SHAH - Terror Collection (SNC Records, 1991)

While Master might have been the first "official" Soviet thrash band, I think that righful honor should go to another Moscow band - Shah. Formed in 1985, Shah played thrash metal with English lyrics from the get-go. The "Terror Collection" LP I have here collects various demo and previously unreleased songs from 1985 through 1991. Musically I'd say the later songs on this is like a solid mix of "Show No Mercy" and "Ride the Lightning" while in the earlier ones (while still being thrashy) I detect a strong Priest influence, check out "Metal Fight", I think it sounds almost exactly like "Defenders of the Faith". The band members for reason unknown crafted themselves "South American" sounding names while in fact they were Russian. A note about this cool looking cover, a friend informed me that the masks on it are from an ad in "Fangoria" magazine. Anyway, check out "The Terror Collection" :

Killing Machine ('86)
Overload ('91)
Damned Sinner ('86)
Age Of Darkness ('91)
Thrashing Metal Race ('85)
Terror Collection ('91)
Masdon Must Die ('85)
Mad Future ('87)
Ashes To Ashes ('85)
Metal Fight ('85)


Shah @ bnrmetal.com (a bunch more info)