I love The Duellists! if most fans really like it, it's not all that underrated 😃 I will be doing something pretty cool with that one soon so look out for that!
I always liked the X-Factor I never really understood the overwhelming hate that it received, I think there are real good gems in it. It's a dark album and surely not for everyone. I believe it embodies the gloom that it's meant to and in that I think it really succeeds. Lord of the Flies and Look for the Truth were always in my Maiden playlist when I was growing up.
J'ai adorer cette album ainsi que virtual Judgement of heaven et sign of the cross étaient mes chansons préférés. Surtout Judgement Bref un album simple techniquement mais énorme au niveau de l'émotion qu'il procure.
@@paulgarot9249 J’adore également “The X Factor”, carrément un de mes Iron Maiden préférés 😍 Puissant, profond et très sombre, sans doute à cause du divorce que traversait Steve Harris…. Un album 💿 dont on ne ressort pas indemne 😉
I believe it's not true hate but the pain expressed mistaken that fans felt missing Bruce Dickinson not enabling themselves to get to really know those great pieces of music.
I agree it's a great album, the songs are really good, it's just the production isn't very good I remember being very disappointed with the drum sound when the album came out, thought they were too loud and a bit basic and boring and the guitars were a little thin in places, the edge of darkness could have been an epic song with slightly fuller guitars.
You don't understand the hate for it? I think at the time it would be easy to see why no one liked it. In retrospect, it deserves a lot of love. I really love it. But if we'd have gone from the heyday era to this.. I can see why no one would like it
No Prayer From the Dying. Incomprehensible how maiden doesn't play it live. Mother Russia is the shortest epic maiden song and one of the MOST beautiful of all their songs.
I dont care what everyone believes... The x factor is a masterpiece! Im 41, i hear it since 95. Its one of my Maidens favorite, as i also have a huge love and respect to Blazes solo career... Greetings from Greece
Look for the truth and The edge of darkness are my favourite songs from the X-factor album. But this song is also good, top 5 songs of that album. Great video as always, thanks.
Always loved this track, especially the live version on the Best of the B Sides album. The performance is much more energetic, and Janick's solo is energizing. I love how intense and hyped the band gets during that solo. So fun!
Honestly, I really enjoy the Blaze era. The dark, brooding nature of the songs from X Factor really suited Blaze's tone of voice, like 2AM, Judgement of Heaven, Blood On The World's Hands (like you mentioned). He can be low and menacing, or he can be higher, emotional and honestly vulnerable sounding. And, quite honestly, Virtually XI isn't that bad either. Just because it isn't Bruce doesn't mean it deserves to be hated. I do get The Angel and the Gambler is a little repetitive, but I feel people just hit on that and overlook the other songs, like Como Estais Amigos and When Two Worlds Collide. I feel this era deserves a second chance from some fans, they may be surprised; which also makes me happy that Sign Of The Cross and The Clansman have become a staple on the Legacy of the Beast Tour.
I am also a fan of the Blaze era. I started off with Bruce tunes when I started getting into Maiden but I knew he wasn't the original so when I listened to Blaze I didn't get that flustered! Infact, my first album was a best of Maiden and it had Virus on it, with Blaze on vocal, and when I first heard that song I preferred the vocals on it. I didn't know at the time it was a different guy singing. Lord of the Flies, 2 AM, The Edge of Darkness, Sign Of The Cross and Man on the Edge... for being a "Bad" album it has some excellent tunes on it! Same for Virtual XI - one of my all time favourites on that album, Educated Fool. Absolute love that song. It is a very good album and I like to fire it on quite a bit. Angel & The Gambler is too long and is a bit like The Red & The Black, New Frontier and Brighter Than A Thousand Suns and others that have an awful lot of repeating chorus and pre-chorus parts. Sadly, people on hear what they want to hear sometimes!
I myself have always been a fan of 'judgement of heaven'.Especially the instrumental section after Dave's solo.Anyway another great video, Thanks and greetings once again from Greece.
When I listen to Senjutsu I turn it off. I cannot get into the album at all. I was expecting a masterpiece of new, progressive music and ended up listening to old riffs and melody's that had been on previous albums. I actually liked the Blaze albums. I don't get too caught up in caring about the change of singer, Bruce had been done for a few albums at that point so he wanted out. I actually like Blaze's approach and have bought some of his Solo stuff. Got some of Bruce's solo stuff too, pretty hit and miss but he does have some crackers.
@@john-dalemccallum1195 better than TFF IMO better than the book of souls. It took me three listens to like TBOS meanwhile I fell I love with Senjutsu You probably don’t enjoy playing along to progressive Maiden songs on guitar, because I find the longer ones with my intricate keys/modes and themes more enjoyable For instance, Lord of Light changes a lot and it’s very fun to play because you got some chugging riffs while exercising your pickings with the fast chords changes. I’m going too much into detail trying to convince fans who are stuck in the NOTB era to be honest
@@watvat8 I wish I was good enough on guitar to play along with Maiden... my playing is basic at best! Although I can play along with some of the Brave New World album. I listen to a lot of old prog music, Yes, Rush, Caravan and some newer prog like Dream Theatre, Coheed & Cambria and Avantasia. Prog is one of my favoured musical areas to listen too so the "Prog" side of Senjutsu is nothing new. Some bits are a bit different and I get the Japanese drumming etc but it became a bit tedious for the whole song. And as I say, most of the melodies sound like songs they have already sang. I have played the album a fair few times and will give it more listens but it really isn't grabbing me at all. I do quite like Stratego right enough although it is also reminiscent of another track for long parts of it but I can't quite place it. The Writing on the Wall promised more than it delivered, nice and unusual start for Maiden, the more country vibe, but it then moves into a straight forward Maiden track - nice enough little song but felt like they could have explored things a little more musically. I was really looking forward to this album when I saw the running times of the tracks, I love a long song. But sadly, for me, it hasn't caught flight with me. But neither did A Matter of Life & Death, still can't listen to that album! Yet I loved Book of Souls, Brave New World, The Final Frontier and Dance of Death... I would argue some of their strongest stuff has come out since the re-union... but that is another debate for another day! As I got into maiden in the late 90's and from a Best of Album I have never been one for being in an era. Like with Black Sabbath, I like both Ozzy and Ronnie James era music. I don't get stuck with the petty arguments of who sings best and all that, if teh music is good I like it and if it isn't for me then I let it be. Rock on mate.
@@john-dalemccallum1195 Good statement. It may be the guitar player in me that just enjoys the longer songs. And hey, if you can learn one Maiden song on guitar, you can most definitely learn them all because they’re all in the same key anyways!
I always liked this song alot, I enjoyed this album when it came out and even more as I listened to it over the years, I was so insanely worried what Maidens singer would sound like and when I heard sign of the cross I breathed a sigh of relief and felt like life would still be worth living...lol. Great video Nico! I would enjoy more Blaze era breakdowns and covers. I am learning The educated fool and it is alot of fun to play so far. UP THE IRONS 🤘
When I read the video title before I clicked, the first song that came to mind was Blood on the World's Hands. Absolutely the most underrated Maiden song in my opinion.
Awesome video, have you ever considered reviewing and ranking each album? Personally, I would love to hear your take on the entire catalogue because I love hearing your insights on this amazing band!
Thanks! I don't think I will ever actually REVIEW or rank Maiden's albums because I'm a big fan and can't really be objective about music I am so connected to emotionally. Also, I know that every album is based on where they were at musically, intellectually and emotionally. They couldn't ever have made Somewhere in Time in 1981 and there's no way they would have made Killers in 1986 so how could I really compare those two albums fairly? But... I will definitely be doing more breakdowns in the future so stay tuned for those! Cheers 🤘
The X Factor is one of my top 5 Maiden albums, and Blood on the World’s Hands is an absolute belter! They took a chance on this record instead of repeating what had gone before and a lot of the new arrangement and structural ideas present on X Factor would be refined and presented very successfully on the albums which would follow. Great video, particularly enjoyed your take on that fantastic bass intro 🤘
I love the X-F, and really like VXI. A very weird but if people give it a chance song that is great: “Don’t Look to the Eyes of a Stranger”. The song that got me into Maiden was Judgement of Heaven back in the album launch days. Blood on the Worlds Hand is amazing!
Brilliant video one of your best. Fantastic to hear you break down the similar and differing aspects of the songwriting on a Blaze era track compared to their prior and later writing.
I love The X Factor, but admit to not giving it my full listening attention, as a whole, until the last few years. BotWH is a heavy tune with really cool-sounding sections, and it’s interesting to learn about all of those parts. I agree it is under-rated, as is the whole album, really. The album had definitely become one of my faves. 🤘 The Miles cameo was a nice surprise!! 😊 🐾
I think of the blaze albums as the Star Wars prequels of the metal world. Hated and derived, but with time becoming more accepted. There’s points for criticism on these albums, but there’s also many positives. These albums really set the scene for what they’ve done since bruce/Adrian came back. Great shout with this one, but my personal most underrated song is prodigal son - no one ever talks about that. It’s brilliant.
Interesting analogy! And yeah, Prodigal Son is another very unique song for them. I did a breakdown of Adrian's solo a while back: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5guM3DIMNdk.html
@@LicksOfTheBeast ooh nice - didn’t realise you’d done that, still working my way through your other videos! Blaze is essentially the hayden Christensen of metal 😊 He did the best he could with what he was given, and his best is actually quite good.
Nico, thanks! Awesome video & you are spot on. I have been a Maiden Fan since the 1st album. Most fans are familiar with the Golden Years, from NOTB-SSOSS. After the lineup changes, losing & gaining fans in the process. From NPFTD-VIRTUAL, these albums are underrated! IMHO these albums w/o Adrian & Bruce have hidden Gems. I like all their albums. My favorite are the 1st & 2nd , they brought a catchy riffs with raw energy in unique signature.
I have different favourites depending on mood, but there are great songs on all their albums, if anyone cares to look🤗 Bruce Dickinson's solo stuff while Iron Maiden brought out The X Factor and Virtual XI are just brilliant, too 👏 Well worth a listen😜 Up the mighty Irons!🤘🤘🤘🤘
IMO this album was great, and Virtual XI was amazing too. Blaze's range is very cool and lower ranges were (and still are) underused in metal. That's why bands like Type O Negative were so fresh at the time. If Maiden had chosen to embrace Blaze's range they could've gotten much heavier, and likely getting baritone electrics, thicker gauges for strings+picks and downtuning would allow the guitar players to keep kinda the same arrangements for old songs. Maybe a little more downpicking too. Harris would have to adapt as well, perhaps even pulling out a pick now and then, like Cliff Burton. If only they had adapted, Blaze would be recognized for the amazing vocals he can deliver and the live renditions of old songs would've worked out. But the band never adapted and Blaze didn't work out for old Bruce-era songs. So that was it. The two albums however remain as awesome as ever. Even though I have to mess up with my EQ if I wanna listen to X Factor and hear everything.
Well, believe it or not and i say this as a huge Iron maiden fan, the x factor is in my personal top 5 maiden albums, god i bought it back in 1995, evryone bashed the album while i was enjoying it big time specially the first 4 tracks and judgement of heaven. Blaze was great and a bit of fresh air, Bruce was sounding bored and tired in fear and no prayer, I mean you can tell that, so I really embraced this dark iron maiden sound and both the x and virtual are lot of fun to play on guitar and i mean fun (the aftermath, jugdement of heaven, lord of the flies, the clansman, 2 worlds collide, sign of the cross, como estais amigo (outstanding melody by janick) ... Fuck many more!!!)
I absolutely love the fact that, not just with music but all things, people can have such different tastes and associate different thoughts, feelings, memories and moods to the same thing. 😊
After NPFTD everything would have sounded great but the x-factor was indeed innovating and the texture of Blaze’s voice ideal for it. Too bad they didn’t think that he will be unable to sing classic Maiden songs live as he had a lower register. BOTWH is a great song indeed
"Blood on the World's Hands" is arguably the best song on the album. The part where Blaze sings "blood on the world's hands" after the guitar solo in the middle is pure magic. The meaning of the lyrics really hits me every time I hear that part.
I always listen to the X factor. It’s a nice album with a lot of great Harris’melodies. It’s a pity that after Martin Bitch left, they didn’t choose the new producer soon. Because the production was a little bit off, in my opinion. I mean, a good producer had to say to Steve that the songs and melodies are great but they have to be recorded in a different key settle for Blaze. Anyway nice video. I hope you come back with this record quite often.
A thing I really love about Maiden is that they honor the Bayley era by playing the songs live and having the albums on Spotify/music. Look at how Judas Priest treat the Ripper Owens era. They pretend it never happened. You can't even listen to the albums.
Oh brother! That's one of my favourite songs! It's beautiful from start to finish. The intro, the riffs, the chorus, the solos and that middle section. Thank you!
Fantastic video! Great to see this awesome song getting the detailed breakdown it deserves. Would love to see more Blaze-era stuff getting the same treatment.
The whole Blaze Bayley-era is way underrated because of kids who are in love with Bruce only. The best thing when you love Iron Maiden that you have a wide variety of albums/moods/brillant riffs and solos and even signature drums and signature singing to love. The title "My Favourite Iron Maiden Album" is a changing thing, sometimes an early material is my fav, sometimes a later one, and sometimes the discs with Blaze. And yes, I adore No Prayer as well, the one that many silly ones do not like.
I sure love the classics album but I never overlook the darker catalog. No prayer is a great album as long a X factor. Blaze did an amazing job on those songs. But, apart from futureal, I can't listen to Virtual XI, this is for me the weaker album of all, personnal preference. What a chance we have 3 top singer to listen to!
I agree with you. Personally I love the X-Factor. The mood is dark and songs are inventive and catchy. Great riffs and compositions in every song. I have to add, my vocal range was not in par with Bruce at the time (I was 16) so here we had songs that I could sing from start to to end. Now I think I can manage almost all of the Iron Maiden songs now. :)
so happy to see you tlaking about some Blaze era songs... I remember first time I heard this song, I have just bought the album and put it on while chilling with family... when the bass intro started I was blown away... X-Factor is a great album to me, it's not a Maiden classic but it's always overlooked just because Dickinson isn't in it... I'd love to see more from the Blaze era here
Yes! Thank you so much Nico!!!! Finally attention to my favourite Blaze era song, right up there alongside "Sign of the Cross". The acoustic bass solo, the massive-sounding power chords in the bass line, and of course one of Blaze's best vocal deliveries. Although I have to say, I need to hear Bruce singing this live!
Great to see you dig into something from this great album Nico. I'd put X Factor in my top 5 and it seems to me that this album gets a bit more appreciation these days than perhaps it did back in the day. I love how going back and revisiting it now, knowing what we know from the albums they've released since then, I think X Factor is the perfect example of what was the catalyst to the Maiden we know today. When you hear their body of work post X Factor and compare it to pre X Factor albums you definitely get the sense that X Factor was definitely a transitional album in terms of song structures and ideas and atmosphere etc in defining their sound and approach today. The Aftermath is my favourite from the album, but there's a lot of really great stuff on there. Definitely my favourite of the two Blaze albums and as I said, a top 5 for me and the most important album in terms of what defines their sound and approach these days. I know it's been said before, but, Senjutsu is very reminiscent of X Factor in terms of the brooding mood and tone it sets in places which I think is a testament to X Factor on the whole. Would definitely like to see you dissect some more from this album at some point. Cheers.
Great to see that the X-Factor gets some recognition! It's my favourite Maiden album of the 90s, its darker theme quite fits in the context of the mid-90s. The sign of the cross (so blessed to see it live at the legacy of the beast tour twice ) the lord of the flies and the edge of darkness are outstanding songs of an outstanding album.
I also like a lot from this one Judgement of Heaven, The Unbeliever and Fortunes of War and The Edge of Darkness, as well as the first three. The songs may be more intimate and darker than before, often with a slow intro but anyway they show Harris compositive genius and overall a band that was going through a lot at that time. I'd say it's a criminally underrated record and I listen to it quite often and more than its successor. Lead vocals aside if someone is a true Maiden fan he should appreciate it to a certain degree. Nice video as always 🖤
When blaze took over from Bruce I refused to listen to the x factor I think I only started listening to it in the early 2000s but I have to say along with virtual xi they aren't bad albums and dont deserve the criticism they get. Anyway great breakdown of the track.👍👍
I disagree. Most would say it's the best song on Dance Of Death if not right behind the title track. Easily one of the top 5 best Maiden songs in the 2000's onward era
This is a good song, as are quite a few of the Blaze Era songs. How about a breakdown of just about every Maiden fans least favourite song - Angel And The Gambler 😂
Great video!! Blood on The World’s Hands is the standout track on the album for me. What let TXF down for me was the weak sounding guitars and production, the refusal of Steve to downtune the guitars to match Blaze’s voice, which was totally underused. The guitar harmonies would have sounded immense, especially if they had recorded heavy rhythm tracks behind them.
What really makes this song so special to me is that the very dark and moody Bass Intro is played with acoustic bass guitar. This sounds darker, more menacing and "earthy". The bass Intro reminds me of "The Fish" by 70es progressive Rock Band Yes. Steve took off his hat to Chris Squire. My favourite Song on The X Faktor is Fortunes Of War, just followed by Blood On The Worlds Hands. The X Factor is damn underrated and Blaze did a good Job here. I cannot imagine this Album beeing better with Bruce. Thanks for the upload
The X-Factor tour was the first time I was old enough to watch Maiden play live. Needless to say they delivered a great show as they always do. Sign of the Cross was amazing to hear live.
Great video, love the breakdown and how you show Steve Harris's input to the song.. I quite like the album, my favourite is Judgement of Heaven.. it was a different album for the guys but they've done so many fantastic songs in their earlier days that they're stuck in my head forever.. Rock on Maiden!! By the way I love your channel..!
It's very interesting to talk about the "Blaze era" as a whole, because I really think The X Factor is really good, while Virtual Xi is their worst one. Sign of the cross aside, 2A.M might be my favorite here!
They are different sounding albums for sure... but all their albums are. Killers is very different from Iron Maiden but we still consider it the Di'Anno era just as a time reference... Not necessarily as a sound. 😊 I feel Virtual XI has some very good stuff on it but I feel like it might have been rushed and it almost sounds like they might have struggled with the recording somehow.
@@LicksOfTheBeast ah yes that not what I mean. I'm mostly talking about the Blaze era being "good" or "bad", because I personally think one album is really good and the other one is the worst they've ever done. But I absolutely agree that there's some good stuff on Virtual XI too. I have the softest spot for como esta amigo!
Great theme, and playing - as usual. I've been to 25 Maiden concerts from 1988 until now, in Sweden and abroad - and I remember them all as breath takers. My strongest memories, though, is 1988's "Seven deadly Sins,.."-Moonchild, and 1996's The X Factour consert. 1988 just ripped my heart out. 1996 my heart was crashed by the fact: Arena - 'Cirkus', Stockholm. Crowd - less than 900...but the Maiden heads were there! Up the Irons - we last!
@@olgak.1139 They tried to do what they always do - deliver tons, but on that tiny stage and glued frontman, it was more like one ton. I don't want to pity them back then or ever, but I almost felt sorry for them at that point. And for all of us music lovers, 'cause I didn't expect them to produce another album after that. Thank God, I was wrong. Dead wrong! The fact is that Iron Maiden never have performed one single bad album or concert, and not ever compromised with their ideas or mission. That's why they're still here. Bigger and (almost) better than ever!
@@olagsanger7436 It sounds like a critical point for them, especially Steve so he could see that Bailey wasn't the best choice. I saw some time ago a video where Blaze was trying to sing HBTN but he couldn't and l felt sad.
Great episode!! There are a few hidden 💎 gems on the record, that’s for sure! However, it really suffered for lack of production. I’ve always claimed, that, with an outside producer, with a good set of ears; this album could have been legendary, a cornerstone in the history of music. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it back in 1995, but what if…? Nevertheless, to me, the greatest track, that came short, never reaching its full potential, is: “The Unbeliever”…
Thank you! Actually, I had also considered The Unbeliever for this video but ultimately I thought BOTWH was a better song overall, and the one where they best captured what I think they were after on this album.
Great video! I like the album and its tour was the first maiden concert that I had the pleasure to see! Could you please review that black strat? It's very cool! Cheers!
Superb video you did an excellent job! Definitely agree on it being a truly underrated song. Not the most comfortable to listen to, there’s an oppressive feeling towards the end, slightly relentless but a very good song. Thank you! P.S. Naice Dawgie! 🐾 🐕🦺
"X-Factor" is super underrated imo, my 2nd favorite Maiden album! The drums & bass sound great on that album, at times it feels like John Paul Jones & John Bonham jamming, it doesn't sound like Zeppelin, but it has that jamming vibe where the bass/drums are felt! Great album, love Blaze!
this is such a great video..actually I like this song, Judgement of Heaven. While it's not my favorie it is one I like. Love the song being broken down into these parts...
Brother, you are the best 🔥🔥🔥🦇🤘🏼 Always illuminating parts of Maiden’s songs in ways that deepens my appreciation for the most badass, incredible and multidimensional band of all time. Thank you!!! May you be blessed with the power and determination to keep excavating jewels from these beasts of metal to help us all awaken to their majesty 🔥
Great break down as always🤗 Love you, brother😜 I absolutely love this album, it wasn't my cup of tea until I had it on repeat during my divorce, as it is so dark and has so much pain in it, which was how I was feeling🤔 I especially loved 2AM, too😉 Anyway great work, Brother🤘 Up the mighty Irons!!!!🤘🤘🤘🤘
It's definitely a brooding album and not what you would put on first thing in the morning. But when you're in the right state of mind for it, it's a good listen!
TXF was my first maiden introduced by a friend and he adored the album. Later i bought live after death dvd shocked to see Bruce and hear those great songs. I always loved the x factor as it was my maiden album😁 but frankly it is the bottom maiden
I always thought that this song sounded better live, has a better drum sound live which they should have used on the album and the guitars are just a little heavier.
Great record, from my point of view. And I like it more than FOTD, probably many here will hate me for that, but it is what I like. All the songs are very good ones, just for mention a couple: Look for the Truth, The Unbeliever, Lord of the Flies (of course).
Fear of the Dark has 3-4 great songs the rest is just fillers. Still a great listen from time to time. The X factor is a solid album from start to finish. The unbeliever as a closer is a banger
I remember getting X Factor for Christmas let just say it wasn't what I was expecting from maiden. With bruce gone I was interested to see how they would sound with blaze but this album for me at that time just didn't hit the mark. That said I think myself and many in the metal world had moved on to bands like Pantera, Machine head ect. So this experimental maiden album didn't fit with me. Having said that I've gone back to it over the years and found it more listenable. I did however really love virtual XI so I definitely wasn't a blaze hater. Its funny how albums can contextually not fit with you at the time.
