Sign of the Cross

How good is Sign of the Cross on a scale of 1-10?

  • 10

    Votes: 17 68.0%

  • 9

    Votes: 5 20.0%

  • 8

    Votes: 3 12.0%

  • 7

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 6

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 5

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 4

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 3

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 2

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 1

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    25
Love the song but..

Just listened to some maiden songs with headphones on.

I cannot for the life of me hear the rhythm guitar on this song, and I mean when it kicks in to the galloping verse. Where's the crunch? I can hear Steve and Nicko loud and clear. Blaze too. I occasionally hear some weak sounding guitars playing clean bits or lead in the background but I can't hear any power chords or anything.

The production is absolutely awful guitar wise.
 
Sign of the Cross I consider to be in the higher tier of Iron Maiden songs. It's probably right outside my top 10 or top 15. The studio version is a bit lacking in areas. The dynamics are all off. The intro is way too quiet and when the band comes in it is way too loud. You shouldn't have to adjust the volume when listening to a song.

I love the frantic pacing of the verses and Blaze's vocals are quiet strong. Dave's solo is awesome too. 8/10 for me.
 
The best Blaze era song for sure and still in my Maiden Top 10 songs after all this time.
Call it blasphemy but I prefer the studio version over the live songs with Bruce.
 
Looking at the previous albums up to that point a very unorthodox opener, but in context of what came later in the reunion era this one doesn't seem so strange anymore. The band Evergrey used the intro for one of their songs too, funnily enough.

Blaze has some great performances throughout the song. I like the RIR version more than the studio version, not because of Blaze vs Bruce, but because of the difference in energy and speed. The song really benefits from the live setting. The verses in particular need that extra oomph that is missing in the studio version once you've heard it live.

The song is filled with great melodies and I appreciate the added clean guitar flourishes in the chorus. The verses are simple, but incredibly effective. The highlight of the song is heard in the instrumental sections though. The song is a proper journey. It changes tempos, time signatures, atmosphere and vibes with relative ease. The odd-time section with the chromatic riff (lots of tritones!) halfway through the song is super trippy and I really love it.

The song picks up even more steam once it changes to the steady 3/4 beat. Then a transitional riff, similar in purpose to the one before Hallowed's solo section and we get some super catchy melodies, before hearing the first couple of solos of the album. The change of pace is awesome as well and definitely welcome. Both Dave and Janick deliver great solos (though the end of Janick's is a bit too weak and random).

We change tempos, get some more great lead playing, with some added clean guitar half way through. Then a massive tempo change and back to the final chorus. Really love the fact that the chorus changes to a clean version halfway through, changing the feel entirely. We get a reprise of the intro and the song ends.

Not sure I have too much to add that hasn't been said before and better by others. A great start to the album and a strong 8.
 
Most of this track justifies a 10/10 rating. Riffs, melodies, vocals, lyrics. Awesome!
Unfortunately I ended up with "only" a 7/10. What happened? Three reasons:
1) It is too long, especially as the opening spot. The 5:35 - 8:00 sections do not add much to the song and could have been left out. Especially the 3/4 signature part.
2) This song suffers by far the most from the strange production of the album. The X-Factor has almost no rhythm guitar. On most songs, this sound still works, but Sign Of The Cross is a true epic with a crushing harmony structure and powerful solemnity. By the lack of rhythm guitar it loses A LOT of potential power and hymn potential. When the song descents back into quietness at the end, it is supposed to be a coming down after a strong climax, but in reality there is very little contrast to what happened before.
3) Position in the running order. It works MUCH better as a closer, a true epic in the vein of Alexander or Rhyme.
 
Eddie's Uncle said:
Most of this track justifies a 10/10 rating. Riffs, melodies, vocals, lyrics. Awesome!
Unfortunately I ended up with "only" a 7/10. What happened? Three reasons:
1) It is too long, especially as the opening spot. The 5:35 - 8:00 sections do not add much to the song and could have been left out. Especially the 3/4 signature part.
2) This song suffers by far the most from the strange production of the album. The X-Factor has almost no rhythm guitar. On most songs, this sound still works, but Sign Of The Cross is a true epic with a crushing harmony structure and powerful solemnity. By the lack of rhythm guitar it loses A LOT of potential power and hymn potential. When the song descents back into quietness at the end, it is supposed to be a coming down after a strong climax, but in reality there is very little contrast to what happened before.
3) Position in the running order. It works MUCH better as a closer, a true epic in the vein of Alexander or Rhyme.
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Out of curiosity, what rating would you give the live version(s)?
 
Diesel 11 said:
Out of curiosity, what rating would you give the live version(s)?
Click to expand...
I only know that one from Rock In Rio. 8.5/10. Much heavier sound, which definitely helps the track. The overlong middle section is still the same problem. The fans clapping completely out of sync in the beginning are also mildly annoying.
 
Opening the album with The Sign of the Cross is such an awesome statement for the band at the time. I have some major gripes with the sequencing of X Factor but the placement of Sign of the Cross is not one of them.

Also it's easily the best song on the album so it makes sense for them to put their best foot forward with Blaze.
 
Mosh said:
Opening the album with The Sign of the Cross is such an awesome statement for the band at the time. I have some major gripes with the sequencing of X Factor but the placement of Sign of the Cross is not one of them.

Also it's easily the best song on the album so it makes sense for them to put their best foot forward with Blaze.
Click to expand...
The album closes with The Unbeliever, which I find the weakest track on X-Factor, so that leaves a foul taste when the album fades out. With Sign of the Cross, it would have ended on a very strong note. I think it might have helped the record. It does work as the opener, but Lord of the Flies would also have been a good start.
 
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