A complete mess of an album

Who wrote these lyrics, Pauly Shore?



"The car is an oven and baking is wild." (it's almost worth it just to hear this line)



"We are Lord of the Flies" (me fail English? That's umpossible!)



"You're searching in the dark

Clutching at straws to find a way" (don't ask)



"I get in from work at 2 a.m. and sit down with a beer

turn on late night TV and then wonder why I'm here" (it would be depressing if it wasn't so silly)



Oh, but then there's all that deep and meaningful stuff like Edge of Darkness...except that the band stole nearly every lyric from the first five minutes of Apocalypse Now. Despite this, it appears that there are a couple people out there who that think that this is some sort of dark melodic masterpiece because it has Blaze mumbling incoherently before each song starts up. Guess what, half-a**ed lyrics that repeat "I'm sad" and "the world is kinda messed up" are not deep and philosophical.



This has nothing to do with Bruce not being here, because Maiden made two incredible albums with a completely different vocalist at the start of their career. It's true that Blaze is a terrible singer here, but he's not even the biggest problem. There are the inept lyrics, the complete lack of effective guitarwork, some of the worst solos I've ever heard, extremely repetitive song structures (this is NOT a progressive metal album as some say), and most of all, shoddy production. How a band like Maiden could release an album with such inconsistencies and overall chop in its sound is beyond me. Were they trying to sound raw like the grunge bands of the time?



Granted, Sign of the Cross is a decent song- better on Rock in Rio, where the song is played with some authority and inspiration- but everything else sounds almost exactly the same. The same plodding, completely out-of-key riffs over and over. So for all you holier-than-thou people giving this album 5-star reviews just because you think people hate it for not having Bruce, think again. Does The X Factor try to be a masterpiece? It does, but it fails miserably. Some albums can get away with crap production if they are well-written, both musically and lyrically. Some albums can get away with bad writing if they sound inspired, dynamic, and interesting. The X Factor gets away with nothing; it's a complete disaster.

E B C D E , E B C D E (ad infinitum)

Yes those four chords are over emphasized on this album. Its as if Iron Maiden's once revolutionary usage of Aeolian minor in every song is getting turgid and stale. The X Factor was their tenth album, and you know what, besides its musical repetitiveness and sometimes monotonous feel, its a damn good record at times. It begins with Sign of The Cross, a song that combines Alexander the Great's clean parts (like at the beginning of that song) and Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner's galloping rhythm (well alot of Maiden songs have that rhythm). Add Gregorian chants, a flatted fifth interval in an odd timing in the middle, and symphonic keyboards and you have a great first track. 'Lord of the Flies' follows, and unfortunately sounds like an outtake from Fear of the Dark. Then Man on the Edge, which sounds similar to "Be Quick or Be Dead" or Dio's Stand Up and Shout. One of the best songs on here for sure. Then Fortunes of War. I was for years confused at the song, because it almost makes the most repetitive stuff on here sound cliched. I like it, because I like the Maiden sound, but its the worst song on here. 'Look for the Truth' feartures some cool minor chords and a cool interlude/guitar solo in the middle, definitely one of the most underrated songs on here. 'The Aftermath' is slow and depressing, but still a decent track (great live when I saw them in 95). 'Blood on the World's Hands' is a slightly progressive, albeit repetitious (yes E C D power chords again!!!) song with a cool bass intro. 2 Am is a cool ballad with a song that basically rips off Revelations but some cool guitar melodies towards the end. The Unbeliever is another slightly progressive tune with those same chords (but not only them though of course, Fortunes of War is the worst culprit of that. Blaze Bayley: I don't lay the blame on the sometimes flawed songwriting of the X Factor on Blaze. In fact, if it were Bruce at the helm, I think it would be worse in fact! (example: the filler songs during the second half of Dance of Death). He (Blaze that is), has a deep, rich, voice, and anyone that doesn't like lower voices should shove it! Baritone and lower register voices are great for epic metal, just think of Borknagar, Falconer, etc, etc..I happen to like Blaze and his voice isn't worse or better than Bruce (just think of the terrible notes hit during LIve After Death (like at the end of Aces High), and other screechy overreaching during Bruce's more mediocre days with Maiden) just different. In fact, if you listen to the solo stuff Blaze has been doing, I think he has almost surpassed Maiden. The only thing that has brought and will continue to bring Maiden down is the dictatorial thumb of Steve Harris, and musical stagnation.

Production: Dry as a bone, but it gives it a dark feel I quite like. Not the best production but it definitely has an atmosphere all its own. Dance of Death's guitars and instruments flutter all over the mix, and ironically, X Factor has BETTER production despite the reunion!



All in all, I would recommend X Factor to die hard fans of Maiden, and those who have heard what Blaze can do given the right material (Silicon Messiah, Tenth Dimension, etc.



Its a good album, if not a great one..I can't decide if its deserving of three or four stars so we'll go with three for now. Its a cult classic in the making for many Maiden fans.



End Review. (Probably my longest yet!)

Overlooked

X Factor is one of the best Maiden albums ever made. It is also the darkest and heaviest. Of course the vocals are a lot different from Bruce's, but that doesn't seem to matter on this album. This album really showcases Steve Harris' song-writing and bass playing abilities. It also shows the band opening up more and becoming slightly more introspective and dark (I'm not saying that Maiden was not mature in the past, many older albums actually are better than this one).



Songs like "Man on the Edge" and "Lord of the Flies" are amazingly dark and haunting. The guitar work needs little commenting as it is as amazing as any album they've ever done.

The production is solid as usual.



This album proves that Maiden is never really glued to one vocalist. The band can thrive no matter who is at the vocal helm. Just listen to this album keeping that in mind. Not to mention, the vocals are very well done and dark sounding.

X Factor Outstanding Album !

After several years of using similar music formula, Maiden
go a step foward with this excellent album, musically superior
than all past albums, added some progresive and gloomy keyboards
Nikko saw that some of the difficult drumms that he been played
is Sign of the Cross, when I discover this album years ago I loved until this day. Some friends that are more involved into
another kind of music like prog. rock, jazz, etc. where amazed
when i show them "Blood on the World's Hand" the intro with
acoustic bass, and the treatment of rythms and drumms are some
of the best i ever hear from Maiden. And if you like the classic
Maiden Line you have excellent tunes like Lord of the flies and
Man on the edge.
This is withou doubt some of the best Maiden Albums, Blaze Bayley is an excellent vocal, different than Bruce, but he really kick's bum!.
Don't lisent the unfair and fool bad reviews of some people that
don't know about Music, all bands need to experiment different ways, need to explore other possibilities, even if a member don't
want to continue it doesn't mean that a band it's Over, Dickinson
is not Maiden!, as a matter of fact some tunes of Blaze's albums
are still played by Bruce in the Actual Line Up.

So do a favor for you're self and buy this album to start
this excellent dark and apocaliptic travel through the
excellent songs packed fully of advanced and outstanding music
skills.

X FACTOR RULES ! UP THE IRONS !

Good change in direction

This is IM's most progressive album and it's gloomiest. Blaze has been critized ad nauseum for IM's perceived demise through this era. Not so. This was a great change in direction and while not Bruce, Blaze held his own.

Mature IM fans will love this.