Night Of The Blade＜限定盤＞

TOKYO BLADEが1984年に発表した2ndアルバムの2026年度再発盤。1983年のデビュー作に続く重要作であり、NWOBHM期におけるバンドの評価を決定づけた一枚である。オリジナルはPowerstation Recordsからリリースされ、当時は次世代の旗手として大きな期待を集めた。
本作は2020年9月にPatrick W. EngelがTEMPLE OF DISHARMONYでヴァイナル用マスタリングを行い、SST GermanyがNeumannマシンでカッティングを担当している。鋭利なツインギターを軸とした王道ブリティッシュ・ヘヴィメタルを基盤に、前作以上にメロディを強調した作風が特徴。タイトル曲や"Lightning Strikes"Unleash the Beast"では疾走感と攻撃性が前面に出る一方、"Someone to Love"Rock Me to the Limit"では叙情性豊かな旋律美を提示する。ヴォーカルがAlan MarshからVicki James Wrightへ交代したことで、より伸びやかでメロディアスな表現が加わり、バンドの音楽性は新たな段階へ進化。攻撃性と叙情性が同居する、N.W.O.B.H.M.を代表する名盤の一つである。

In retrospect, the differences between Tokyo Blade's first and second albums provided a snapshot of the evolving motivations driving British heavy metal, as its template for success that had been epitomized by Iron Maiden circa 1982 and 1983 gave way in 1984 to Def Leppard's conquering of the American market, on the back of the previous year's Pyromania juggernaut. That is to say, where Tokyo Blade's eponymous debut from 1983 (the original version, not the confusing Canadian reissue) owed much of its sonic blueprint to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, 1984's Night of the Blade unquestionably found the group angling for Leppard's newfound hook-laden hard rock formula, as evidenced by idiot-proof numbers like "Someone to Love," "Rock Me to the Limit," and "Lovestruck" (whose lyrics could have been written by a chimp). Recently installed new vocalist Vic Wright had also been hired specifically to aid in this transformation, and his higher-pitched, somewhat whiney delivery really drew the line in the sand, so to speak, that separated Tokyo Blade Mark I and II, although it's doubtful he was entirely to blame for the general lyrical dumbing down that ensued. The good news for any lingering fans of old was that the band was still hedging their bets, just in case this new direction didn't pan out with a few terrific glances into the rearview mirror -- including the incendiary title track, the dueling six-string ecstasy of "Unleash the Beast," and the majestic "Dead of the Night" -- inserted betwixt the trifling nonsense cited above. As a result, Night of the Blade sounds like the work of a totally schizophrenic band, and it's too bad that Tokyo Blade wound up picking the wrong evil twin for the next stage of their career (hint: the one with hairspray, makeup, and little musical imagination), thus accelerating their fall into disgrace. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia