Reasons were listed by Loudwire.
Loudwire listed 10 reasons why they believe Iron Maiden's 1995 album The X Factor is actually a much better record than people usually remember.
The album featured Blaze Bailey on vocals, replacing the legendary Bruce Dickinson, which in itself would have been a huge challenge.
Below are the 10 reasons listed by Loudwire:
#1: Fans were eager for the new lineup to work. The album opens with “Sign Of The Cross,” an epic song written solely by Steve Harris that Iron Maiden would typically put to close the album, but the band needed to make a good first impression, which they definitely achieved. If anyone didn't like the studio version, just look for the Rock In Rio version.
#2: One of the joys of listening to Iron Maiden is hearing the exhilarating guitar harmonies, and they are definitely present in The X Factor . The song "The Unbeliever" begins with one of the best harmonies, as does the entire second half of the song "Judgement Of Heaven" and also "Blood On The World's Hands".
#3: Historically, Iron Maiden has drawn inspiration from the Arts, Literature, Cinema, and History, and none of that changed in 1995. Four songs – “Sign Of The Cross”, “Man On The Edge”, “Lord Of The Flies”, and “The Edge Of Darkness” – have lyrics originating from these sources, intellectually stimulating fans, as the band has always done.
#4: Bruce Dickinson's voice had been declining in the 90s. Blaze Bailey also sounds weak, but the production that Steve Harris did is a miracle. The vocalist controls his small but powerful range well on the faster singles and does a good job.
#5: Janick Gers is criticized for his live playing style, but in the studio he is one of the most powerful riff writers, contrasting with Adrian Smith's style. The style of the 90s had more to do with Gers' riff style, which helped Iron Maiden survive in a decade when many Metal bands suffered or broke up.
#6: Although only 3 songs exceed the 7-minute mark, Iron Maiden began to alternate tempos more on this album, using slower moods that contrast with the traditional galloping rhythms. This was a time when "less was more" in music, and as usual, the English band Maiden refused to accept this trend and made the songs their way again, defying the minimalist trend.
#7: Three tracks were cut from the album – “I Live My Way”, “Justice Of The Peace” and “Judgment Day” – the latter two being typical Iron Maiden classics that would have pleased fans if they had been released on the album instead of later, especially the guitar licks in “Justice”.
#8: “Prodigal Son” and “Remember Tomorrow” are songs from Iron Maiden's early albums that showed where the band came from, while other songs from the initial albums pointed to where the band would go. Without losing sight of this, songs like “Look For The Truth” and “The Aftermath” are tributes to this past that bridged the gap to Iron Maiden's future.
#9: “Blood On The World's Hands” showed that Iron Maiden didn't need to stray from their typical style to follow more progressive trends. The song has melody, keyboards, and a bit of the “Mother Russia” vibe with Steve's riffs. For its short length, the song explores many different dynamics.
#10: If Iron Maiden and Bruce had stayed together in the 90s, would we have the same Maiden we have today? When Bruce and Adrian got back together it was a wave of electricity around the world – one that certainly wouldn't have happened if we'd had Bruce in the band all along. If you still don't like The X Factor , at least be grateful for what it caused in a broader sense in the band's career.
