Digipak. Digitally remastered edition. The X Factor is the 10th studio album by heavy metal band Iron Maiden, originally released on 2 October 1995 through EMI. 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. 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.
Blaze did a really nice job!! Following Bruce can be all kinds of pressure, but it seems like Blaze was very inspired by Bruce and respected his work with Iron Maiden. This is a dark album, but very good. It doesn't happen the first time you listen... you get attached to it after about three.