Virtual XI appreciation

frus said:
I read somewhere that (in his words) he wanted to "give more space to the others", which is just... bullshit
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Yeah. I don't think Nicko was the happiest bloke in the band around that time either. I think the years with Blaze in the band were hard on Nicko for various reasons. In many interviews he has declined to talk about the Blaze years and just mentions that "Now it is as it should be" with Bruce and Adrian back in the band. Also there are a few stories of Nicko making fun of Blaze on a few occassions and how he messed up lyrics etc.....I think Nicko was rather tired of the whole thing in these years 1997-1998.
 
"
Bruce Dickinson was the main-front part from Iron Maiden and it was extreme difficult to fill the hole after he left. Not only because of him behind the microphone, also because of the unusual "dark" songwriting, a lot of fans "left" the band and followed Bruce into his solo-career - the CD's didn't sold that good and Blaze had to pay the price - he left by the end of 1998.

Nicko never really liked Blaze (once he said: When Blaze comes onstage, hells open wide) - and also Dave was very glad as Bruce came back..."
 
So Nicko did that on purpose and Steve said nothing about it? Please keep in mind that the drumming on songs that where initially intented for VXI is pretty bad. And I mean songs like Dream of mirrors, the mercenary, The nomad...Nicko is just awful. It is just the bass pedal that shows we are not listening to a drum machine.
 
Gk1 said:
So Nicko did that on purpose and Steve said nothing about it?
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Nah we can't know that. But like maybe coupled with being less than 100% into it at the time - AND making a conscious effort to just support the music and take a backseat. No one has said that he deliberately played shit because he didn't care. Again, the drumming is not bad per se. Just different than what we are used too!
 
Honestly he is a lot better on The Nomad and Dream of Mirrors than most of the songs on Virtual. More small details going on.

The drumming on Virtual is so noticeable because it's the same backseat approach in ALL of the songs.
 
Gk1 said:
Please keep in mind that the drumming on songs that where initially intented for VXI is pretty bad.
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Yeah I never actually realized that! I just listened a bit and there's a great difference between those and for example Fallen Angel or Wicker man
 
Anyhow at the time I thought that that is was a major improvement to TXF. Considering that it had more energy and a much better guitar sound.
 
I think Virtual XI, though flawed, is a damn fine record. The production is overall a little stale, though the guitars are an improvement from The X Factor. I would agree with others about Nicko's drumming, very boring. The Angel and the Gambler had a lot of potential and at it's core is a good song, it's just a shame Steve thought it was a good idea to repeat the chorus so goddamn much. But there is a good fan made edit on YouTube, I downloaded that and replaced the original on my iPod.

Other than those issues, it's another great Maiden album in my opinion. I know Blaze isn't as fond of this album as The X Factor but I think it's cool he got to make a dark album and a "classic" style one. Futureal and The Clansman are instant classic songs. Lightning Strikes Twice, amd The Educated Fool are solid tracks. When Two Worlds Collide is one of the best songs here. Such an overlooked gem, featuring one of the best harmonies they have ever done. I like Don't Look Eyes of a Stranger a lot. It does have a repeating section but I like the musical build up. Como Estais Amigo is a beautiful ballad and closer. The solo section gives me goosebumps!
 
This Album and if Blaze had done another with Maiden, would probably have made Maiden go into early retirement. I am glad Steve came into his senses after Virtual XI and brought Dickinson back. Blaze is not good enough for a huge band like Maiden...infact he is not good enough for even a semi decent band. He is a good song writer and if he was a good singer i think Silicon Messiah would have been a bigger hit. Imagine Bruce or someone with vocal range singing that album!
 
Jadukor said:
This Album and if Blaze had done another with Maiden, would probably have made Maiden go into early retirement. I am glad Steve came into his senses after Virtual XI and brought Dickinson back. Blaze is not good enough for a huge band like Maiden...infact he is not good enough for even a semi decent band. He is a good song writer and if he was a good singer i think Silicon Messiah would have been a bigger hit. Imagine Bruce or someone with vocal range singing that album!
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No. Just no.

I love Virtual XI. This is album that defined for me future of band and I'm glad that Blaze was their singer. Yeah, he is not Bruce and so what? He has amazing voice, I like his interpretation of text and he is fun as hell to watch live. I always listen to his albums when I feel down.
 
Meliegree said:
No. Just no.

This is album that defined for me future of band.
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I agree with this statement. This album made maiden realize the future was in the opposite direction and they made BNW because of that which sounds absolutely nothing like Virtual XI
 
Maiden DNA is there in every album with or without Blaze. As i said earlier i think Blaze is a good song writer and i liked his Silicon Messiah that followed his departure. BNW just packs a punch in terms of production, energy from Bruce and the music that Adrian's guitar brings. Virtual XI in conparison sounds tired and repetitive. Angel and the Gambler, Dont look to the eyes of stranger, Educated fool all sounded repetitive and boring to me.
 
BNW is weak for me beacuse it feel like band trying go back in time to 80's. I don't like this album at all, other post-reunion albums on the other hand…

Yeah, for you but one way or another Blaze has many fans here so I feel little angry while reading
he is not good enough for even a semi decent band. He is a good song writer and if he was a good singer i think Silicon Messiah would have been a bigger hit. Imagine Bruce or someone with vocal range singing that album!
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Bruce is great but trying to put him on every album is just wrong. Albums with Blaze are just different, you can love it or hate it but that doesn't mean that he is bad.
 
I mean no offense. This is my personal opinion. If i say Blaze is bad doesnt mean he actually is. I do think there are many like me who do not like Blaze's voice. The album sales is proof of the fact that as loyal as maiden fans may be, many simply did not adjust to Blaze's voice. I bought both albums when it came out and at the time quite liked it. It was not until BNW came out that i realized what i had been missing. It makes perfect sense that u love Virtual XI and do not like BNW. I am at the opposite end of the spectrum.
 
Awful album and a terrible time for Maiden. However, Blaze's live versions of songs from VXI from after he was fired from Maiden, shows that with better production and a more focused direction, the album could have been decent. For all the blame that Blaze gets, it was Steve who let the band down during that period.
 
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