Iron Maiden - Virtual Xi
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Iron MaidenEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2002-03-26
Music Label: Sanctuary Records
Soundtracks:
- Futureal
- The Angel and the Gambler
- Lightning Strikes Twice
- The Clansman
- When Two Worlds Collide
- The Educated Fool
- Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger
- Como Estais Amigos
Free Music Notes for Virtual Xi
Free Music Review: A Great 90's Effort From Iron Maiden!
Hit: 5 Stars
In 1998 Iron Maiden came back with their eleventh studio recording appropriately called "Virtual XI". The line-up stayed the same as the previous collection "X Factor" with Blaze Bayley on vocals, Steve Harris on bass, Dave Murray and Janick Gers on lead/rhythm guitars, and Nick McBrain on drums. The album was recorded at Barnyard Studios, Essex (England) throughout 1997 until February of the following year. Although it is made up of only eight songs, all of them offer great musical ideas. In fact I consider, believe it or not, "Virtual XI" to be the band's best 90's album!
"Futureal" is definitely a late career highlight. It's a fast paced heavy rocker that utilizes the simple chord progression of E, C, and D and the band's trademark style of playing harmony leads on the guitar with Harris' bass doing the base notes. The quality is maintained in the second song "The Angel And The Gambler": another hard rock number that manages to reach the nine-minute mark with a memorable chorus with an unusual organ-keyboard sound for the intro. Before the solo, a new chord sequence is added to the chorus now played more quietly. Great solo in the middle from the Murray/Gers partnership. Although some people may well disagree, the third number "Lightning Strikes Twice" is probably the weakest one of the bunch for me with the chorus being its strongest part.
The band takes a nearly progressive approach on the eight-minute "The Clansman" using a string-like keyboard sound with a structure that makes the song start quietly before the electric guitars kick in later. Listen carefully at the beginning for a lead guitar melody that resembles their much older composition "Déjà Vu" from the "Somewhere In Time" LP! The lyrics have a medieval theme.
Singer Bayley provided a great vocal line and lyrics in "When Two Worlds Collide" while the string keyboard really enhances the instrumental break in the middle. Also the part at the end with Bayley doing the ooooh-oooh chant is really nice! The idea of introducing the song's verse/chorus in a quiet manner is reprised again with great results in this Harris-only composition called "The Educated Fool" but my favorite part is the bridge that shows up after the second chorus with the lyric "Time will flow/but I will follow". The lead guitar melodies in the middle are catchy as well.
"Don't Look Into The Eyes Of A Stranger" was written by Harris himself with a cool arpeggiated main melody in the verses that outlines the fifth chords Ab5, E5, Eb5, and alternating between C#5 and B5 (I think I'm on the right key). The tempo picks up in the middle before going back to the main theme at the end. On of the album's best!
To finish up comes the Spanish titled "Como Estais Amigos" which is one of the band's very few ballads written by Bayley and Gers. An amazing song with great singing from Bayley throughout. In the verses Gers plays an arpeggio using the chord Dm and moving the bass note to G, C, and B plus these chords: G, Am, Bb, and C. The atmospheric string keyboard adds a lot of atmosphere here and there's one of the most memorable lead guitar melodies on the whole album right before the solo and then it is reprised later. A good album exit.
To sum up, "Virtual XI" still remains my favorite 90's album from them although I'm really not sure why! This is definitely much better than the previous one "X Factor". If you like melodic metal, then this one is for you!
Thanks for taking the time to read!
Later...
Virtual Xi Poster
Iron Maiden's eleventh album! Great slipcase edition! - 1998Alternative Rock Music CDs
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