Iron Maiden - Virtual XI
1998 EMI
by Horatio

Quick Summary:
When this first appeared in March of 1998 the knives were out for Bayley-era Maiden, most deriding it as a legend gone bad.  I thought it was reasonable and recall listening for weeks.  In many ways this album has an undeserved reputation.  It might be fashionable to mock 'Virtual XI', but it has as many strong points as weak ones.  The problem with Bayley in Maiden was that they toned down his wild man persona, the element which made Blaze what he was in Wolfsbane, an untamable nut.  Forced to become sullen faced and serious, it killed any aspirations Maiden might have had of achieving any success with Bayley.  They should have gone the route of bar room rockers instead.

There's only eight tracks, but apparently 'quality not quantity' was Harris' motive.  'Futureal' is precise three minute metal, while epic tracks like 'The Angel And The Gambler' and 'The Clansman' clock in at nearly ten minutes.  It's heavy enough, far more direct than 'Brave New World', and in all fairness I'd rather play this than that stodgy, often boring platter.  Maiden were at their lowest point commercially here, they were on the indie CMC label in the US for god sakes.  No one bought into Blaze and before long diminutive loudmouth Bruce was back.  A bloody shame as Blaze and Maiden could have been something special.  I've pretended to hate 'Virtual XI' in the past, but now I've been exposed like a pedophile in metal circles as really there is little wrong with it (except the redundant artwork surrounding Z grade footballers like Tino Asprilla, Gazza, Stuart Pearce and the shoddy 1998 West Ham side featuring stiffs like Ian Bishop, John Moncur, Paul Kitson and Ian Dowie).

Website:  www.ironmaiden.com

Song Summaries:

1. Futureal - When Maiden tried the short and furious direction on 'Brave New World' it sounded forced.  Here it works, with the traditional galloping bass riff from Harris and the guitar tandem getting stuck in.  Why not a whole album like this?  B+
2. The Angel And The Gambler - Maiden constructed what is I consider the best hard rock song of the 90's.  Very Who like in it's structure, it evokes memories of 'Wont Get Fooled Again', with a myriad of passages, that never slows like it would with Dickinson.  The near ten minutes are not wasted, with plenty of guitar twists, and a tough vocal from Blaze.  It's hard to forget that hook as well.  This should be more recognized.  A+
3. Lightning Strikes Twice - This 'Twister' tale keeps you hanging as it waits to kick in from the slower intro, when it does it's classic Maiden.  Much more concise than anything off 'The X Factor', that tended to plod before getting to the point.  B+
4. The Clansman - This blatant attempt at an epic is hit and miss, but more immediate and varied than that terrible 'Nomad' from 'Brave New World'.  There the nine minutes were stagnant, the song going nowhere, but here they attempt some fine guitar segments, while trying to capture that Scottish highlands atmosphere.  Maybe too long, but a brave try.  B
5. When Two Worlds Collide - Another feast of galloping gonads metal, highlighted by a chorus which sticks around.  Blaze is putting his heart into it, a real tragedy at work.  B
6. The Educated Fool - I'm not too keen on this one, just the title I think.  Musically it isn't a total failure, with considerable energy, something the whole album possesses.  B
7. Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger - The opening keyboards are suspect, very amateurish, but when things start moving, it improves massively.  It's hard to remember when Maiden last played as fast as they do in the final couple of minutes.  The buildup to this is handled well, it gets faster as it progresses and in the end you're almost begging for it.  B+
8. Como Estais Amigos - I ridiculed this in my 'Fear Of The Dark' review, but listening to it, it's not bad at all.  The intentions were right, a tribute to the Falkland War victims of 1982, one of whom Blaze went to school with I remember him saying (wait a minute...wasn't Blaze born in 1969 or something).  Why did this receive so much adverse criticism?  Because it was slow?  No one would say anything if it was a 9/11 tribute.  A stirring tear jerker.  Can't you just see the faces of the war torn in a video montage?  B

Average Song Rating:  B+
Overall Album Rating:  B+

Also be sure to read:
Iron Maiden - A Real Dead One Quick Reviews by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Dance Of Death by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Killers by Horatio
Iron Maiden - No Prayer For The Dying by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Number Of The Beast by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Powerslave by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time by Horatio
Iron Maiden - The X Factor Quick Reviews by Horatio
Wolfsbane - Live Fast, Die Fast by Horatio (Blaze Bailey on vocals)