Iron Maiden - Virtual Xi
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CD Details
Artist: Iron MaidenEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2002-03-26
Music Label: Sanctuary Records
Soundtracks:
- Futureal
- The Angel and the Gambler
- Lightning Strikes Twice
- The Clansman
- When Two Worlds Collide
- The Educated Fool
- Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger
- Como Estais Amigos
Music reviews of Virtual Xi
Music Review: Can you believe what is real...FUTUREAL...
Rating: 4 Stars
I have seen some terrible reviews for this album, putting it and the X-Factor down just because they didnt like Blaze Bayley. True Maiden fans would never do this and I am a true Maiden fan.
Like the album indicates, Virtual XI is Iron Maiden's 11th studio album and the second, and last, with Blaze Bayley on vocals. After a superb job with the X-Factor, Bayley again excels on this album, where the mood is less dark and gloomy. Blaze's vocals become higher and we hear the variety of his voice.
Futureal starts off proceedings with a bang. A short but very sweet typical fast Maiden track where Blaze's vocals complete the track. We also hear the typical crunching of Steve Harris' bass guitar throughout the song, which we have heard on every Maiden album, it really drives the song.
The first long and epic track is next with The Angel And The Gambler. A very nice and catchy riff can be heard all through the song, which kinda sounds more like a hard rock tune than anything else. The middle part can get tedious, where we hear the same words spoken over and over, but overall the track is pretty good.
Lightning Strikes Twice is the 3rd track on the album and easily one of the best. It starts out slow, but quickly gains momentum and speeds up during the chorus'. Great guitar riffs and a brilliant solo can be heard in this track as well as Blaze's great vocals giving the song extra bite.
The Clansman is next, the 2nd of the long, epic tracks on the album. Again, this track is one of the best on the album. The typical Maiden sounds and riffs make this track really standout and also contains great solos. Blaze's cry of "FREEDOM" remains in your head long after the track has ended.
Track 5 is another of the best songs on the album, When Two Worlds Collide. The music is quite different to what we expect from a Maiden song, but it works very well. A galloping riff makes this track standout as well as Blaze's fantastic vocals. Everything just works in this song.
The Educated Fool follows the great When Two Worlds Collide. Like most of the other tracks before it, the song starts out slow and erie, with Blaze's vocals quiet and smooth until the guitars kick in to their catchy riffs where his voice takes off and controls each track. By the time the song has ended you will be shouting "Time will flow...and I will follow!" out loud as its one of the standout parts in the song, as well as another brilliant solo.
Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger is next, and is probably the weakest song on the album, but thats not to say that the song is bad. A nice catchy riff flows through the song, but contains a similar middle part much like the Angel And The Gambler, where the same sentence is sung over and over. A great solo follows that part, but overall the song doesnt have as much "bite" as the others before it.
To close out the album is the semi-ballad Como Estias Amigos, a song about paying your respects to strangers who have given their life in the line of duty to protect all of us. We hear a different side of Blaze's wonderful vocals as he sings with a lot of emotion. A nice mix of keyboards helps make this track standout and deliver the message they are trying to get through. A great way to end this great album.
Overall, this effort by Blaze and Iron Maiden is very good and up there with the best of them by the Irons. A very underrated album, mared only by shallow Maiden fans who refused to accept Blaze Bayley into the band. After Virtual XI, Blaze began his own band and has since released three very good albums plus a live album where you can also hear some Iron Maiden songs.
(rating each song is as follows: 0.98-1= killer track, 0.95-0.97= awesome track, 0.90-0.93= good/very good track, 0.85-0.88= OK track, 0.80-0.83= poor/average track. Once you add up the score, divide it by the number of tracks to get the %)
Futureal: 0.95
The Angel And The Gambler: 0.90
Lightning Strikes Twice: 0.97
The Clansman: 1
When Two Worlds Collide: 1
The Educated Fool: 0.90
Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger: 0.87
Como Estias Amigos: 0.93
= 7.52, divide by 8 (tracks)= 0.94 or 94%
If you are a true Maiden fan and have been turned off by false reviews of this album, take the advice from another true Maiden fan, and go buy this album. It doesnt matter than Bruce Dickinson wasnt in the band for this album, it is still Iron Maiden. Blaze Bayley deserves more credit for what he acomplished with his two albums with the Irons.
Description of Virtual Xi
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Alternative Rock CDs
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