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Heavy Metal Maniac (1983)
Recorded in August 1982 and released the following year, Heavy Metal Maniac is the debut L.P. from Exciter. This is classic early '80s speed metal, raw and aggressive, with the rough production only adding to the impact. The distorted guitars give the riffs an extra edge, while the lead solos have a sharp, metallic tone that fuels the album’s intensity. The songwriting isn’t quite as consistent as on Violence & Force, but it’s still solid throughout. Most of the tracks are straightforward speed metal, though the intro and “Black Witch” bring a more melodic, almost epic vibe. The overall feel isn’t far off from albums like Kill ’Em All, Show No Mercy, or Fistful of Metal. Highlights include “Stand Up and Fight!”, “Rising of the Dead” and “Cry of the Banshee”. Really good stuff, definitely worth a listen.
(31 May 2025)
Violence & Force (1984)
Released in 1984, Violence & Force is Exciter’s second L.P. and the best thing they ever did. This is pure speed metal; raw, fast, and filled with explosive energy. The production slightly cleaned up from the Heavy Metal Maniac but still rough enough to suit the material.
The title track, alone, is one of those songs that embodies what '80s metal was about. From the aggressive feeling of the riffs to the blistering solo to the pounding drums, everything comes together perfectly like a fist to your face. And the vocalist sounds better here than on any other Exciter record, really. He still throws in the high screams, but uses them more sparingly. There's a sense of control compared to later albums where he was strained and screaming much of the time. His approach on this record serves the music much better.
There are plenty of memorable riffs and vocal lines throughout the whole album. “Evil Sinner” has a bit of a darker feel and was the song that got me into Exciter. “Saxons of the Fire” is another great one; fast and straightforward. "War is Hell" offers really solid heavy metal with an almost epic feeling and riffs that stick in your brain. That said, these guys sometimes struggled with the slower tracks and “Pounding Metal” is a good example of this. It’s not awful, but it drags compared to the rest. Overall, Violence & Force is a really strong record and demonstrates why Exciter was one of the best speed metal bands of the '80s. This is highly recommended.
The title track, alone, is one of those songs that embodies what '80s metal was about. From the aggressive feeling of the riffs to the blistering solo to the pounding drums, everything comes together perfectly like a fist to your face. And the vocalist sounds better here than on any other Exciter record, really. He still throws in the high screams, but uses them more sparingly. There's a sense of control compared to later albums where he was strained and screaming much of the time. His approach on this record serves the music much better.
There are plenty of memorable riffs and vocal lines throughout the whole album. “Evil Sinner” has a bit of a darker feel and was the song that got me into Exciter. “Saxons of the Fire” is another great one; fast and straightforward. "War is Hell" offers really solid heavy metal with an almost epic feeling and riffs that stick in your brain. That said, these guys sometimes struggled with the slower tracks and “Pounding Metal” is a good example of this. It’s not awful, but it drags compared to the rest. Overall, Violence & Force is a really strong record and demonstrates why Exciter was one of the best speed metal bands of the '80s. This is highly recommended.
(10 May 2025)
Long Live the Loud (1985)
Exciter's third album, Long Live the Loud, was released in June 1985. The sound here picks up from where Violence & Force left off and offers the same kind of classic '80s speed metal. The songwriting feels slightly more focused though the raw energy still comes through. Each song sounds a little more distinctive and you can hear the strong Motörhead influence as well as traces of Black Sabbath. It's here where the vocalist starts to rely more on frequent high screams that feel like his throat is going to give out at any moment. He sounds fine but sticking to a mid-range and then throwing in the higher screams when needed would have been better.
Nevertheless, there are some really strong tracks on here, like "Long Live the Loud", "Beyond the Gates of Doom" and the epic "Wake Up Screaming". The latter breaks their curse of doing poorly with slow material, as this one is powerful and dripping with a sombre atmosphere. The riffs carry a feeling of doom and the screams are chilling. Of course, the whole thing is filled with killer lead guitar solos as well. It's strange that even among Exciter fans, I rarely see anyone talk about this record. Long Live the Loud is a great album and definitely recommended for anyone into '80s speed or heavy metal in general.
Nevertheless, there are some really strong tracks on here, like "Long Live the Loud", "Beyond the Gates of Doom" and the epic "Wake Up Screaming". The latter breaks their curse of doing poorly with slow material, as this one is powerful and dripping with a sombre atmosphere. The riffs carry a feeling of doom and the screams are chilling. Of course, the whole thing is filled with killer lead guitar solos as well. It's strange that even among Exciter fans, I rarely see anyone talk about this record. Long Live the Loud is a great album and definitely recommended for anyone into '80s speed or heavy metal in general.
(18 June 2025)
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