Good take. Agree with what you say about it being a very underrated album. It's definitely a 10/10. It could rival any Maiden album and probably it would be more popular if it had their name on the artwork. Agree that this is peak Bruce. From this album through to Rock in Rio he's at his pinnacle.

Amazing!!!

Bruce has been killing it during this tour. I'm surprised he was so good at the Budapest show. He's really sick right now and was really sick during that concert.

In the same way as I find it to be true of Sign of the cross . When I first heard FOTD it was the rock in Rio version which has so much energy that when I finally heard the studio version , it just sounded limp

For a guy dealing with a terrible virus, Bruce still sounds incredible here.

The cover reminds me of Megadeths , countdown to extinction. Perhaps a case of the influencer being influenced? . As far as your alternative version goes , it’s nearly 20 minutes shorter and feels far better paced ! I’d also throw look for the truth in there . Overall it sounds less dour than the actual record does , what a difference a word in Steve’s ear might have made .

Blaze !, muchas gracias por contar esa historia ya que soy Argentino y fan de Maiden, en esa epoca hacia un año habia conocido a Iron Maiden y con 15 años se desato el conflicto en 1982, el gobierno militar prohibio las canciones en idioma ingles y ya no entraban los discos internacionales, muchos chicos de 18 años fuwron enviados a las islas y murieron en las Malvinas como tu amigo, fue muy triste para todos, gracias de nuevo por la cancion y su historia !!

Bruce's material in the 90's was so good. His solo albums are my favorite albums and I include The Mandrake Project in that grouping. A top 10 could easily be all of the Chemical Wedding album. I'm really glad I found your channel. Up the Irons!

Angel and the Gambler? Wow! I'm not a fan of the song but I respect your decision to put it in the list.

Dickinson's top 10 of the 90's: 10. Tattooed Millionaire 9. Born in '58 8. Darkside of Aquarius 7. The Tower 6. Book of Thel 5. Sacred Cowboys 3. Tears of the Dragon 2. Chemical Wessing 1. Son of a Gun

Great review! I'm really enjoying your content and insights. I love this album. There are a few surprises, like Fingers in the Wounds, which has a really cool middle eastern vibe. Resurrection Men has such a cool intro. Face in the Mirror is deeply personal and I'm loving this song. Shadow of the Gods is absolutely one of my favorites. Epic doesn't begin to describe this song and what it accomplishes. Sonata is just breathtaking. Another favorite of mine. I came into this album wanting to love it, but it has really moved so far beyond what I expected. Rain on the Graves is also just stellar. There is nothing I don't love on this album. Mistress of Mercy is quickly becoming a favorite as well. It's a great gym track! It sounds like a marriage between Freak and Headswitch, but it's better than both. I'm super biased. I'll take Bruce solo over Maiden, my favorite band. This album is right up there for me with Chemical Wedding and Accident of Birth.

My favorite album. I love Maiden but nothing touches Chemical Wedding.

Judgement Day? That is a great track! The Assassin is so unappreciated. I love this song. Afraid to Shoot Strangers would have been on my list but I overplayed that song! It is a classic, of course. Blaze also sang it well, but it is Bruce's song. I didn't list Re-Entry in my list. That is one of my favorite songs and should have been in my list. Really though, the entire Chemical Wedding Album including Return of the King would be in my top list. Musical perfection. Damn... Jerusalem. I forgot to include that. It's one of my favorites! It's just awesome. Bruce's best singing, I agree.

I think Bruce ruled the 90's with his solo career. In my opinion... (considering both Maiden and Bruce) Chemical Wedding and Accident of Birth are flawless albums, in my opinion. My top 10 for Bruce: 10. Space Race (Skunkworks) 9. Hell No 8. Taking the Queen 7. Strange Death in Paradise (Skunkworks still counts, right?) 6. Arc of Space and Time 5. Killing Floor 4. Gates of Urizen 3. Chemical Wedding 2. Accident of Birth 1. Tears of the Dragon Maiden: 10. Fear is the Key 9. Childhood's End 8. Tailgunner 7. 2 AM 6. Man on the Edge 5. Futureal 4. Be Quick or Be Dead 3. Clansman 2. Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter 1. Fear of the Dark

Great video guys, but its a win for Maiden for me. Up The Irons!

I'll do Maiden now and Bruce for Pt. 2 10. Justice of the Peace 9. Childhood's End 8. When Two Worlds Collide 7. Judgement of Heaven 6. The Educated Fool 5. No Prayer For the Dying 4. Fates Warning 3. Be Quick or Be Dead 2. Judas Be My Guide 1. Fear of the Dark

🤟🏼🔥🇮🇹 Mitico Blaze Bayley! 🤟🏼🇬🇧🤝🇮🇹🫂💪🏼

Love this track! Bruce's vocals are on point! This song Literally transports one to ancient Brittania

You've made me want to listen to it again, ha, been ages since i gave it a good listen, definetely can't fault it, killer album !!

Ayyy, just found this lil podcast. Gonna be diving from the beginning as I love nerding out in Iron Maiden. Good vid & you seem like top guys 👍

Blaze forma parte, por derecho propio, de la historia del heavy, y de Iron Maiden!!💪💪💪

I love his work. Meet him once in my live something like 20 years ago. He was such a nice guy!

Saw him at the same concert. He was great.

Virtual XI is still one of their best albums and I loved Blaze Bayleys vocals

This comes sixth in my album ranking behind powerslave,x factor, amolad, book of souls,, and final frontier

I actually think this album is better than it's rumour, but still I would place this album among the worst albums by Maiden together with No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the Dark. The album has some major flaws: 1. The editing and construction of the songs is weak. Many ok parts, but they are stitched badly together. Many songs sound like they are not completely finished. 2. The lyrics are very cheesy on most of this album. It's very simple and reminds me a bit about songs like Deja Vu, but with worse music attached to it. The lyrics are also way too repetitive. 3. I don't like Nickos playing on this album. It is too simple and straight forward. Worst work by a drummer on any IM album. 4. Blaze Bayley was a scapegoat for this period and he sings better than what people say. But his singing is a bit off at some parts on this album. Because he only got one or a few chances to sing them for the most. Too rushed. Therefor it sounds sour sometimes, and he sounded better on X-factor. 5. It has "The Angel and the Gambler" on it, probably the worst song on an Iron Maide album, that is my opinion. The song is a real stinker! Too many repetitions, too weak/cheesy lyrics and way too long. Agree with you that it might sound better live, but at it's full length it has nothing to do on an Iron Maiden album. Here is my list from best to worst: 1. The Clansman Very good song. A bit slow and sounds better live with Bruce, but good in studioversion also. Great lyrics (best on the album). Como Estais Amigo Very good song I think and very underated. Blaze sounds a bit sour in some parts, but a very nice gem. Heartfelt. Futureal Very good track and a perfect opening track! The chorus and prechorus is very repetitive thou, should have had more verses, a musical change or just a bit more variations, but still short and straight to the point. Lightning Strikes Twice A good track with some nice musical changes. Not a fan of everything Gers do on this track, but all in all I like this track. The Educated Fool This is an ok song for me, but not more. Very good intro. Blaze sings good in the more quiet sections. His voice sounds more weird/off when he starts singing "harder". I like the instrumental sections and soloes, but they could have been attached way better together. Ok lyrics, but prechorus is way too repetitive. When Two Worlds Collide Filler. Some good music here with a nice intro. Very simple, almost cheesy, lyrics. The lyrics are very repetive. The track is way longer than it should be. Don't Look to... Filler, almost a stinker. I actually like the intro, but from there it goes horribly wrong. Weak lyrics and the music is also a bit crap. Way too long and repetive. Parts are not attached well together in this song. The Angel and the Gambler Stinker. Way too long and way too repetitive. The drumming of Nicko is flat and boring. Not very much to work with from the guitars except from some guitarsoloes. The keyboard/synth does this track no good. The song has a very commercial sound, but on the wrong side of what stinks and not. The worst song by Maiden? Probably! 👍🤘

I also really like TAATG!. Is it too long? Yes. Are there too many "Don't cha thinks...", Yes but I really like the melodies throughout the song. My favorite song on the album is When Two Worlds Collide. I feel it does need a third verse though, similar to how I feel Evil that Men Do and Die W Your Boots On also should have had third verses. After that, The Educated Fool is my second favorite. The Clansman is just ok to me. This album is fantastic and I wish more people would give it a chance. I prefer it over Fear of the Dark but it's not quite as good as No Prayer.

I 've met all the band in Paris, at the Fnac for an autograph sessions for X-Factor the day of the concert at the Zenith. Blaze and Jannick have spoken with me a few word. A great remind. The second was good as usual with Iron Maiden. Later, i keep on listening Blaze through his own albums. They are very good. My prefered songs in Virtual XI were Futureal, The Angel and the Gambler, of course The Clansman, don't llok to the eyes of the stranger. When two worlds collide feared me cause at this time, everyone spoke about an asteroid would collide Earth lol I saw the Virtual Eleven Tour also in the Zenith.

Great review and class wee interview with Blaze. Regarding Virtual XI what we have here is a great example of how someone's greatest strength can also being their great weakness. Steve Harris is a very very thran wee man (stubborn for all the non Norn Iron folk) he is as stubborn as a mule, this attitude is the only reason Iron Maiden still exists, down through the decades he withstood great pressure for the band to change (even right at the beginning of their career) they didn't go Punk, they didn't go Glam, they didn't do Thrash or Grunge, they didn't "Sell Out". For many of us Maiden fans, the attitude of the band and how they have gone about things is one of the main reasons we love them. However this great strength of Steve's is also why he stubbornly produced sub power production at the Barnyard, he will not be steered, tell him the Angel and the Gambler is 4 minutes too long, and he'll add an extra 2 minutes. On the flip side tell him you can't have songs over ten minutes long, and you certainly can't have them back to back on an album and Steve will give you, Death of the Celts, The Parchment and Hell on Earth. This is the wonderful and sometimes frustrating paradox of Steve Harris!

This is cool Blaze, having a chat on Ed hunter

Great song

Very cool!

Such a crackin gig. Maiden never disapoint

Thanks for the no spoilers lads, a class act as usual.

Blaze just keeps getting better and Better. Like a fine wine.

Great show from big Blaze, saw him 28 years ago in Belfast with Maiden and thought he did a solid job, and last night he was just brilliant. Regarding Absolva, cracker band, last night I said to Luke that if they'd been around in the 80's they would have been selling out arenas every week, he said that was his parents fault :-)

Blaze Bayley indescritível The best melhor vocalista dessa banda ae só escuto os dois álbuns que ele participou top

I hope this podcast continues, its clasa

Classic album

Blaze rocks

Excellent review

Love this podcast

This is the greatest podcast in history

Glad you guys are back. Great commentary on a great album.

Have really loved binging your guys' content. I hope you return at some point to finish off the catalogue.

I absolutely Love Maiden England but I hate the 2013 abomination. The mix on my home video (both VHS and Laserdisc) I think sounds great. Thankfully I was able to track down the Japanese original CD So that's how I listen to it mostly now. I appreciate the additional songs that were released on the 2013 edition but alot of the Bruce banter and song intros have been cut out which to me is unacceptable. Thats what makes each live show different from each other. Plus it's just too darn loud with no dynamic range.

Flash of the Blade is my 2nd favorite Maiden song off all time.

It's my 2nd least favorite Maiden album but I do rate it a lot higher than you two. Great songs: Be Quick or Be Dead Childhood's End Afraid to Shoot Strangers Judas Be My Guide Fear of the Dark Good Songs: The Fugitive The Apparition Bad Songs: From Here to Eternity Wasting Love Chains of Misery Maiden's top two worst songs in their entire catalogue: Fear is the Key Weekend Warrior

Blaze should put out an album of re-recordings of his Iron Maiden songs, done in his own style.

didn't know the set list before the gig? where were ye hiding with the last month or so, was the same set list every show so far