The X Factor 

is the tenth studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 2

October 1995 through EMI Records.[2] CMC International released the album in North America. It
is the first of two albums by the band to include Blaze Bayley, formerly of Wolfsbane, as vocalist,
replacing Bruce Dickinson who left the band following their previous tour to pursue a solo career.
It also saw the departure of the band's longtime producer Martin Birch, who retired shortly after
the release of their previous album, Fear of the Dark (1992). The album takes a darker tone than
the band's first nine releases, due to the lyrics being based on personal issues
surrounding Steve Harris at the time, who was in the midst of a divorce.[3] This is reflected in the
cover artwork, which graphically depicts the band's mascot, Eddie, being vivisected by a
machine.[4]

Background[edit]

This was the band's first album with vocalist Blaze Bayley.

The album title came about at the start of the recording. According to producer Nigel Green: "We
all felt that the way things were progressing – the songs, Blaze's new involvement, the sound,
the commitment – the new album really would have that extra quality, that bit of magic, that 'X
Factor'. This became the working title for the album and we liked it, so we kept it. It is also very
apt as this is our tenth studio album and "X" can bring up many images."[5]
The cover art, depicting Eddie undergoing another lobotomy, was created by Hugh Syme.[6] Due
to the cover's "lifelike" style,[4] the band was forced to release the album in a reversible sleeve,
[7]
 with a less graphic view of Eddie from a distance.[8]
The album was the last until 2015's The Book of Souls to use the classic variant of the band's
logo: every studio release from Virtual XI to The Final Frontier used an alternate that removed
the extended ends of the "R", "M", and both "N's".
The X Factor is also unusual in that it yielded several band compositions that did not make it onto
the album. "We actually ended up doing 14 songs and we used eleven," said Steve Harris,
"which is very unusual for us."[3] The three songs that did not make the cut, "I Live My Way",
"Justice of The Peace" and "Judgement Day," were released as B-sides to the album’s singles.
The latter two would also be featured on the Best of the 'B' Sides collection.
The X Factor was Maiden's tenth consecutive UK top ten album but spent only four weeks on the
chart – making it their shortest-staying studio album.[9]
The band supported the album by touring. Much like the tour for the following album, Virtual XI,
several dates in the United States were canceled as Bayley suffered from occasional vocal
issues from the band's heavy concert schedule.[10][11]

Song details[edit]
"Man on the Edge" and "Lord of the Flies" were released as singles. Both of these songs, and
"Sign of the Cross," remained in Iron Maiden set lists following Bruce Dickinson's return. Live
versions of these songs with Dickinson on vocals can be found on "The Wicker Man" single and
the live albums Death on the Road, Rock in Rio and Nights of the Dead respectively, while the
same live takes of "Man on the Edge" and "Sign of the Cross" were later re-released on Iron
Maiden's 2011 compilation album From Fear to Eternity.
"The Edge of Darkness" is based on the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, adapted from Joseph
Conrad's Heart of Darkness,[12] "Man on the Edge" is based on the 1993 movie Falling Down,
[13]
 and "Lord of the Flies" is based on the William Golding novel of the same name.[4] "Sign of the
Cross" is based on the Umberto Eco's novel The Name of the Rose.[4] Live recordings of "Blood
on the World's Hands" and "The Aftermath" from the X Factor were issued as B-sides and also
on the Best of the 'B' Sides compilation.
Blaze Bayley later recorded a re-arranged version of "Sign of the Cross" on the live album As
Live as It Gets.

Critical reception[edit]
Professional ratings

Review scores

Source Rating

[14]
AllMusic

Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 2/10[15]

Sputnikmusic 3.5/5[16]

The X Factor was met with lukewarm responses from critics. AllMusic rated the album two stars
out of five, stating that "suffering from a lack of powerful riffs and tightly written songs, The X
Factor is a lackluster latter-day album from Iron Maiden. Although the band doesn't sound
particularly bad on the record, they don't sound inspired and there's a noticeable lack of energy
to the performances which makes the lack of imagination all the more apparent."[14]
Sputnikmusic were somewhat more positive about the release, deeming the album "a change for
Iron Maiden, and a very important one at that" as it "paved the way for future albums of similar
length".[16] They also praised the "often criticized" Blaze Bayley, whose voice they claimed "was
perfect for the new release."[16]

Track listing[edit]
The X Factor track listing
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Sign of the Cross" Steve Harris 11:16
2. "Lord of the Flies"  Harris 5:02
 Janick Gers
3. "Man on the Edge"  Blaze Bayley 4:10
 Gers
4. "Fortunes of War" Harris 7:25
5. "Look for the Truth"  Bayley 5:10
 Gers
 Harris
 6. "The Aftermath"  Harris 6:20
 Bayley
 Gers
7. "Judgement of Heaven" Harris 5:10
8. "Blood on the World's Hands" Harris 6:00
9. "The Edge of Darkness"  Harris 6:39
 Bayley
 Gers
10. "2 A.M."  Bayley 5:37
 Gers
 Harris
11. "The Unbeliever"  Harris 8:05
 Gers
Total length: 70:54
Japanese edition bonus disc
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Justice of the Peace"  Harris 3:34
 Dave Murray
2. "I Live My Way"  Harris 3:48
 Bayley
 Gers
3. "Judgement Day"  Bayley 4:02
 Gers
Total length: 11:24

Personnel[edit]
Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[17]

Iron Maiden[edit]
 Blaze Bayley – vocals
 Dave Murray – guitars
 Janick Gers – guitars
 Steve Harris – bass, production, mixing
 Nicko McBrain – drums
Additional musicians[edit]
 Michael Kenney – keyboards
 The Xpression Choir – Gregorian chants on "Sign of the Cross"
Production[edit]
 Nigel Green – producer, engineer, mixing
 Ronal Whelan – mastering
 Mick McKenna – assistant engineer
 Les Lambert – assistant engineer
 Hugh Syme – digital illustration, sleeve design, art direction
 Ross Halfin – photography
 Simon Fowler – photography
 Tony Frederick – photography
 Rod Smallwood – management
 Merck Mercuriadis – management
 Andy Taylor – management
 Aky Najeeb – management
 Harry Mohan – management