Iron Maiden--The X Factor

Iron Maiden--The X Factor (1995) Rating--7.9

First album in the post-Bruce era, featuring former Wolfsbane vocalist Blaze Bayley. This album has a "darker," slower feel to many of its songs. However, several of them are quite good---as long as you aren't expecting 'Powerslave' all over again. Only one song really reminds of the old '80s Maiden a whole lot, and that is "Man on the Edge". Musically, there are times when you can clearly tell it's Maiden---the way Harris works the bass, lead runs here and there, and the occasional melodic twin-guitar blurb. A number of the arrangements sound straight off of 'Fear of the Dark' and 'No Prayer', as a matter of fact. The overall production sound of the album, however, feels a bit muddled.
I read at one time that Harris has lost a fair amount of his hearing over his career, and if you listen to the disc with earplugs you would "hear" it the way he did during the recording and mixing of the album---and that it sounds better that way. Haven't tried it yet...
Notables are "Sign of the Cross," "Fortunes of War," "Look for the Truth," "The Aftermath," and "Judgment of Heaven".
Whether one feels this music is better or worse than the older Maiden material, one thing is for sure---it's good to have the boys back in the ring.
HOT CHOPS--"Fortunes of War," especially the beginning of it, has a very emotional feel. A very moving first couple of minutes.
TRACK LIST: Sign of the Cross/Lord of the Flies/Man on the Edge/Fortunes of War/Look For the Truth/The Aftermath/Judgement of Heaven/Blood on the World's Hands/The Edge of Darkness/2 A.M./The Unbeliever

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