I could live with X Factor, you could tell that it was an Iron Maiden album with a different lead singer. Musically, X Factor followed the Iron Maiden formula, and though not every song worked there was some enjoyable music found on the disk. But on Virtual XI you would have a hard time identifying what band it is playing this music! None of the songs have the familiar Maiden sound, and Maiden trademarks, like Steve Harris' standout bass lines, and the great back and forth between guitarists found on all other Maiden albums, the bands signature is absent. Blaze Bayley, while a competant lead singer, does not have the power or passion that Dickinson or Di'Anno had, vocals that a band like Iron Maiden requires. The songs are repetitive and Blaze's weaknesses shine on songs like "Lightning Strikes Twice" and "Angel and the Gambler". Repetitive choruses, 3 minute songs stretched to 6 minutes plus, make Virtual XI a bore to listen to. I am sure I will get slammed by a handful of Maiden loyalists who think simply because the name of the band is on the disk it rates higher than 1 star...but...as a true fan of the band, and being honest with myself, I would never recommend this disk to anyone, unless you feel you have to own every album the band produced.

People who hate Blaze Bayley surely are comparing his tuning to
Bruce Dickinson's. It's like setting the difference between a
humingbird and a truck.
Bayley's voice is deeper awile Bruce sings shrill. That's the true
difference. I'm sorry,but saying that Blaze is awful is a fierce
mistake.
This argument is overused to underrate x-factor and this one.
Don't be afraid of purchasing it. It isn't perfect,but there really
good tracks on. I was astonished with the 2 star average rating
that I saw one day.
I really don't agree. See my track marks:

Futureal: The fastest. The solos are blasting,cool. The bridge and the chorus are catchy.I saw the videoclip: Janick Gers slaps Eddie and he returns back(ha!ha!ha!ha!) while David does that solo challenging his own abilities(in the cd,between 1:29 and 1:48),afterwards Janick appaears "mistreating"(changing the notes almost playing) his guitar's arm.Blaze sings wearing a cap: "Can you believe what you feel?, Do you believe what you see?,Can you believe what you feel? Can you believe? What is real?.. Futureal....(bridge and chorus) 10/10.

The angel and the gambler: It could been shorter, the chorus is
repetitive.
Despite this, the song isn't so bad. Janick Gers's solo followed by David Murray's afterwards(Generally,David's guitar is trebler than Janick's.David's solo begins at 5:44, nearly)in the middle is the highlight. After the 8 minutes mark ,the chorus repetiton may be tirering, but the shift of cool guitar licks (Gers, Murray, Gers,Murray...)saves the ending from disaster.7/10


Lightning Strikes Twice: It rocks,interesting vocal notes. One of the best
in the record. 10/10

The Clansman: It reminds X-Factor, due to the slow intro. The guitars are beautiful.And these solos(from 3:34,starting with Janick,to 5:10)deserve my applause: David enters in 4:33 with his magic fingers in the guitar's arm (in that black and white Fender, probably). I love this part (8:12): Freedom -> guitar...., Freedom ->guitar
9/10

When 2 worlds collide: Excellent melody and chorus.Terrific: Ohhh! oh oh oh oh oh oh oh (4:55) I can't give it less than.
10/10

The educated fool: Yuk! Boring and badly composed. 1/10

Don't look to the eyes of a stranger: Don't to look the eyes of this
song! Too repetitive. 2/10

Como estais amigos: Looks like Gers and Bayley thought of composing
it to show that they scratch spanish. I'm kidding!
This last one is a well-fitted and sweet. The riffs and solos are neat.
It breaks the 2 prior throw-outs.
David Murray creates the way (to lo dam pun ta dun...) ,while Janick (ta nan nan num nan nãn non) spreads the good melody
in the middle. Stevie Harris plays keyboards here (Yes,bass isn't his only knowledge) . I read in Iron's official site that Blaze has the habit to play this wonderful ballad ( where rock attributes were kept)in concerts with his band named Blaze, nowadays.
10/10

UP THE IRONS!!!

Even guided by a perseverant, charismatic, authentic and no nonsense leader, bassist Steve Harris, Maiden did not manage to escape the trap so many great bands entered: that of an almost unbeliavable loss of creativity in songwriting. In Maiden's case, the history is even sader, since this band was present for so long time in the hearts of so many people (myself included). So, I watched in disbelieve when events unfolded in a disaster. (...)In came another polemic choice by Harris, anonymous singer Blaze Bayley, whose, worst than his studio performances, delivered ludicrous stage live performances. But the lack of good material to sing was not his fault. I don't know what went on through the Maiden's guys heads when recording this thing...

Oh christ what are maiden thinking of! Having heard their classic albums (number of the beast, piece of mind, powerslave, somewhere in time, seventh son of a seventh son and Brave new world) I must say this now... HOW COULD YOU DO THIS! I knew that Blaze bailey had weaker vocals than Bruce but I never expected it to drop this low, people say that futureal is a great song, since when? This could have been done by some juvenile Nu-metal band like Papa Roach (vomits at the thought). I paid £9.99 for this, and even that was waayyy to expensive, how could steve harris, dave murray and nicko mcbrain justify this as a Maiden album after the classics before it. They all worked on the 1980's era and surely they should have canned production and started again as this is pathetic! On a par with Reload by Metallica for a band developing suicidal tendancies after making classics beforehand. I have most of the other albums (only missing the live ones) and I must say this ranks at the bottom alongside No prayer for the dying. I am thankful that Smith and Dickinson responded to the distress signal as this was unjusticifiable. Only buy this if you wish to complete the collection (and you may wonder why you bothered upon hearing it!), if you have not listened to IM before don't be tricked by the cover art! This album is a shambles and you are far better off with one of the six mentioned at the top. Overall A disaster and hopefully people will soon forget it ever existed!

I have all Iron Maiden's/Dickinson's albums,and I think that Virtual XI aint half bad:a very enjoyable listen in fact.Lets face it:nobody is going to measure up to Bruce,so quit comparing.Anyway,if Blaze is so bad,why are the prices for new and used here holding up so well.It's all about supply and demand after all.I see Bruce's albums aren't holding up so well in some cases as regards price.Blaze's voice here is an improvement on The X Factor which wasn't as bad as it was painted either.In my humble opinion,Maiden's worst album was Killers:Paul Di Anno[Originally Andrews.What's in a name huh?]had an atrocious voice.I'd rather listen to Blaze Bayley anytime thanks.Obviously,if you listen to Blaze straight after a Bruce album you will need to adjust;but if you play one when you haven't listened to Bruce for a time,it sounds great.I think that The X Factor got such a bad press that hardly anybody bothered to hear it or Virtual XI for themselves before damning them.You have to make up your own mind up and not take the "experts" word for it.You're missing out on an underated Maiden album whose musicianship and music are still first class Maiden.