The tour through Maiden’s studio catalog continues with the first post Bruce Dickinson album who had left the band and went solo after the last tour. After an extensive search/audition process(that supposedly included former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske), the band chose former Wolfsbane vocalist Blaze Bayley to be their new frontman. It seemed like an odd choice at the time since vocally he wasn’t a Bruce clone and I still question the choice since I didn’t feel his voice always fit the songs at the time. I didn’t like this album at all the first time I heard it and outside of the upbeat lead single “Man on the Edge” it’s mostly a slow and moody album. The fact that most of the album is very one note has been the biggest complaint over the years with most fans wishing there had been more upbeat songs. I do appreciate it more now and actually enjoy listening to it once or twice a year and find that it is better playing it all in one setting and through headphones and not just a track here and there on their own. The lyrics and slow intros and long progressive songs were very much a reflection of what Steve Harris was dealing with personally with the death of his father as well as lyrics based on more real world issues instead of historical events. The album starts with the very long “Sign of the Cross”. A slow intro that takes a few minutes to get going and at over 11 minutes is an odd way to open an album but while it takes some investment it’s one of my favorite songs on the album. I do prefer the live version on Rock In Rio with Bruce. “Lord of the Flies” is more upbeat and is a very good song based on the book/movie of the same name and is one of the better tracks. As previously mentioned “Man on the Edge” was the first single and is a very fast paced and the most rocking song on the album and probably should have opened the album. Written by Blaze and Gers it’s based on the movie “Falling Down”. “Fortunes of War” slows things down again with a slower intro and verses and a chorus that’s repetitive but it picks up a little as the song goes on. “Look for the Truth” is a little more upbeat again and isn’t as slow after the intro. Just an okay song for me though. “The Aftermath” rocks a little more at the beginning and slows down at the chorus but it’s still really good for me. Questioning what happens to soldiers after the war. Is it actually about War or maybe the personal trauma Steve was experiencing at the time? “Judgment of Heaven” is really good and again more upbeat and a nice contrast to the previous track and the next one.
“Blood on the Worlds Hands” starts with a slow almost Sabbath like bass solo from Harris. Then the song picks up with the Maiden Gallup with Blaze’s venomous vocals driving it forward with one of the better tracks for me. Again another slower start with “The Edge of Darkness” but it picks up along with way into the Maiden sound with Murray/Gers doing their best Murray/Smith impersonation. Good song and lyrics.
“2 A.M.” is one of my favs and although it’s slower it’s always struck a chord with me for some reason. Love the chorus.
“The Unbeliever” is a great closing track and one that’s gotten better for me over the years. There were three Japanese Bonus tracks that were also B-sides to different versions of the Man on the Edge single. Two of the three were also on The Best of the B-Sides album. “Judgment Day” is the best of the bunch for me and the one that would have been a good fit for the album for another upbeat track. “Justice of the Peace” and “I Live My Way” are both good but not great and I get why they weren’t on the regular album. Overall an album that’s not always an easy listen but with it being 1995 and with a new vocalist it was a struggle for most fans but it’s reputation seems be improving over the years. Still not a top 10 Maiden album for me but I appreciate it so much more now and it’s kind of the blueprint for what the band did after Bruce and Adrian returned to the band with the longer songs and progressive style.
Iron Maiden – The X Factor (1995)
