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Rating: Between 1995 and 1997 something happened within the quintessential heavy metal band, Iron Maiden, something that shook a band that some already thought had one foot in the grave. In fact, in 1993, at the end of the promotional tour for Fear Of The Dark, Bruce Dickinson, the group's legendary vocalist, left the Maiden for a "period of reflection" - or perhaps because he was listening to the voices of inevitable decline, and did not want to be caught up in it - and to pursue solo professional projects, with considerable success, by the way.
Steve Harris, undisputed leader and extraordinary bassist, and the rest of the band, namely Nicko McBrain (drums), Dave Murray and Janick Gers (guitars), worked hard to find a worthy "replacement." The one who took Dickinson's place was Blaze Bayley from Wolfsbane. Technically less talented than Bruce, Bayley's merit, in my opinion, lies in a singing style reminiscent of the mythical Paul Di'Anno, the singer of Maiden's first two albums. Bayley collaborated with Harris and his comrades between '95 and '97, in the creation of 2 albums: The X Factor and Virtual XI, and it is the latter that I am about to (hopefully) thoroughly review.Of course, Iron Maiden are not synonymous with great originality, and this is evident, regarding the sound, with the first song, Futureal, which echoes the album's title and its significant cover: the theme is society's growing dependency on technology that can also be deceptive. It's fast and catchy, a classic Maiden album opening song.
The Angel and The Gambler, on the other hand, begins to tease the listener: great Harris on bass, who takes the lead in the moderately energetic beginning, only to give more space to the guitars after a softer interlude, and then return in the finale to accompany a Bayley who seems to repeat the chorus to infinity.
The intro of Lightning Strike Twice is a splendid engaging melody that speeds up almost immediately, with an angry Bayley giving pathos to the interpretation; in the middle part, Murray and Gers roam freely, then Bayley returns just to remind you of the chorus that will be instantly imprinted in your mind.
As for the album's flagship, The Clansman, there's a funny story that I think any Maiden fan knows: Harris wrote this song right after watching the film Braveheart with Mel Gibson playing a Scottish hero from the 1200s (I believe, hope I'm not wrong). The acoustic guitar intro is indeed a bit Scotland, and the songwriting is all a clear reference to the film. Ultimately, especially instrumentally, it's one of Maiden's finest tracks of all time, with the guitars above all, especially in the central section, as engaging as ever.
When Two Worlds Collide picks up the theme of the opening song, but this time it's undoubtedly more engaging as a track: great performance by Blaze Bayley, like the rest of the group.
With The Educated Fool we are faced with another extraordinary piece, where it's the voice rather than the instruments that dominates and leads the way only to leave total space to a moderately unleashed McBrain and the usual Murray and Gers. The chorus in unison is unmissable.
Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger features a more easy listening introduction, with a Bayley singing almost in a whisper; then explosive acceleration, and then it slows down again with Bayley almost whispering, but when Harris gradually enters, it's clear that they will soon go back to full force. The riffs are perhaps the most original of the entire album, and the aforementioned song pleasantly surprises.
It concludes with a somewhat sad track, Como Estais Amigos, which I believe, I wouldn't want to say nonsense, talks about Mexican immigrants, and it closes this album more than worthily.
In conclusion, I want to say that the rating is not absolutely from a fan perspective, in fact, before listening to it, I was very skeptical; it's a very different album from The X Factor, its direct predecessor, and also differs from the last 4/5 albums of the group, all quite similar to each other. Personally, in overall beauty, I place it alongside Seventh Son Of a Seventh Son and highly recommend it to anyone who has never listened to Maiden, but also to those who limit themselves to listening to only the first 3 or 4 albums (for heaven's sake, they are truly the best of Iron, especially the first 2).
"And I know what I want
When the timing is right
Then I'll take what is mine
I am the clansman"
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Futureal (02:55)
I'm running out of my time, I'm running out of breath
And now it's getting so I can't sleep at night
In the day, feel like death.
I'm getting in far too deep, I feel them closing in
I've got to say that I'm scared, I know they'll win
Even so, I'm prepared.
Do you believe, what you hear
Can you believe, what you see
Do you believe, what you feel
Can you believe?
What is real?
Futureal
What is real?
Futureal
Whenever anyone seems to treat me like a freak
It makes me see I'm the only one who feels
That I know what is real
And sometimes it feels like a game of deadly hide and seek
And when you're reading this, then I will be gone
Maybe then, you will see.
Do you believe, what you hear
Can you believe, what you see
Do you believe, what you feel
Can you believe?
What is real?
Futureal
What is real?
Futureal
03 Lightning Strikes Twice (04:50)
I feel a breeze on my face in expectance
Not very long before the storm reaches here
Off in the distance a lightning is flashing again
Feel something strong as the power draws near
Is it the rolling of thunder that scares you?
Is it the crashing of clouds that hold fear?
But all I know as I sit in a corner alone
It takes me back to my childhood again
And as I wait and I look for an answer
To all the things going round in my head
I ask myself, "Could it be a disaster and when?"
It's maybe threatening to happen again
As the ominous light draws near
There's a lone dog howls in the park
All the people hurry inside
As a lightning flash lights dark
The storm is nearly here
Only God will know
You're sitting alone, you watch
As the wind is blowing treetops
And the swaying rustling of leaves
Plenty of time to perceive
As you wait for rain to fall
Only God knows
The whole sky glows
Maybe lightning strikes twice
04 The Clansman (08:59)
Wake alone in the hills
with the wind in your face
It feels good to be proud
and be free and a race
That is part of a clan
and to live on highlands
And the air that you breathe
so pure and so clean
When alone on the hills
With the wind in your hair
With a longing to feel ..
Just to be free
Is it right to believe
in the need to be free
It's a time when you die
and without asking why
Can't you see what they do
they are grinding us down
They are taking our land
that belongs to the clans
Not alone with a dream
Just want to be free
With a need to belong
I am a clansman .....Freedom
It's a time wrought with fear
it's a land wrought with change
Ancestors could hear
What is happening now
They would turn in their graves
they would all be ashamed
That the land of the free
has been written in chains
And I know what I want
When the timing is right
Then I'll take what is mine
I am the clansman
And I swear to defend
And we'll fight to the end
And I swear that I'll never
be taken alive
And I know that we'll stand
and we'll fight for our land
And I swear that my bairns Will be born free
And I know what I want
When the timing is right
Then I'll take what i want
I am the clansman .....freedom
No, no we can't let them take anymore
No we can't let them take anymore
We've the land of the free
Freedom
Is it right to believe
in the need to be free
It's a time when you die
and without asking why
Can't you see what they do
they are grinding us down
They are taking our land
that belongs to the clans
Not alone with a dream
Just want to be free
With a need to belong
I am a clansman
And I know what I want
When the timing is right
Then I'll take what is mine
I am the clansman
Freedom
And I know what I want
When the timing is right
Then I'll take what is mine
I am the clansman
06 The Educated Fool (06:44)
I'm an educated fool
So I don't know what it is I'm supposed to do
About this awkward situation
That's been forced down right upon me
As I'm walking down into
on my own into the valley of life
Got a lifetime of experience
yeah I've got so much to give
Open the page at chapter one
could this just be that life's just begun
Forever within your darker thoughts Reflecting on everything you've been
taught
Never felt this way before
Seems that somebody's just opened the door
To the book of life .... or is it death!
there's ever anyway out
Someone's looking down on me
to the very inner core of my soul
They won't tell me what they see
But I really want to know
I want to leave my life on my own
I want to lift the unturned stone
I want to walk right into the fire
I want to live out all my desires
I want to go and see the fire burn
I want to see and feel my world turn
I want to know what more there's to learn
I want to pass the point of no return
Do you really wanna be
Just another one statistic or feel
That you really should aspire
That you really do deserve more
Do you ever really fell
That you have so much potential inside
What you really have to give
Could be realized so much more
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
I want to feel what life's like respond
I want to meet my father beyond
I want to walk right into the light
I want to feel no fear but delight
I want to leave my life on my own
I want to lift the unturned stone
I want to walk right into the fire
I want to live out all my desires
The educated fool
08 Como Estais Amigos (05:30)
Como esta amigo
For the death of those we don't know
Shall we kneel and say a prayer
They will never know we care
Shall we keep the fires burning
Shall we keep the flames alight
Should we try to remember
What is wrong and what is right
No more tears, no more tears
If we live for a hundred years
Amigos no more tears
And if we do forget them
And the sacrifice they made
Will the wickedness and sadness
Come to visit us again
Shall we dance the dance in sunlight
Shall we drink the wine of peace
Shall our tears be of joy
Shall we keep at bay the beast
No more tears, no more tears
If we live for a hundred years
Amigos no more tears
Inside the scream is silent
Inside it must remain
No victory and no vanquished
Only horror, only pain
No more tears, no more tears
If we live for a hundred years
Amigos no more tears
No more tears, no more tears
If we live for a hundred years
Amigos no more tears
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Other reviews
By poison.mind
"An album that the more you listen to it, the more you understand... and appreciate it!"
"Undoubtedly a strange album, but precisely because of its strangeness and diversity, it is fascinating."
By tuisampa
I consider myself a diehard fan of the Maiden, which is why I refuse to think that the Maiden are the authors of this atrocity.
The chasm left by Dickinson’s absence is unbridgeable, and with his return, the sun will rise again... during this phase of the Maiden, it is DEAD OF NIGHT.
By thetrooper
"These are the Maiden! A classic, very simple but effective riff and a driving rhythm."
"The Clansman practically makes the whole album fortunate... a beautiful song marked by a catchy chorus and splendid solos."
By Starblazer
"Virtual XI constitutes the most experimental chapter of the Iron Maiden saga, unfortunately unjustly snubbed."
"The Clansman... talks about the struggle of the Scottish highlanders against British rule: listen to it and you’ll fall in love, guaranteed!"
