Year : 2017
Style : Heavy Metal , Hard Rock
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 498 mb
Bio:
Tokyo Blade is an English heavy metal band, active since 1982.Tokyo Blade is one of the many acts considered part of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) movement from the late 1970s / early 1980s. Tokyo Blade went through many changes of formation and disbanded twice, often changing their musical style during the years of activity. However, the band is still active today, with three of the original members in the line-up.The band was formed in Salisbury in the late 1970s under the moniker White Diamond later changed to Killer in 1981 and then changed again to Genghis Khan.The original line-up consisted of Alan Marsh (vocals), Andy Boulton (guitar), Ray Dismore (guitar), Andy Robbins (bass), and Steve Pierce (drums). Later in the year, the band changed their name again, signed with the British independent record label Powerstation Records and recorded their first album. This album was self-titled in all regions, except in the United States, where it came out as Midnight Rendezvous on the Combat Records label. Also in 1981, the band shared the stages of clubs and festivals with notable acts such as Metallica and Venom.Like many other acts of the period, Tokyo Blade was plagued by frequent changes of band members. By the time the follow-up album was released, vocalist Alan Marsh was replaced with Vic Wright. The album Night of the Blade was issued in 1984 with Wright on vocals. However, in 1998, an edition of the album featuring Marsh's original vocals was eventually released as Night of the Blade... The Night Before. In that period, Tokyo Blade took part in tours and festival packages with Blue Öyster Cult and others with Dio, Ozzy Osbourne and Scorpions. The band's third record Black Hearts & Jaded Spades was released in 1985 by the band's own label in Europe and available in the USA as an import only. The band filmed a concert at London's Camden Palace, which was aired on Channel 4 in 1985, and has since made its way on to multiple bootleg DVD releases. By the end of the year, Tokyo Blade disbanded, with all members dedicating their time and efforts to other projects.
Album:
Titled “Knights Of The Blade”, this TOKYO BLADE 4-CD Box Set remastered by Hear No Evil / Cherry Red Records include the band’s three ’80s albums plus a bonus disc collecting together many rare EPs, singles and non-album cuts from the early Eighties, including tracks from “The Cave Sessions”, “Undercover Honeymoon 12”, “Midnight Rendezvous” EP and “Madame Guillotine” EP, many of these previously unavailable on CD.Tokyo Blade continue to play live and releasing records to this date, but this ’80s material is their best.There was a period of Rock music in the mid-to-late ’80s where at least one member of every metal / hard rock band owned some kind of Japanese ephemera. You couldn’t swing a Hamer guitar without hitting someone in a rising sun T-shirt. Tokyo Blade fitted right in.Promisingly, 1983’s “Tokyo Blade” sounded like early Def Leppard. With the right kind of polish, songs like ‘If Heaven Is Hell’ could have bought them their own tour bus. This song is one of those metal-with-melody gems that boasts a chorus line that is embedded in the brain forever after just one listen.Formerly known as Genghis Khan, this Salisbury quintet already had three singles to their name before recording this debut LP.None can deny Tokyo Blade’s conviction to metal on this record, which features up-tempo songs chock full of revved up guitars and quality hooks.It’s hard not to enjoy spirited cuts like ‘Sunrise In Tokyo’ (with great soaring lead breaks), the cool chorus of ‘Liar’, the rowdy and dual-soloed ‘Killer City’, the fast paced heads down ‘Powergame’, or the aforementioned ‘If Heaven Is Hell’.On a more commercial side, there’s the Russ Ballard (often covered singer / songwriter at the time like Rainbow did) penned ‘Tonight’, a catchy tune.By the time of the second Tokyo Blade full-length album, 1984’s “Night Of The Blade” (CD 2 of this release), Vicki James Wright replaced Alan March’s vocals that had already been recorded for the LP, with Andy Wrighton replacing Andy Robbins on bass. This was also their first album released on Powerstation Records, the British independent HM label that also released records by Little Angels, Chrome Molly and Pauline Gillan (sister of Ian Gillan).“Night Of The Blade” has it all. It really rocks with a sound & style pretty similar to Def Leppard circa High ‘N’ Dry all over the place. Tokyo Blade are heavier but very melodic and catchy the same.The quality is outstanding for the genre with songs like ‘Someone to Love’, the awesome ‘Love Struck’, the heavy ‘Unleash the Beast’ and the title track where the band shows their ability to create great and memorable songs.Each of the eight songs here has that undeniable energy that you just can’t fake, with some catchy riffs and shout along choruses you want to hear again and again.The musicians are some of the best that I’ve heard from the ’80s London scene. Starting with the new singer (at the time) Vic Wright, a vocalist full of character and power.The guitar tandem of Andy Boulton and John Wiggins has nothing to envy from anyone – they make great riffs and terrific solos as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.The rhythm session made of Andy Wriggton (bass) and Steve Pierce (drums) complements the band very well with a steady backbone. But they don’t just do the job, each man provide masterful work that makes the songs significantly better.In 1985 they released their third full-length LP “Black Hearts & Jaded Spades”, this time for their own TB Records. The record saw a move away from the more NWOBHM and melodic hard rock flavour of their earliest releases towards a more glammed-up, radio friendly, keyboard augmented sound, aimed more towards the US and Japanese markets.This in turn led to shows with shows such important 80s rock and metal names as Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Mama’s Boys, and Dio.Not only here’s the band’s first power ballad, ‘You are the Heart’ where a keyboards tinkle and chime supports Boulton’s sympathetic solos and a heartfelt chorus presided over by singer Vicki James’ gentler side.And then ‘Dancing in Blue Moonlight’ is straight AOR: a midtempo almost all keyboard-driven tune with very few clean guitars and an FM radio orientation.‘Make it through the Night’ is very catchy with a Def Leppard sound around the era with synth stabs during the chorus, while on ‘Always’ Tokyo Blade sounds like the English version of Quiet Riot.The stylized melodic hard rock of ‘Playroom of poison Dreams’ brings to mind Bronz, and ‘Undercover Honeymoon’ rocks with US glammy riffs.This great Box is rounded off by a fourth disc collecting together many rare EPs, singles and non-album cuts from the early 1980s.As example, “Undercover Honeymoon EP” features quite different versions of ‘Undercover Honeymoon’ & ‘Playroom of Poison Dreams’, and the non-album tracks ‘Stealing the Thief’ and ‘Bottom end’. ‘Stealing the Thief’ is pure early Tokyo Blade, so if you like their hard n’ heavy style this bonus track is for your collection of rarities.Among the rare singles, it’s included the B-side of the Powergame 7”, titled ‘Death on Main Street’.Tokyo Blade is a very fine showcase of the first half of the ’80s British hard n’ heavy sound, ranging from sharp hard rockers to melodic rock greatness.Tokyo Blade are a must have in ANY record collection and this “Knights Of The Blade” Box Set is the definitive remastered series of this classic band.
Line-Up:
Alan Marsh – lead vocals
Andy Boulton – guitar, backing vocals
John Wiggins – guitar
Andy Robbins – bass
Steve Pierce – drums
Vicki James Wright – lead vocals, harmonica
Andy Wrighton – bass, backing vocals
Nick Coler – keyboards
Attila – keyboards
Mark Angel – drums, percussion
Tracklist:
CD1: 1983’s Tokyo Blade
01. Powergame
02. Break the Chains
03. If Heaven Is Hell
04. On Through the Night
05. Killer City
06. Liar
07. Tonight
08. Sunrise in Tokyo
09. Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia
CD2: 1984’s “Night Of The Blade”
01. Someone to Love
02. Night of the Blade
03. Rock Me to the Limit
04. Warrior of the Rising Sun
05. Unleash the Beast
06. Lovestruck
07. Dead of the Night
08. Lightning Strikes (Straight Through the Heart)
CD3: 1985’s “Black Hearts & Jaded Spades”
01. Dirty Faced Angels
02. Make It Thought the Night
03. Always
04. Loving You Is An Easy Thing to Do
05. Undercover Honeymoon
06. You Are the Heart
07. Blackhearts and Jaded Spades
08. Tough Guys Tumble
09. Dancing in Blue Moonlight
10. Playroom of Poison Dreams
11. Monkeys Blood
CD4 : Singles and EP’s
01. Powergame
02. Death on Mainstreet
03. Fever
04. Attack Attack
05. Madame Guillotine
06. Breakout
07. Lovestruck
08. Midnight Rendezvous
09. Mean Streak
10. If Heaven Is Hell
11. Highway Passion
12. Shadows of Insanity
13. School House Is Burning
14. Jezzabel
15. Monkey’s Blood
16. Undercover Honeymoon
17. Playroom of Poison Dreams
18. Stealing the Thief
19. Bottom End
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