Virtual Xi [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Iron Maiden | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 26, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B000063DGM
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,416 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Iron Maiden's eleventh album! Great slipcase edition! - 1998

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars One of Maiden's lows, May 15, 2003

By 

Axel Law "The Happy Seizure Kid" (Derby, KS, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtual Xi (Audio CD)

After the introduction of vocalist Blaze Bayley, they recorded X Factor in 1995 and got mixed results from fans. The band continued with Virtual XI in 1998, which is now considered one of the worst albums in Maiden's career. Here's the lowdown:

Futureal - This opening track is not bad at all. A good, solid rocker. I think it opens the album well.

The Angel and the Gambler - The hit off of this album, but unfortunately, it isn't that great at all. Not really Blaze's fault, but the chorus is weak.

Lightning Strikes Twice - The best track on the album. This one's a midtempo rocker/"gloom and doom" ballad hybrid. It's pretty good and Murray's blistering solo is brilliant.

The Clansman - The big epic of the album. I have absolutely no complaints with this song and Blaze's vocals are excellent.

When Two Worlds Collide - This song is just bizarre to me. After hearing the previous two tracks, Blaze just doesn't sound good here at all. I wonder if perhaps this was last minute?

Educated Fool - Ugh, the weakest song on the album. Kind of has a galloping structure, but doesn't quite come off well.

Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger - Not bad, but Blaze's vocals kind of derail this one. He's certainly not a bad vocalist, but he sings this one rather lowkey. You have to wonder if Steve Harris wrote this one with Bruce in mind.

Como Estais Amigo - The ballad of the album. The instrumentation is quite good and Blaze's vocals are good, but this one has some poor lyrics in my opinion.

The problem with this is not Blaze's fault. Virtual XI maintains the sound of Maiden (which X Factor didn't), but X Factor seemed tailor made to fit Blaze's singing style. Had Bruce sung this one and some of the songs been tweaked a little, this COULD HAVE been one of the best Maiden albums ever. Sadly, most of the songs seem to have been writing for Bruce's singing talents (because of his high vocal range) which Blaze can't achieve. I don't believe Blaze is bad at all, though... check out his own band, Blaze. I just get the feeling that this album seems rushed and perhaps there was a lot of creative headbutting over this (Blaze left the band shortly after this album's release). Overall, I don't recommend this one. Only get it if you are a DIE-HARD Maiden fan, especially since this CD hasn't been enhanced (to my knowledge).

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Think It's Good, August 6, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Virtual Xi (Audio CD)

I'm a huge maiden fan and if your like me you should like this album. I've read some harsh reviews but it's easy to say it's a bad album when your given a copy of the album for free and be paid to review it even if you've never heard maidens work. Personally I think virtual 11 is better than the x factor. It sounds more like maiden(the x factor is good but the sound they were going for didn't suit them)

Futureal is a great album opener thats very short and snappy. nothing complicated just a very solid rock song.I give this song 10/10

The Angel And The Gambler is a good song but it's a bit dragged out.Half the song is Dont You Think I'm A Saviour..........etc.
It's Different which is good so i give it 7/10

Lightning Strikes Twice is one of the best songs.Very catchy. It starts of with a very sorrowful intro but soon gets heavy.I give this song 10/10

The Clansman Is The epic of The Album based In Medievil
Scotland.Bruce Does A great version of this song.Not That It's better ,the two versions are equally great. I give this song 10/10 (obviously).

When Two Worlds Collide is good. It Starts Of similiar to lightning strikes twice.it then goes into the famous galloping guitar riffs. I give this song 7/10

The Educated Fool Is In my opinion the best song on the album. I Cant Say More Than it's very catchy. I can't explain it,the lyrics and the music just struck a chord with me. I give this song 11/10.

Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger Is A Good song. Not My Favourite but it's still a good song. I give it 6.5/10

Como Estais Amigo is the final track which Opens with a very sorrowful melody.but as usual the distortion comes in.I give this song 8/10


Don't take any notice of any other reviews. if your a true maiden fan you'll like this album. stop bitchin about blaze. He's an extraordinarly talented vocalist and he made two great albums with maiden

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quit bashing bayley, February 27, 2006

By 

Jared W. Gifford "Jared Gifford" (Ivins, Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Virtual Xi (Audio CD)

Alright in this review I'll not only(dare I say it)praise blaze for his efforts in maiden I.E. x factor and virtual XI I'll also leave a note for all you "so called" Maiden fans out there.
First off I'd like to say that I think bayley's vocals are solid and he was just what they needed at the time, blaze brings a darker element to maiden and I think it's a great thing, yes I will admit here that Bruce is the best one but don't overlook bayley, he brought some very solid material to the band.
Secondly quit dissing Janick gers, apparently I must be hearing a whole different set of albums then some of you are cause in my opinion Janick is an awesome guitarist who's helped to write some very good material, hell I was happy to hear that he would be working with adrian in the later albums.
Lastly if you don't like all the albums after seventh son of a seventh son then quit listening to them and save us "true fans" the headache of all your bitching, you say if your a true fan then you'll only like the 80's stuff, well I contest that, I say if your a "true fan" then you stick by the band now matter what, being a fan means you love the band for what the band is not for what you think it should be.

in my opinion maiden will always rule the heavy metal airwaves, viva la maiden.