After a two-year hiatus ( as well as a three-year hiatus from studio releases – a record for the band at the time ) , Iron Maiden returned in 1995 . Releasing their next studio album , '' The X Factor '' , the band had their lowest chart position since 1981 for an album in the UK ( debuting at No . 8 ) , although it would go on to win '' Album of the Year '' awards in France and Germany . The record included the 11-minute epic " Sign of the Cross " , the band 's longest song since " Rime of the Ancient Mariner " , as well as the singles , " Man on the Edge " , based on the film '' Falling Down '' , and " Lord of the Flies " , based on the novel of the same name . The release is notable for its " dark " tone , inspired by Steve Harris ' divorce . The band toured for the rest of 1995 and 1996 , playing for the first time in Israel and South Africa , and ending in the Americas . After the tour , Iron Maiden released a compilation album , '' Best of the Beast '' . The band 's first compilation , it included a new single , " Virus " , in which the lyrics attack the critics , who had recently written off the band
The band toured
The X Factour
Iron Maiden