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Tokyo Blade Fury Review by Gary Hill The latest disc from Tokyo Blade, this was recorded during Covid lockdown. There are some particularly strong songs here. They run the gamut from more mainstream metal rockers to fierce stuff. Personally, the meatier, fiercer stuff works best for me on this release, but it all has its charms. I think I'd have made a couple changes here to create a stronger album, though. This might be a case where less is more, and it would have worked better if they'd left two or three songs off and held them for a later release. Beyond that, the first half of the album seems to be stacked toward the more rock versus metal side of the equation. I think spreading those tracks out more might have made this work better. All in all, though, this is quite strong. Besides, I think a lot of people just listen to a song or two at the time these days. Taken like that, pretty much everything here is effective. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2022 Volume 2. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2022.

Track by Track Review

Man In A Box They waste no time, firing out with some smoking hot metal out of the gate. The bass work on this makes me think of Iron Maiden at times. The tune has some meaty hooks and a lot of style.

Blood Red Night Echoey layers of vocals, at least one of which is a certain former President, start this tune. A killer metal riffing takes over from there. It drops from there to a stripped back arrangement, focused heavily on the bass. Distorted vocals are heard as this grows upward in an almost AOR prog way. This is definitely a mainstream tune. It has some metal edge, but is perhaps closer to a harder-edged pop rock early. It turns more metallic as it continues.

I Am Unbroken Fierce and furious, this is mean. Yet it still has some particularly catchy hooks. It's decidedly metal, but that hard rock sound is in place, too.

Disposable Me I really love the screaming hot metal on this number. It's got some cool creative edges, but is also catchy.

Eyes Wired Shut This is even meaner and meatier. It's a fiery tune that is decidedly metal, but still has a bluesy hard rock edge to it. There is some particularly expressive, yet technical guitar soloing on this killer tune. This is one of my favorites here.

Cold Light Of Day As this comes in and builds it has a smoking hot progressive metal sound to it. Keyboards lend something special. This is a powerhouse metal tune overall, though. It just has some proggy drama at times. Some symphonic over-layers later add to that proggy concept and bring a lot of magic as they do. Sirens and other sound effects rise up later in the track. it fades down, seeming to end, but the cut rises back up for a short reprise.

We Fall Down Children chanting the rhyme from which the title comes are given a rather ominous vibe via the production. A killer metal screamer fires out from that introduction. This is one of the most purely metal songs here. There is a real neo-classical edge to the guitar solo on this number. This is definitely another highlight of the set. In fact, it might be my favorite song here.

Heart of Darkness This is another screaming hot metal tune. It has some killer hooks and riffs, but is not quite as strong as the song that preceded it. Still, it's pretty damned good.

Kill Me Till I'm Dead More fierce and mean metal, this is another highlight. It's fairly brutal, yet still has good hooks. I absolutely love the scorching hot guitar solo on this number.

Life Leaves A Scar They ramp things up even more, here. This is meaner and frantic and really screams. It's another standout.

Message On The Wall There is a spoken opening here, delivering a sobering warning. The cut fires out to fast-paced metal from there. There are some solid hooks on this one. The instrumental section is intriguing. It starts with the rhythm section. Then a melodic guitar part is heard before some fierce and technical soloing emerges over the top.

Nailbomb Another mean and potent metal screamer, this is so tasty. It's another favorite here.

Rhythm Of The Gun This is still fierce and heavy, but it has more of that good-time rock and roll edge to it. It feels almost like something that would have fit well in the hair-metal era. The extensive guitar solo covers some different territories along the ride.

Static A little slower, this has more of a mean metal grind in place. I like this tune, and it brings some variety, but it just doesn't work as well for me as some of the others do.

When The Bullets Fly Things get on track for the closer. There is a smoking hot power metal sound to this killer rocker. The vocal hook on this is so catchy, but they don't sacrifice any metal edge for it.

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