Iron Maiden Survivor 2013: Virtual XI - ROUND 1

[Zydar]

Virtual XI - 23 March 1998

Blaze Bayley - lead vocals
Dave Murray - guitar
Janick Gers - guitar
Steve Harris - bass guitar, keyboards on "The Clansman", "Angel and the Gambler" & "Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger"
Nicko McBrain - drums

Virtual XI was the second and final Iron Maiden album recorded with vocalist Blaze Bayley, before both Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith returned in 1999. For this album some keyboard parts were performed by band founder/bassist Steve Harris whereas on previous albums all the keyboard parts had been handled by Harris' bass technician, Michael Kenney. As with their previous world tour, several US shows on the Virtual XI World Tour had to be cancelled as Bayley had vocal issues, although the official reason was instead that he was suffering from a severe allergic reaction to pollen.

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This is a slight improvement over The X Factor IMHO, there are more uptempo "classic-feel" songs here. But still it's not up to par with their other albums.

First vote goes to The Angel And The Gambler.

[The King in Crimson]

Don't you think I'm gonna vote for
Don't you think I'm gonna vote for
Don't you think I'm gonna vote for
Don't you think I'm gonna vote for
Don't you think I'm gonna vote for
Don't you think I'm gonna vote for
Don't you think I'm gonna vote for
Don't you think I'm gonna vote for
The Angel and the Gambler

[jammindude]

I cannot, for the life of me, understand how anyone can even compare XF and VXI.    XF is at times amazing, and at times pretty good, and at times just OK....whereas VXI is almost pure crap.   Even the OK songs are just completely ruined by gross negligence on the part of everyone involved to not take Steve aside and say, "Say, Steve....don't you think the repetition has gotten just a bit out of hand?"

I didn't think they could do worse than NPFTD, but I was wrong.   This is SO much worse.   Futureal and Clansman are mild saving graces...but nothing can save this album.

Angel and the Gambler is the worst offender of the bunch.  That gets my first vote.  It's even worse than Bring Your Daughter.

[jjrock88]

Angel

[wolfking]

The Angel and the Gambler

[Mladen]

When Two Worlds Collide

I really like this one, even The Angel and the gambler. Love the chorus, period. 

[Ruba]

The last really good Iron Maiden album. I like all songs, except...

When Two Worlds Collide.

Surprised to see that DLTTEOAS has no votes yet.

[wolfking]

Stranger is awesome.  I'm actually surprised to see votes for World Collide, I never had a problem with that song.  What makes it weaker than Angel for some?

[Mladen]

Probably lack of hooks. And I'm not too keen on Bayley's vocals in the last minute, maybe they could have shortened it down.

[Ruba]

Stranger is hated to death on Finnish Iron Maiden fan forum, so that's where I got my perception  .

WTWC sounds lazy and sluggish for me. And stretched. It should've ended before the "WOOOH-WOOO-OOO-OO-OOO". It has great solos though, VXI has some of the best guitar solos on any IM album.

[cramx3]

The last really good Iron Maiden album.

I really like this one, even The Angel and the gambler. Love the chorus, period.