Dark Revolution

Forget 22 Acacia Avenue; the place to be, at the moment, is wherever Tokyo Blade's tenth official full-length, Dark Revolution, is playing - in particular, winning, fist-pumping, anthemic humdingers such as opener "Story Of A Nobody", "Truth Is A Hunter", "Crack In The Glass", "See You Down In Hell" and, specially, the tough-as-nails, bumptious next-to-last, slightly Metallica-ish slicer, "Not Lay Down And Die".

Aside from 1984 hit parader "Rock Me To The Limit"* (off exalted 1984 sophomore Night of the Blade) am not familiar with the Salisbury/Wiltshire-based NWOBHM mainstay, yet, alongside kick-ass comeback reprisals by Quartz, Traitor's Gate, Tygers of Pan Tang and Salem, can't help but espouse jubilant sentiment in regards to the Britishers' latest fulsome production, which, itself, comes on heels of 2018's relatively lauded and/or commercially successful Unbroken.

For one thing, aside from former Deep Machine bassist Andy Wrighton replacing original guitarist Andy Robbins, TB's line-up remains uncha(lle)nged, whilst the chunky, bottom heavy production hugely compliments the gritty and stout battery (featuring long-time drummer/running mate Steve Pierce), with the synchronized guitars of Andy Boulton and John Wiggins. Usual front samurai/vocalist Alan Marsh, for his celebratory part, sounds that much more mature and seizing, particularly on said super catchy, sing-along beginning - and, possibly, top highlight - "Story Of A Nobody", as well as squelching late-game genuflector "Not Lay Down And Die".

A few songs fail to fan the flames as much as aforementioned brethren ("Burning Rain" and "Perfect Enemy" could have been omitted, hence paving the road for sleek, forty-some minute afterburner, instead of eleven track, almost-hour long odyssey, contended with here). Actually, closer "Voices Of The Damned", with its cleanly reverb'd outro and stellar, high-wire lead, makes for a comprehensively swell, cranked-the-ever-lovin'-up bookend to "Story Of A Nobody", whilst additional, sweetly phrased, rocking soloing is gleaned amidst "Dark Revolution" proper and glam-ily titled "The Lights Of Soho".

At times, Marsh's stylish, stentorian vocals remind me of a heady cross between James Hetfield - sans trite or brutish, incessant "YEAH!"-ing - and True Witness (of Chicago)'s Allan James. If anything, his vox, nowadays, are a far cry (or croon) from days of "putting on your dancing shoes, so they can see those baby blues, as they bet your Mama never rocked like this, still thinking it's illegal to kiss".*

So, I've some serious Tokyo Blade disco exploration ahead of me, starting with this commendable Dark Revolution.