First wave British thrashers, Toranaga U.K., are closing in on the release of their upcoming EP, A New Order. Complete with cover art by Sarah Louise Rose, and produced by Steve Kilpatrick (BBC Radio, Channel 4, London Olympics) at his Soundfackery studios in France, it will be released on May 19th. Keep reading below to find out more.
Formed in 1985, Toranaga were at the forefront of the UK thrash scene, releasing two of the movement’s most impressive and important albums – Bastard Ballads for Peaceville Records in 1988 and God’s Gift for major label Chrysalis Records in 1990. However, despite the critical acclaim garnered by both albums and successful tours with the likes of Manowar, Venom, Saxon, Annihilator and more, the band split with Chrysalis in ’91 and everything came to a halt. Various versions of Toranaga appeared over the years, with The Bastard Son Of Toranaga releasing an EP in 2011 and an album in 2013, but after that the story seemed to have reached its end…until now! Original and ever present Toranaga vocalist Mark Duffy has assembled a new team of talented musicians and under the banner Toranaga U.K. they are about to unleash an outstanding four track EP – A New Order!
A New Order features two new songs and two Toranaga classics, re-recorded and re-energised. The new songs – opener “Desecration” and title track “A New Order” – completely capture the original spirit of Toranaga, with deft and dextrous riffing, scorching solos, immersive atmosphere, great melodies and choruses and Mark Duffy’s inimitable vocals, their power undiminished by the passage of time. They sit perfectly alongside the gleaming new renditions of “The Shrine” and “Sword Of Damocles” from the God’s Gift album. The band were never fully satisfied with the sound on God’s Gift and here two of its finest songs have at long last been given the cutting edge they were not afforded in their original incarnation. Bringing together the past and the future, A New Order is a timely reminder of just what a remarkable band Toranaga were and gives a tantalising glimpse of how much Toranaga U.K. still have to offer.
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