In 1993, Bruce Dickinson, the legendary singer of Iron Maiden, left the band to focus on his solo project, with the intention of stepping out of his comfort zone and learning to be away from the group. Blaze Bayley then joined to replace him for the albums ‘The X Factor’ (1995) and ‘Virtual XI’ (1998), the latter being one of the lowest-selling in the career of the ‘Iron Maiden,’ as fans did not fully embrace the new vocal style presented.
Years later, these two albums started to be appreciated by fans, as the variety found in their extensive discography became intriguing. Today, we discuss ‘Virtual XI,’ one of our favorite albums by the band, which over time has elicited divided opinions: Either you love it or you hate it.
What can we hear?
The album is characterized by three main factors that we mention below:
1. Blaze Bayley’s voice: With a vocal range evidently more limited than Bruce Dickinson’s, the instrumentation is adjusted to make the most of his voice. This results in a very interesting combination that brings variety to Iron Maiden’s discography, contrasting with what we hear in their classic albums. Bayley has a much deeper and rougher timbre, making them sound distinct.
2. The use of synthesizers: Recorded by Steve Harris himself, the band’s bassist and leader during Bruce Dickinson’s absence. The keyboards add a very interesting and characteristic texture of the time to the songs. This can be appreciated in “Don’t Look to the Eyes of a Stranger,” where the instrument takes on a leading role emulating a string section, or in “The Angel and the Gambler.”
3.The return of Maiden’s classic melodies: After focusing on a darker album with “The X Factor,” the band decides to return to their melodic roots. They reclaim their classic guitars and vocal melodies, going back to the formula that made them one of the greatest bands. Iconic riffs can be heard, such as in “Futureal,” the first song of the album that clearly establishes the style that will prevail throughout the work.
Virtual XI: An album loved and hated by many...
Suppose that the sales of “Virtual XI” were not as expected, considering its predecessor, “The X Factor,” did not meet fan expectations. While the change was not abrupt, Blaze’s vocals were not accepted by many purists.
We find the work to be quite balanced. Speaking more about the instrumentation, “Virtual XI” is very good. It features excellent guitar solos and riffs, as well as beautiful clean passages like in “Como Estais Amigos.” The bass, a hallmark of the band, is very prominent, joining the guitars as a “stellar” instrument, something that the band has maintained in all of their works. Nicko McBrain’s drumming performs quite well, although it may not be considered one of his best works, it maintains a somewhat conservative style that suits the album.
Iron Maiden maximizes each song through longer durations, as the average length of the songs (except for “Futureal”) is approximately 6:00 minutes. This can be favorable for some and counterproductive for others, as at times, they may become repetitive. However, many songs open the door to a series of interesting changes, such as in “Lightning Strikes Twice,” where we hear a section of excellent guitar solos along with memorable melodies.
Our favorite album with Blaze Bayley.
“Virtual XI” is an album that we have always liked a lot. As fans of the band, it opens the door to hear something different from Iron Maiden. We highlight Blaze Bayley’s effort to maximize his vocal capacity, with “The Clansman” being our favorite song from the album. This same song was performed live by Bruce Dickinson on the album “Rock In Rio” (2002). However, we consider that if it had been recorded with Dickinson on vocals, it could be just another Iron Maiden song.
And what do you think of this album? Leave us your comments!
