VIRTUAL XI

Virtual XI is a result of Steve Harris ideas for making such thing new fans could be gained. So after very controversial X-Factor album Harris decided to drift toward the world of computer games and his first love (football). Kids sitting whole day on internet or playing games were the main target. Ed Hunter videogame was released few months after Virtual came out. And this album's artwork is like advertisment of that game. Gimme a break. Futureal is short and good piece of music. Something like Be Quick Or Be Dead from Fear Of The Dark. Then Angel And The Gambler strikes and it's sooo boring. It lasts for 9 minutes but could easily be reduced to 4 because repeating that chorus for couple of minutes isn't good idea. Single version of this song is much better. Such rock and roll piece. Lightning Strikes Twice is something like taken from previous record. And it's a great gloomy song. Clansman is even better. This song is like mix of X-Factor and Sevetn Son. So every Maiden fan should enjoy it. The best two songs on this album to me are Two Worlds Colide and Educated Fool. First of them isn't typical Maiden song and it's about mighty catasrophy when two planets collide. Educated Fool is again like something taken from X-Factor and even lyrics fit for that introspective previous release (remember Judgement Of Heaven or The Unbeliever?). Last two songs on this album don't move me at all. First of them is boring and second even more boring. It's kind of ballad but if Wasting Love was touching this one is annoying. Lack of succes of this release was deserved punishment for making it too commercial. It failed in many old fans eyes. But objectively it does deserve 3 stars.