidens music and that (I think) is Steve´s fault, especilly on Virtual XI.
Now I am older and wiser🤓 and have heard Blaze on his solo albums and as a guest on the album The Redemption Of Cain with ART X (for those of you that haven´t heard it I really recomend that you do) and the man has a very powerful voice.
So it´s time to take a look at the CD archive again and see what I think now.
Hope Blaze get well and Ukraine will be free as soon as possible, up the irons and SLAVA UKRAINE.
Героям Слава! Thank you!
I love The Educated Fool, Futureal, When Two Worlds Collide, Lightning Strikes Twice and Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger. The Clansman is also amazing, but this one, the band shows respect. The Educated Fool and When Two Worlds Collide would be awesome with Bruce on vocals.
I'm 24 and I so badly wish I could've bought virtual 11 and brave new world when they came out. The world had to have been different back then
One of my favorites albums!
Iron Maiden is such a giant band that even their worst album has at least three or four gems.
My favorites are Futureal, The Angel and the Gambler, and The Clansman. It was great that Iron Maiden was putting out albums in the 1990s. What with Grunge, Mainstream Punk Rock and Ne Metal overshadowing everything.
I would much rather listen to Virtual XI than seventh son any day 😂
when I was getting into maiden back in high school around 08/09 - I discovered this album because of the Ed Hunter compilation thanks to the Clansman. Went to check out the rest of the album and genuinely loved.
Sure it’s not their BEST work but it’s no where near their worst. That spot goes to No Prayer 😂😂
1. Powerslave
2. Somewhere in Time
3. Piece of Mind
4. SSoaSS
5. Number of the Beast
6. Killers
7. Brave New World
8. Virtual XI
That's where it lands on my list
I bought that album back in 1998, and I though it had the same issues that a lot of their post-80s material did. The songs just tend to lumber. Whether they feel “dark” or “light,” they don’t always get to the point. And I have always loved Blaze’s voice, and I think this record plays to his strengths more than X Factor, but he still only feels like a partial fit. That being said, I love “The Clansman” and even the totally maligned “The Angel and the Gambler.”