Band:	Iron Maiden
Album:	Virtual XI
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	March 23, 1998
Guest review by:	Demunarath

01. Futureal
02. The Angel And The Gambler
03. Lightning Strikes Twice
04. The Clansman
05. When Two Worlds Collide
06. The Educated Fool
07. Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger
08. Como Estais Amigos

Virtual XI was an album made under the Blaze Bayley banner (along with X Factor). I might just as well stop here with this review-but no, I will not.

The common notion about Blaze is that he has no talent whatsoever, he is rigid like a stone on stage and he is just not an Iron Maiden-type vocalist. As a matter of fact, someone had said that Steve only admitted him in the band cause of the fact that he played football well and he was a Manchester fan. I highly doubt these rumors, so I will disregard them now.

The Blaze Era wasn't the most blazingly glorious era of the Iron Maiden epoch, but it is definitely worth a notice. Let's start with the known facts: very few B-Sides were made during this era and they were not released until Blaze left Iron Maiden, a totally commercial game was created and after seeing a drastic decline and dislike from Maiden fans, Steve decided to go on a football tour where the band promoted Virtual XI (Some of the team members: all maiden band members, Stuard Pearce, Faustino Asprilla, Ian Wright, Patrick Viera, Marc Overmars). Additionally, with Blaze came the technology era and Eddie became a CG character (which changed his outlook and in my opinion looked like a water-coloured tomato after a stampede of elephants had gone through it).

Aside the details that build up the reputation, let's talk about music here. I was surprised when I heard Virtual XI, and I'm sure you would be if you just gave it a chance. The truth is, the Blaze era is only different and there's no chance anyone can compare Bruce to Blaze - they are too different. One reason Steve probably chose Blaze was because he wanted to give Maiden a slight vibe from a near 15 year homogeneously sounding period.

The first song from the album 'Futureal' is a fast-paced song somewhat a 'Be Quick or Be Dead' clone with deeper vocals and less dynamic composition. Yet, Bruce's cover of 'Futureal' proved to be outstandingly successful!

'The Angel and the Gambler' is the killjoy of the album. I don't remember Iron Maiden making such a long song (10 minutes) which is so oppressively boring and irksome.

'Lightning Strikes Twice' is lyrically much better performed and has that catch and melody which 'The Angel and the Gambler' misses. This song is a potential single - great chorus, great build up, catchy riffs and Blaze did his job well.

'The Clansman.' Now we are talking real talent - I just can't decide whether Bruce's version or Blaze's version is better. I think I will go with Blaze on this one, his voice fits perfectly: it's slow, soothing, calm. 'The Clansman' is one of the most powerful songs Iron Maiden has ever made and can strongly compare with other Harris-composed classics such as Hallowed be thy name. The message in this song is so strong, the guitars so well played, if I were to grade this album only this song, I'd give it a 9.5. 'The Clansman' was clearly created for passionate, singing crowds.

'When Two Worlds Collide' - When I first heard the song I thought Blaze was singing 'words' instead of 'worlds' in the chorus. Not as good as 'The Clansman.'

'Educated Fool' is the second jewel in this album. This song is indeed very deep in thought and sound. As a matter of fact, the chorus is a bit peculiar:

"Time will flow And
I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow"

It is almost as though this song was the last song Iron Maiden ever made. And the absolute message grabs you wildly - "Time will go, but I will be with you Iron Maiden - whatever happens - from here to eternity!"

'Don't look to the eyes of the stranger' and 'Como estais amigos' are two mediocre, if not less, songs.

Overall, this album is slightly above the category 'good.' Although it has two excellent songs and two good songs, on the whole it is balanced by rest of the commonplace songs. Actually I hate the CG graphics inside the booklet, they are pathetic.