THE X FACTOR

Before starting this review, I was reading around on here and other reviewers have been positive on this record, I expected to be the only defender of it, but it is great to see other people who don't feel it is as bad as the reputation suggests.

With the exit of both Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith being well documented, what isn't so well documented that Doogie White (Micheal Schenker, Alcatrazz, Tank) was in the running to be Dickinson's successor. Which presumably have taken Maiden in a completely different direction that was more traditional to what Maiden were known for at that point, which is what makes the choice of Blaze Bayley so baffling, as he is such a different vocalist to Bruce, it would be hard to follow him up with material that sounded similar.

Fortunately Harris opted to go in a completely different direction and write songs which were suited to Blaze's deeper and more baritone vocal range, with the opener of "Sign Of The Cross" being moody, dark and filled with the progressive elements of Maiden that haven't been seen since "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" A Minor is a key that really fits the vocals for this track, it isn't too high and it isn't too low. However, some of the problems with the record in terms of the production start to show on this track, with some of the guitars feeing lifeless and weird when solo's and harmonies are taken, Nickos' Snare doesn't have enough body however, the kit sounds huge and almost at the 12 min mark, it's a ballsy move making a track this long as an opener.

However, it really lets the rest of the album down as it doesn't have anywhere to build up to, the next track "Lord Of The Flies" feels pretty standard by Maiden terms, the i, VII, vi progression is back, along with the repetitive and overdone Maiden i, vi, III, VII progression of the Chorus and Blaze isn't strong enough as a vocalist to carry it, see the Rock In Rio 2001 version for how Dickinson handles this song.

"Man On The Edge" plays closer to Blazes' strengths, with some great performances from the whole band, with Mcbrain being the stand out on it. It's hard for me to dislike this track.

The first half of the album is stronger than the second half by far, "Fortunes Of War" could have used some trimming, there is a good track inside, but it feels like it's struggling to come out with Blazes' slightly flat delivery, weird transitions and edits being the struggling points with the song.

With the second half "Judgement Of Heaven" and "Blood On The Worlds Hands" are the two stand out tracks, unfortunately they've never made the live set since the release as they're easily the two best tracks on the record.

Overall, X Factor is a fine record, but it's not going to convert anyone to the Iron Maiden train, it is far better than Virtual XI and far better in my mind then Senjutsu but it would have been even better if it had been trimmed and shortened to be a snappier record.