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THE BEAST
Power Metal

Mutha Records (1983)
Rating: 7/10

This Beast are located in central New Jersey, USA and this five-piece should not be confused with the Swiss band who had an album out on CBS last year. A four-track 7” EP, Power Metal demonstrates the thin line that can lie between heavy metal and punk.

As a whole the EP tilts towards heavy metal, which is why it’s being reviewed here. However, the exception is ‘Radical Man’, a pure punk track that apparently was only included as a tribute to the skinhead and punk bands that have supported The Beast through the years on the small club scene around New York and New Jersey.

In comparison, ‘The Beast’ is pure fast-paced metal similar to Jaguar’s excellent ‘Axe Crazy’, although I hasten to add that it’s not quite as good as the Bristol quartet’s classic.

The almost punkish ‘Enemy Ace’ is delivered in a equally frenzied manner, as is ‘The Shape’. To be honest I don’t think this band are capable of playing slower than 100mph, so don’t expect to find anything laid-back or just foot tapping here.

Not by any means a classic, but certainly a must for fans of Venom, Hellhammer and all lovers of hardcore metal.

Bernard Doe

Review taken from Metal Forces, Issue 2 (1983)

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