Reviews: Tokyo Blade, Kandia, Chapel Floods, Perpetual (Reviews By Matt Bladen)

Tokyo Blade – Fury (Dissonance Productions/Cherry Red Records)

Storming out of the pandemic with their eleventh studio record, NWOBHM survivors Tokyo Blade continue to prove why they are such an inspiration to nearly all of the NWOTHM bands that currently doing the rounds. We cover so many of them that it was only right to give the originators a spin and on this 15 track record, you can see that the flame of youthful rebellion in the early 1980’s still burns bright. While many of their contemporaries have gone on to be arena headliners, Tokyo Blade keep that D.I.Y spirit alive, despite more lineup changes than Spinal Tap, adversity and even relative obscurity, they are the true die-hard favourite. 

Fury is packed with riff after riff of biting classic metal, the guitar duo of band leader Andy Boulton and John Wiggins getting everything going on gallops like I Am Unbroken while the groovy Disposable Me is a testament to the syncopation between bassist Andy Wrighton and drummer Steve Pierce. As we journey through the 15 tracks you understand why so many bands cite them as an influence. They play a classic style of British metal that has made its way across the Atlantic and into Europe, the whole NWOBHM scene has been emulated but Tokyo Blade remain one of the originators drawing their own style from band such as Thin Lizzy (Eyes Wired Shut & Heart Of Darkness), AC/DC (Nailbomb) and of course Judas Priest (who were formed nearly a decade earlier). 

Fury is their second album for Dissonance Productions and their third since the return of original vocalist Alan Marsh whose sneering snarl is so key to those early records. This is no 80’s rehash though, Fury feels modern and heavier than ever, tracks like Cold Light Of Day moving them into Queensryche dramatics, driven by orchestral segments, big choruses and a great guitar solo section. Usually an album with 15 tracks would start to dip but Fury is paced very well, the mid-paced rockers usually followed by faster metal showcases. It keeps your attention, gets your head nodding and after a couple of listens even singing along. A great album from a British metal institution, Tokyo Blade are still as sharp as ever. 8/10 

Kandia – Quaternary (Frontiers Music Srl)

The latest acquisition by the Frontiers & Beyond initiative is Portuguese alt-metal band Kandia. Once again teaming with producer Daniel Cardoso (Anthema) as they done on their two previous albums, the duo of vocalist Nya Cruz and guitarist André Da Cruz along with drummer Eduardo and bassist Bernardo. The band have apparently tried to add to their signature modern metal sound on this Frontiers debut adding frenzied sax to Murderers, this whole record feels like bands such as In This Moment or Lacuna Coil but with more of a Pink Floyd or Tool level of experimentation. Bouncy modern metal riffs are counterpointed by proggy flourishes as the vocals shift between emotive cleans and the occasional growl. 

It’s aggressive but also melodic, unfortunately it’s also very familiar, taking cues from bands that have been the leaders in this style but there is enough of their own edge for it to still be an entertaining listen. Nya particular has a great voice similar to ITM’s Maria Brink, giving it her all on poppier numbers like The Flood, while André’s guitar playing is equally impressive on the big modern metal stompers such as Fight Or Flight as it is on more introspective songs such as Holocene. The Frontiers & Beyond initiative is there to bring somewhat unknown or young bands to a wider audience and I’m sure they will lap up Kandia’s proggy modern metal. 6/10

Chapel Floods – EP (Self Released)

The three track Demo EP, from Rotherham band Chapel Floods, is what would happen if grunge was infected by stoner/sludge, if Alice In Chains jammed with Crowbar, or Corrosion Of Conformity got heavily into Soundgarden. 

Thick syrupy riffs languish in distortion and reverb from the first chord of Time Servers and it’s off we go into the riff fuelled three track demo. We are firmly ingrained in the 90’s music scene with this offering, conceived out of jam session between Bing, Shawn and Luke, while the pandemic was hindrance they persevered, they were able to play their parts by themselves eventually adding Will and here is the result. 

Time Servers slithers and creeps, before the massive doom riffs of Thousand Year Stare bring that low end bass crunch, down tuned riffs and hypnotic vocals as it segues into Crooked Nose. The demo production, adds a rawness to the EP bolstering the punishing riffs. A heck of a start for a band who have gigs planned, try and catch them at a venue near you before they level it. 7/10

Perpetual – Backlash EP (Self Released)

Perpetual hail from Poland and play aggressive groove metal. Backlash is their second EP following one from 2018. While their line up may have changed a little the style remains bringing together bands such as The Haunted, Devildriver and many of the crossover thrash bands out there on Incapacitated. Backlash features 6 songs and is about 30 minutes long, so it’s an ideal look at what the band do. 

Tracks such as the thrashing Parallel Reality and the bouncing Fourth Dimension highlight the subtle differences in the songs on this EP drawn from a variety of influences that are present on this EP. Musically it’s a a step up from the first EP however I do find that the growled vocals are infinitely better than the shouted “regular” vocals, which sound a little too ragged to my ear. Still there’s nothing here that is bad. While it is similar to a lot out there Perpetual do it well. Let’s see what a bit more touring, playing and writing brings. 6/10