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Heavy Metal Maniac (1983)
Recorded in August 1982 and released the following year, Heavy Metal Maniac is the debut LP 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 the quintessential speed metal album. It's raw, fast, and aggressive. The production is rough in a way that adds to the energy, though slightly cleaned up compared to the debut. Nothing here feels safe or polished, though.
This may be the best the vocalist ever sounded. He still throws in the high screams, but uses them more sparingly. There's more control compared to later albums where he was strained and screaming the whole time. His approach on this record serves the music much better.
The title track is the highlight. This is fast and intense early '80s speed metal. The aggressive feeling of the riffs, the blistering solo, the forceful vocals with the kind of rough sounding screams thrown in... if I had to pick one song to kind of embody '80s metal in a general sense, this would be a contender. Maybe it's because this is the kind of thing I grew up with. After that, the rest feels like a bonus, but it stays strong all the way through.
There are plenty of memorable riffs and vocal lines. “Evil Sinner” was the song that got me into Exciter, and it still stands out with its darker feel. “Saxons of the Fire” is another great one; fast, sharp, and straight to the point. Slower tracks were always a weak spot for Exciter, and “Pounding Metal” is no exception. It’s not awful, but it drags compared to the rest. “War Is Hell” works better — not really fast, not really slow, but epic and memorable.
I've heard people say the album is repetitive but when it's this good they should absolutely stick with what works. Exciter was one of the best speed metal bands of the '80s and Violence & Force is highly recommended.
This may be the best the vocalist ever sounded. He still throws in the high screams, but uses them more sparingly. There's more control compared to later albums where he was strained and screaming the whole time. His approach on this record serves the music much better.
The title track is the highlight. This is fast and intense early '80s speed metal. The aggressive feeling of the riffs, the blistering solo, the forceful vocals with the kind of rough sounding screams thrown in... if I had to pick one song to kind of embody '80s metal in a general sense, this would be a contender. Maybe it's because this is the kind of thing I grew up with. After that, the rest feels like a bonus, but it stays strong all the way through.
There are plenty of memorable riffs and vocal lines. “Evil Sinner” was the song that got me into Exciter, and it still stands out with its darker feel. “Saxons of the Fire” is another great one; fast, sharp, and straight to the point. Slower tracks were always a weak spot for Exciter, and “Pounding Metal” is no exception. It’s not awful, but it drags compared to the rest. “War Is Hell” works better — not really fast, not really slow, but epic and memorable.
I've heard people say the album is repetitive but when it's this good they should absolutely stick with what works. Exciter was one of the best speed metal bands of the '80s and Violence & Force is highly recommended.
(10 May 2025)
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