They released their first self-titled album, and played several major European festivals; namely the Aardschock Festival (with Venom & Metallica) and headlining the Earthquake Festival. They started writing and recording a new album, what was to become their most popular, Night of the Blade, but after it was finished, Alan Marsh was forced out of the band by the Management and Record Company, who wanted a more commercially viable vocalist.
Vic Wright was recruited, and re-recorded Alan's vocals on the new album. This was released, and followed by another string of festivals, in which they released a third album, Blackhearts and Jaded Spades. This album was more Americanised than their previous offerings, possibly due to the vocalist switch. Many fans disliked the album, and Vic soon left. The band then split up, with several members joining Alan Marsh in his other project, Shogun, and Andy Boulton continuing with the Tokyo Blade name, but not in the Tokyo Blade style.
In the early 1990's, many of the band found themselves together in Mr. Ice, and, due to the strong European support for Tokyo Blade, the management felt as if the band should revert back to the Tokyo Blade moniker. Boulton left the band, however, after more disagreements with the management.
The remainder of the band hooked up with Jez Lee and formed Pumphouse, and recorded an album, but, due to record company politics, it was not released for six years, and, when it was released, it was released under the Tokyo Blade name in order to cash in.
Eventually, the "true" Tokyo Blade put out another album, true in that they were called Tokyo Blade, and didn't have the name forced upon it. The album was Burning Down Paradise, released in 1995.
Discography
Tokyo Blade - 1983
Night Of The Blade- 1984
Midnight Rendezvous- 1984
Madame Guillotine- 1985
Blackhearts & Jaded Spades- 1985
Ain't Misbehavin'- 1987
No Remorse- 1989
Burning Down Paradise- 1995
Night Of The Blade - The Night Before- 1997
Mr Ice- 1998
Pumphouse- 1998
Live In Germany- 2009
Thousand Men Strong- 2011
Genghis Khan Killers- 2011
Unbroken- 2018
Dark Revolution- 2020
Fury- 2022
Killer City
Tokyo Blade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing in the shadows, see a vision on your mind
You will see the sunrise, will you make it through the day?
Running down a side street, is somebody after you
Got to turn and face it, there's just no other way
[Chorus]
No one to hear you cry, death rules the streets
Running wild, running wild
Night in the back streets, nobody dares to walk
A shadow by the streetlamp, a chill runs through your spine
Your head in your hands, your back against the wall
A tear from your eye, as you see the metal shine
[Chorus]
[Solo]
[Chorus]
Killer City, how can we live when you destroy
Killer City, will stand and fight, we have to survive
The song "Killer City" by Tokyo Blade paints a picture of a dangerous and violent urban landscape. The lyrics describe a sense of fear and paranoia that permeates the city streets, where even simple movements can be perceived as threats. The first verse sets the stage as the singer stands in the shadows, watching a sunrise and wondering if they will make it through the day. In the second verse, the fear becomes more tangible as somebody chases the singer down a side street, forcing them to confront the danger head-on.
The chorus emphasizes the feeling of hopelessness, as the singer is alone and crying for help. The repetition of the phrase "death rules the streets" gives a sense of the inevitability of violence in this city. The guitar solo in the middle of the song feels like a release of tension or a moment of wild abandon, but it's short-lived as the singer returns to the harsh reality of their surroundings.
The final verse is a call to action, as the singer addresses the city directly. They refuse to be defeated by the violence and the destruction, and instead they will stand and fight to survive. The song ends with the repeated refrain of "Killer City," driving home the bleakness of the setting and the need for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing in the shadows, see a vision on your mind
You are lurking in the dark, and your mind is creating imagery that you can see.
You will see the sunrise, will you make it through the day?
You want to see another day, but you are unsure if you will survive until the morning.
Running down a side street, is somebody after you
You are sprinting in fear, and you think someone is chasing you.
Got to turn and face it, there's just no other way
You need to confront your fear because there are no alternatives.
Down on your knees, praying for the day to break
You are at your lowest, and you are hoping to make it through the night.
No one to hear you cry, death rules the streets
You are alone, and death is prevalent in the city you are in.
Running wild, running wild
You are on the loose and out of control.
Night in the back streets, nobody dares to walk
It's nighttime, and people are too afraid to leave their homes.
A shadow by the streetlamp, a chill runs through your spine
You see a figure lurking under the streetlamp, and it sends shivers down your spine.
Your head in your hands, your back against the wall
You put your head down, and you brace yourself against the wall because you are afraid.
A tear from your eye, as you see the metal shine
You shed a tear when you see a weapon glinting in the light because you know things are going to get worse.
Killer City, how can we live when you destroy
This city is a killer, and it's destroying everything and everyone in it.
Killer City, will stand and fight, we have to survive
We can't let this city kill us, so we will fight to survive.
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.