TOKYO BLADE – Night Of The Blade [Deluxe Edition Japan mini-LP remastered] (2016)

This another nice request: the Japan-only release of TOKYO BLADE‘s classic “Night Of The Blade” in its remastered Deluxe Edition mini-LP replica plus a bonus disc.
Alongside the official album (1984) remastered, on the second disc you have the tapes featuring previous lead vocalist Alan Marsh, and as bonus tracks the rare EP released as an alias band name, Mr. Ice.

Tokyo Blade were one of the classic bands from the NWOBHM movement, and because they came a little late into the scene they’re often one of the most forgotten and underrated bands.
“Night Of The Blade” is, for most fans, their finest moment.

This album 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.

The release of “Night Of The Blade” was delayed because previous vocalist Alan Marsh left the band when they finished the pre-production takes.
All these previous recordings are included into the bonus disc, where you can find two tracks that never made into the final release. The sound quality varies, not so good on some cuts but enough to appreciate how rougher the material was intended in a first place.
Additionally, there’s the rare and hard to find Mr. Ice (1990) EP, delivering some hooky hard rock tunes filled with massive backing vocals.

Tokyo Blade is a criminally underrated band and this record just proves it, as this is one of the best albums from that golden era and many years after its original release it still feels fresh.
I do not have too much references about this Japanese label Wasabi Records, but let me tell you the remastering is quite awesome.
This is the best version you can get of “Night Of The Blade”, an album rocking from every corner. It doesn’t sounds dated at all and that to me it’s the definition of a classic.

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

ＷＡＳＡＢＩ ＲＥＣＯＲＤＳ ~ WSBAC-27/8
Ｔ Ｏ Ｋ Ｙ Ｏ    Ｂ Ｌ Ａ Ｄ Ｅ 「ＲＥＩＳＳＵＥ ＳＥＲＩＥＳ」

Disc 1 : Night Of The Blade remastered
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 – Love Struck
07 – Dead Of The Night
08 – Lightning Strikes (Straight Through The Heart)

Disc 2 :
01 – Night Of The Blade
02 – Warrior Of The Rising Sun
03 – Unleash The Beast
04 – Love Struck
05 – Attack Attack
06 – Fever
07 – Dead Of The Night
08 – Breakout
09 – Madame Guillotine
10 – Someone To Love
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Hot Breath
12 – Poor Little Rich Kid
13 – Women And Love
14 – More Than A Pretty Face
15 – Boyz Will Be Boyz
16 – Young, Bad And No Good

Disc 1:
Vic Wright – lead and backing vocals
Andy Boulton – guitar, backing vocals
John Wiggins – guitar, backing vocals
Andy Wrighton – bass, backing vocals
Steve Pierce – drums

Disc 2:
1-10
Alan Marsh – lead vocals
Andy Boulton – guitar, backing vocals
John Wiggins – guitar, backing vocals
Andy Wrighton – bass, backing vocals
Steve Pierce – drums
11-16
Alan Marsh – lead and backing vocals
Andy Boulton – guitar, backing vocals
Attila – keyboards
Colin Riggs – bass, backing vocals
Mark Angel – drums, percussion

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WSBAC-27
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