{"product_id":"knights-of-the-blade","title":"Knights Of The Blade","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTokyo Blade\u003c\/strong\u003e originally formed in 1982, releasing their self-titled debut in 1983 (CD 1 of this release). Formed around guitarist Andy Boulton, he was joined on their debut by Alan Marsh on lead vocals, John Wiggins on guitar, Andy Robbins on bass, and Steve Pierce on drums, making a significant impact on the burgeoning NWOBHM scene that had been popularized by Iron Maiden, Saxon, Tygers Of Pan Tang, and Def Leppard, as well as finding support in the pages of Kerrang! magazine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy 1984, they’d developed enough of a reputation to appear alongside Metallica and Venom at Holland’s Aardschock festival. By the time of the second full-length album, 1984’s \u003cem\u003eNight Of The Blade\u003c\/em\u003e (CD 2 of this release), Boulton had been joined by Vicki James Wright on lead vocals, who ended up replacing Alan Marsh’s vocals that had already been recorded for the LP, with Andy Wrighton replacing Andy Robbins on bass. This was also their first album released on Powerstation Records, the British independent HM label that also released records by Little Angels, Chrome Molly, and Pauline Gillan (sister of Ian Gillan).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1985 they released their third full-length LP, this time for their own (slightly consumptive sounding) TB Records. \u003cem\u003eBlack Hearts \u0026amp; Jaded Spades\u003c\/em\u003e saw a move away from the more NWOBHM and melodic hard rock flavor of their earliest releases towards a more glammed-up, radio-friendly, keyboard-augmented sound, aimed more towards the US and Japanese markets. This, in turn, led to shows with important 80s rock and metal names such as Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Mama’s Boys, Dio, and Slayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis part of the story is rounded off by a fourth disc collecting together many rare EPs, singles, and non-album cuts from the early 1980s, including tracks from \u003cem\u003eThe Cave Sessions\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eUndercover Honeymoon\u003c\/em\u003e 12”, \u003cem\u003eMidnight Rendezvous\u003c\/em\u003e EP, and \u003cem\u003eMadame Guillotine\u003c\/em\u003e EP. Also features lengthy and detailed liner notes from noted NWOBHM and Tokyo Blade expert John Tucker.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"CD | x4","offer_id":51246156677451,"sku":"1095208","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8c501032-a7ee-45ca-a4dc-d4174715eb95_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1739232740","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/products\/knights-of-the-blade","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}