The X Factor (album)

The X Factor
The X Factor
Studio album by Iron Maiden
Released	2 October 1995
Recorded	1994 – August 1995
Studio	Barnyard (Essex, England)
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	70:54
Label	EMI
Producer	Steve Harris; Nigel Green;
Iron Maiden studio albums chronology
Alternative cover
	Reverse side of the cover, deemed "less graphic" for retailers
Singles from The X Factor
	"Man on the Edge"; Released: 25 September 1995; "Lord of the Flies"; Released: 2 February 1996;

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]

^ "Lord Of The Flies – Commentary". www.ironmaidencommentary.com. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
^ Saulnier, Jason (30 April 2010). "Blaze Bayley Interview: Iron Maiden Singer talks Wolfsbane". Music Legends. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 311. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
^ Popoff, Martin (2005). "The X Offender". Metal Hammer Presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem: 63.

[1] "Lord Of The Flies – Commentary". www.ironmaidencommentary.com. Retrieved 27 June 2020.

[Music_Legends-2] Saulnier, Jason (30 April 2010). "Blaze Bayley Interview: Iron Maiden Singer talks Wolfsbane". Music Legends. Retrieved 24 May 2013.

[Wall_316-3] Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 311. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.

[x30-4] Popoff, Martin (2005). "The X Offender". Metal Hammer Presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem: 63.

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