Tokyo Blade

 Today in 1983 Tokyo Blade released there self titled debut album

Salisbury, England NWOBHM, Heavy Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1979-1980 (as White Diamond), 1980-1981 (as Killer), 1981-1982 (as Genghis Khan), 1982-1991, 1982-present, 1995-1998, 2007-present

A case study in band mismanagement, Tokyo Blade appeared on the NWOBHM scene with a strong first album, but never really capitalized on whatever success they could muster, despite (or perhaps because of) several attempts at a more commercial direction with their later releases. Their discography is a mess, mirroring the band's problems throughout their career:

(1) The first album was released with two different names, and different tracklists, though the album cover artwork was the same.

(2) Night Of The Blade was first recorded with original vocalist Alan Marsh, then (due to label pressure) re-recorded with new vocalist Vic Wright, who was brought in as a more commercially viable vocalist. The Marsh version eventually was released in 1998 as The Night Before.

(3) Neither Mr. Ice nor Pumphouse were intended to be Tokyo Blade releases. In both cases, they were separate bands for which it was decided to release albums under the Tokyo Blade name.

(4) No Remorse was also released with two sets of artwork, and was released in some areas as Eye Of The Storm. It, too, was less a Tokyo Blade album and more a Andy Boulton solo album.

Countless lineups have survived over the years, with guitarist Andy Boulton being the constant. As of late 2009, two older members of the band have come back to join Boulton in their latest incarnation.

Powerstation Records

Alan Marsh - lead vocals

Andy Boulton - guitar

John Wiggins - guitar

Andy Robbins - bass guitar

Steve Pierce - drums

Additional Musicians

Ray Dismore - guitar on track 3.

1. Powergame (4:12)

2. Break the Chains (5:07)

3. If Heaven Is Hell (6:04)

4. On Through the Night (7:29)

5. Killer City (5:46)

6. Liar (5:35)

7. Tonight (4:02)(Russ Ballard cover)

8. Sunrise in Tokyo (5:47)

9. Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia (1:13)

Total Time: 43:52

Produced by Kevin D. Nixon. Recorded at Stable Studios, engineered at Wickham Studios by Ralph Jezzard and mixed at Rooster Studios by Tony Spath except track 3, which was produced, engineered, and mixed by Andy Allen at Cave Studios, Bristol.

"Tonight" was originally performed by Russ Ballard

"Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia" is not listed on this pressing's album sleeve or label.

Re-released by High Vaultage in 1997 with five bonus tracks from 'Midnight Rendezvous' EP:

1. If Heaven Is Hell

2. Highway Passion

3. Midnight Rendezvous

4. Mean Streak

5. Death On Main Street

Remastered in 2010 by Lemon Records with bonus songs in a second CD:

1. Death On Main Street

2. Madame Guillotine (Madame Guillotine EP)

3. Breakout (Madame Guillotine EP)

4. Love Struck (Madame Guillotine EP)

5. Midnight Rendezvous (Midnight Rendezvous EP)

6. Mean Streak (Midnight Rendezvous EP)

7. If Heaven Is Hell (Midnight Rendezvous EP)

8. Highway Passion (Midnight Rendezvous EP)

9. Shadows of Insanity (The Cave Sessions)

10. School House Is Burning (The Cave Sessions)

11. Jezzabel (The Cave Sessions)

12. Monkey's Blood (The Cave Sessions)

Tokyo Blade is the debut album by English heavy metal band Tokyo Blade. It was originally released in 1983 and reissued by High Vaultage Records in a remastered edition on CD in 1997, including all the tracks from the 1984 Midnight Rendezvous EP