Tokyo Blade - Lemon Reissue Packs

I know there have been a few Tokyo Blade related topics but as far as I can tell none that are still active...

In any case, I thought I'd give my impression of the Tokyo Blade Reissue Packs I recently purchased, which feature their mid - late 80s albums and also one album from the mid 90s. As a general overview, the albums included in these packs are nowhere near as good as the first two Tokyo Blade albums which are classic NWOBHM material. However, for what they are worth each album here has something going for it (more or less).

Ironically one of my favorite albums is "No Remorse" which features a very bastardized version of Tokyo Blade (with the guitarist being the only founding member and the rest being session musicians including the singer). It has a very glammy feel, in a way reminding me of mid 80s Pretty Maids (think cross over between Future World and Lethal Heroes). There is also a mid 80s Europe vibe on this album. Crytal Gold is imo the best song on there.

Burning Down Paradise is also a very solid album - I would rate this as high as No Remorse. This album took me by surprise - given it is a mid-90s release from a NWOBHM my expectations were low. I expected a watered down grungy attempt but this album is the total opposite. It actually reminds me a bit of 90s Riot / Priest and Halford's Fight. Very solid release and probably the closest in quality to the first 2 Tokyo Blade albums.

Going back to the early-mid 80s, Blackhearts & Jaded Spades is solid albeit inconsistent at times. I believe this is the band's 3rd album. The sound here is a mix between classic metal similar to the first 2 albums and a pop / glam direction which would become more evident on the later releases. At times the style here reminds me of early 80s Dokken, at other times of early 80s Dio. By far the best song here is Playroom of Poison Dreams, followed by Monkey's Blood which is a full-throttled double bass style song very much in the vein of Priest's Freewheel Burnin'. Good album but also plagued a bit by lack of focus, especially the experimental moments where the band seems to take on a 'big band' blues style.. way left-field.

Aint Misbehavin' is imo the weakest album of all here. Not much to say about this one as it left no real impression on me. The style is more commercial, more pop / glam sounding but without any real hooks. This album to me seems just complete with filler. Easily the weakest out of the 4 but hey... 3 good albums out of 4 albums is not bad.

I always liked NO REMORSE too, have it twice on vinly with different back and front covers. Because the sintosizers it has a sound like DANGEROUS CHARM by SINNER, ON TARGET by FASTWAY, CHANGE OF ADDRESS by KROKUS, PERFECT TIMING by MSG etc...love this mid/late 80s sound, its magic.

No remorse is a very good album. The first TOKYO BLADE i got.

I will defend anything Andy Boulton touches to the death. Official fan club member, right here, since I first heard Night of the Blade. He still emails me out of the blue for no reason. 1000 Men Strong was one of the best albums of the last few years. I even went and hung out in Detroit to watch them rehearse when Chris was still singing. Great memory. Wish more Americans would look into these guys, as they have stayed the course as long as Saxon, Raven, etc.

Tokyo Blade has split up a couple of times over the years, though, unlike Saxon and Raven.

Required Fields wrote:

Tokyo Blade has split up a couple of times over the years, though, unlike Saxon and Raven.

"Split Up" might be an inaccurate term. Andy has a touch of Yngwie/Schenker to him. A bit of a perfectionist.