Thousand Men Strong

The Blade is back! Once being one of the leading bands of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Tokyo Blade present a fabulous new album entitled Thousand Men Strong showing them at their best and reviving the glory of yesteryears. Exactly thirty years ago guitarist Andy Boulton founded the band together with Alan Marsh (vocals), Ray Dismore (guitar), Andy Robbins (bass) and Steve Pierce (drums) in Salisbury. At first, they called themselves Killer, then Genghis Khan before they took on the band name Tokyo Blade for good in 1983. At the end of 1983, they released their self-titled debut album, albeit without guitarist Ray Dismore but with the new addition John Wiggins. The following EP Midnight Rendezvous featured i. a. The song If Heaven Is Hell representing the band's first musical climax. Night Of The Blade - released in 1984 - is a milestone of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal which should not be missing in any record collection. Lighting Strikes or Rock Me To The Limit are another two hits from the album which brought Tokyo Blade the international big break. Due to internal differences the band broke up and the band members turned to various other projects. However, Andy Boulton did not give up. In 1990 he returned to the front line together with the original singer Alan Marsh. Together with John Wiggins and the new additions Colin Riggs (bass) and Mark Angel (drums) they released the comeback album Burning Down Paradise in 1995 being their original self again. Now, a full of 16 years has gone by since Burning Down Paradise. The band members retired into private life and Tokyo Blade were history. However, the condemned live longer, and it was again Andy Boulton who reactivated his former companions in 2009 due to the ongoing interest in the band. The race for the position of the vocalist was won by the German prodigy Nicolaj Ruhnow who also takes an active part in the Melodic Metal band Domain and his own band Nick Hellfort. The line-up of 2011 is as follows: Andy Boulton (guitar), Andy Wrighton (bass), John Wiggins (guitar), Steve Pierce (drums) and Nicolaj Ruhnow (vocals). The new album Thousand Men Strong is going to thrill the fans from the early days as well as younger people who are into excellent British Heavy Metal. In summer, Tokyo Blade will perform at some of the most important European festivals and, thus, give proof of the fact that they are back. There is no old fool like a Metal fool. New Wave Of British Heavy Metal is as strong as never before - ... like thousand men strong!