Sheriff_of_Huddersfield
Nomad
I’ve heard The Clansman live with Bruce singing. It sounded good.
What am I missing?
What am I missing?
I’ve never listened to this album
- Thread starter Sheriff_of_Huddersfield
- Start date
Abas
Jester with no tears
I think it's a fine mix of fine rhythms and good solos topped off with one of their best short rocker tracks at the top of the album.
The loud, clear and obvious error of this album is not just over-relying on repetitive choruses - it's overdoing them. And in a couple of cases overkilling them. I'd also say that it's their least adventurous album drum-wise as well.
Just as The X Factor can be considered a proto-A Matter of Life and Death by some people, I could similarly make the argument of Virtual XI being almost like a proto-Dance of Death. High peaks and low lows - but at least the height difference isn't as jarring on Virtual XI as it is on Dance of Death.
Coincidentally, I happen to like The X Factor more than I like A Matter of Life and Death. I think that this also makes for a more even listening experience than Dance of Death.
I like Virtual XI about just as much as I like Fear of the Dark. I like Virtual XI more than I like Killers or No Prayer or the Dying.
At least that's my experience with it.
The loud, clear and obvious error of this album is not just over-relying on repetitive choruses - it's overdoing them. And in a couple of cases overkilling them. I'd also say that it's their least adventurous album drum-wise as well.
Just as The X Factor can be considered a proto-A Matter of Life and Death by some people, I could similarly make the argument of Virtual XI being almost like a proto-Dance of Death. High peaks and low lows - but at least the height difference isn't as jarring on Virtual XI as it is on Dance of Death.
Coincidentally, I happen to like The X Factor more than I like A Matter of Life and Death. I think that this also makes for a more even listening experience than Dance of Death.
I like Virtual XI about just as much as I like Fear of the Dark. I like Virtual XI more than I like Killers or No Prayer or the Dying.
At least that's my experience with it.
JudasMyGuide
The incorrigible papist
I really like the Blaze era in general and I am a long-time supporter of TXF (it used to be in my top 3, nowadays I'm not that sure anymore, but still), but VXI is somewhat spotty. Futureal is a really good, fast rocker (which isn't really their strong suit, nowadays), Clansman is good with Bruce and with Blaze and the album closer Como Estais Amigos, while very untypical for Maiden, is an absolutely stellar track.
The middle tracks, Two Worlds and Educated Fool are actually kinda good, but are also somewhat sombre in the TXF-style (which suits Blaze), so they don't fit the mood of this hodge-podge record as much, so they get kinda unmemorable. Lightning is weird (and the chorus is very clunky) and Angel and the Gambler and Eyes of a Stranger are two tracks that could be actually rather good, but are notorious for being overlong with nonsensical repetition.
Overhated by the majority, overrated by the hipsters, I don't put it on very often, but neither do I put Number of the Beast on very often, so there.
The middle tracks, Two Worlds and Educated Fool are actually kinda good, but are also somewhat sombre in the TXF-style (which suits Blaze), so they don't fit the mood of this hodge-podge record as much, so they get kinda unmemorable. Lightning is weird (and the chorus is very clunky) and Angel and the Gambler and Eyes of a Stranger are two tracks that could be actually rather good, but are notorious for being overlong with nonsensical repetition.
Overhated by the majority, overrated by the hipsters, I don't put it on very often, but neither do I put Number of the Beast on very often, so there.
Randalf
Ancient Mariner
Futureal, the opening track, is certainly a strong one! I think there are some other good tracks as well, but as @Abas mentioned above, the album also delivers quite an overkill when it comes to repetitive choruses.
In my opinion, the album also has a handful great solos by both, Dave & Janick and a plenty of great melodies and other sequences that are really rather good. It's just that while some albums are more than the sum of its parts, I find Virtual XI bit of an opposite: there's enough good ideas and elements in the mix, but the way it's produced & put together suffers from a serious lack of quality control and perspective, which also dulls the edge of its good stuff to a some extent. E.g difference in the energy & overall vibe in the live & studio versions of The Clansman is gigantic and not very favourable on the latter.
So, to put it short, I think you're missing a lot of good Maiden melodies, solos and some good tracks altogether that aren't, however, presented in very favourable circumstances and obviously the album is not quite top-notch Maiden songwriting quality thorough, although probably not quite as horrible (in my opinion) as some might consider it to be.
In my opinion, the album also has a handful great solos by both, Dave & Janick and a plenty of great melodies and other sequences that are really rather good. It's just that while some albums are more than the sum of its parts, I find Virtual XI bit of an opposite: there's enough good ideas and elements in the mix, but the way it's produced & put together suffers from a serious lack of quality control and perspective, which also dulls the edge of its good stuff to a some extent. E.g difference in the energy & overall vibe in the live & studio versions of The Clansman is gigantic and not very favourable on the latter.
So, to put it short, I think you're missing a lot of good Maiden melodies, solos and some good tracks altogether that aren't, however, presented in very favourable circumstances and obviously the album is not quite top-notch Maiden songwriting quality thorough, although probably not quite as horrible (in my opinion) as some might consider it to be.
Azas
Featherslave
Futureal and The Clansman are great—no doubt about it. As for the rest... pretty disappointing as complete songs, in my opinion. Don’t Look to the Eyes of a Stranger does have that one fast, glorious section though. And The Angel and the Gambler—if it were trimmed down to four minutes—could’ve actually been good.
TheTalisman
Ancient Mariner
Why don't you put it on and find out?
Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
It’s a very warm album. Yes there are performance issues, weak production, and bad songwriting tropes, but Janick and Dave truly come into their own as a guitar duo, the songs feel very personal in a less dark way than TXF, and “Como Estais Amigos” never fails to make me cry.
I like this album. It starts off blazing (pun intended) with hyper catchy short rocker Futureal. The next song Angel and the Gambler gets strong reactions across the board but for me it’s basically a catchy rocker with unfortunate repetition of the chorus.
Lightning Strikes Twice and The Educated Fool are also unique, innovative rockers. And The Clansman has proven a well deserved place in set lists over the years.
My only ‘skip’ song is Don’t Look Into the Eyes of a Stranger. Also plagued by a repetitive chorus but not worth the effort overall.
I know a lot of folks place it at the bottom of their IM list but for me it’s solidly in the middle.
Lightning Strikes Twice and The Educated Fool are also unique, innovative rockers. And The Clansman has proven a well deserved place in set lists over the years.
My only ‘skip’ song is Don’t Look Into the Eyes of a Stranger. Also plagued by a repetitive chorus but not worth the effort overall.
I know a lot of folks place it at the bottom of their IM list but for me it’s solidly in the middle.
____no5
Free Man
If you reached 2025 without listening to it, you aren’t missing much and it’s way more fun to never hearing a bad album ever, than the other way around.
I’ve never purchased this album in any format, which is unique feature for a Maiden album for me.
It has a great instrumental part though. Angel and Gambler is way more skippable imo.
I’ve never purchased this album in any format, which is unique feature for a Maiden album for me.
It has a great instrumental part though. Angel and Gambler is way more skippable imo.
MindRuler
Ancient Mariner
You dislike it that much that you burned it?
JudasMyGuide
The incorrigible papist
Nah, he pissed on it. Learn to read.
Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
No you’re both wrong, I threw it in the microwave. Unfortunately that didn’t help the production and now my microwave shrieks every time I ask it, “Don’t you think I’m a savior? Don’t you think I could save you? Don’t you think I could save your life?”
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
Congratulations! We have now spent more time talking about not listening to Virtual XI than it would've taken to simply listen to Virtual XI.
Time on your calendar to listen to one album? What exactly is a "musical calendar" and how is it too full to accommodate 53:22 of music?
Time on your calendar to listen to one album? What exactly is a "musical calendar" and how is it too full to accommodate 53:22 of music?
Jer
'Til Tomorrow
Yes, let’s remember that it only feels like an eternity when you listen to Virtual XI — it’s not actually an eternity.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
I've said this before, but Virtual XI is the other side of the BNW coin.
Many of the tropes that would become mainstays during the reunion era were established in the 90s. I think that's due to the massive success of Fear Of The Dark (the song, not the album). It's the only track outside of the band's classic era that not only managed to overshadow almost all of their other songs, it became of their most popular songs and one of the most well known metal songs of all time. What can we hear on it? Slow intro that is reprised in the outro, singable guitar melodies, lack of guitar harmonies and plenty of sections with audience participation in mind.
I'm sure that success influenced how Steve would go on to approach his songwriting, in particular his epics. While TXF saw a bit of experimenting and a general darker mood, VXI features the same songwrinting principles that are heard on BNW as well. Both albums feature catchy choruses that are repeated a lot (while not as egregious as TAATG, many of the choruses on BNW are super repetitive). Both feature similar approaches to melody writing. Both are a lot more upbeat than TXF.
Obviously VXI has an atrocious production and some subpar performances, with Nicko's playing in particular being bafflingly weak. On the other hand, four of the 10 BNW songs started out as VXI songs to varying degrees, with the lyrics for Dream Of Mirrors even being written by Blaze, so it shouldn't be a surprise that these albums have quite a bit of overlap in the songwriting department.
I genuinely believe if the reunion lineup recorded VXI, that most of it would've been far more beloved. The live versions of Futureal and The Clansman with Bruce showed the potential in those songs and I also believe that some of the shortcomings of BNW are excused or not even entertained precisely because of its status as the reunion album.
Many of the tropes that would become mainstays during the reunion era were established in the 90s. I think that's due to the massive success of Fear Of The Dark (the song, not the album). It's the only track outside of the band's classic era that not only managed to overshadow almost all of their other songs, it became of their most popular songs and one of the most well known metal songs of all time. What can we hear on it? Slow intro that is reprised in the outro, singable guitar melodies, lack of guitar harmonies and plenty of sections with audience participation in mind.
I'm sure that success influenced how Steve would go on to approach his songwriting, in particular his epics. While TXF saw a bit of experimenting and a general darker mood, VXI features the same songwrinting principles that are heard on BNW as well. Both albums feature catchy choruses that are repeated a lot (while not as egregious as TAATG, many of the choruses on BNW are super repetitive). Both feature similar approaches to melody writing. Both are a lot more upbeat than TXF.
Obviously VXI has an atrocious production and some subpar performances, with Nicko's playing in particular being bafflingly weak. On the other hand, four of the 10 BNW songs started out as VXI songs to varying degrees, with the lyrics for Dream Of Mirrors even being written by Blaze, so it shouldn't be a surprise that these albums have quite a bit of overlap in the songwriting department.
I genuinely believe if the reunion lineup recorded VXI, that most of it would've been far more beloved. The live versions of Futureal and The Clansman with Bruce showed the potential in those songs and I also believe that some of the shortcomings of BNW are excused or not even entertained precisely because of its status as the reunion album.
Eddie's Uncle
Educated Fool
As with many Maiden albums, I flow somewhat differently than the majority of fans. To most people VXI rates as their weakest albums, I rate it middle tier.
Ironically, the one song that many people consider the only great song here, is one of the weak tracks on the album to me: The Clansman. Average at best, far from their great epics, and not even the best epic on the album.
Futureal and CEA are the true hits on an album that could have been great if it hadnt such a poor sound and less overused choruses.
To this day I wonder if really all band members thought that TAATG was a good Idea. Did they really all say "yeah Steve, repeating that line 28 times really kicks ass"?
I highly doubt that.
Ironically, the one song that many people consider the only great song here, is one of the weak tracks on the album to me: The Clansman. Average at best, far from their great epics, and not even the best epic on the album.
Futureal and CEA are the true hits on an album that could have been great if it hadnt such a poor sound and less overused choruses.
To this day I wonder if really all band members thought that TAATG was a good Idea. Did they really all say "yeah Steve, repeating that line 28 times really kicks ass"?
I highly doubt that.