Shah - Beware (1989)

Beware indeed, Shah are a rough-around-the-edges metal band from the '80s who produced some gloriously gritty metal packed with aggression and spike. This does have an almost basic thrash feel to proceedings but because of it's dynamics there is an air of originality, particularly in some unexpected effects and those gritty vocals and rough bass lines. The title cut is a pure galloping monster of a track even if vocalist Antonio 'The Almighty' Garcia sounds like he's too close to the mic. He also supplies the rattling guitars whilst self-proclaimed 'Drumnoid' Andrei Sazonov beefs up the track even further. This is effective thrash metal from Russia that carries a pretty fatal bite. 'Age Of Dismay,' 'Threshold Of Pain,' 'Save The Human Race,' et al, all delivered like a mallet to the face. If you can ignore the last joke track ('Say Hi To Anthrax') then Shah are a surefire winner. 7/10