Tokyo Blade-Night of the Blade (1984)

Tokyo Blade are another essential band of the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" (NWOBHM) movement, and along with Iron Maiden, are among the few still active today. Formed in Salisbury, near Southampton, their beginnings date back to the late 1970s when several young men Alan Marsh (vocals), Andy Boulton (guitar), Ray Dismore (guitar), Andy Robbins (bass), and Steve Pierce (drums) founded a band called White Diamond. After several name and lineup changes, and finally settling on Tokyo Blade, they signed with the independent label Powerstation, with whom they recorded their self-titled debut album in 1983. This first release features tremendous tracks with breakneck rhythms, such as the fast and powerful "Powergame", the heavy punk "Break the Chains", and the potent heavy metal "If Heaven Is Hell". A year later, now under the wing of a more prestigious label like Roadrunner, they released their second album, "Night of the Blade", in which they embellished their powerful riffs with catchy choruses, as in the monumental tracks "Love Struck", "Rock Me To The Limit", and "Someone to Love", or the epic songs "Lightning Strikes" and "Warrior Of the Rising Sun". With this album and its predecessor, Tokyo Blade secured their place of honor in the history of heavy metal.