Search - Exciter :: Heavy Metal Maniac

Wicked Metal!!

Jaime A. Sanchez | Pueblo CO | 04/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Exciter was one of the best metal bands ever!!! The vocals, guitars and drums are awesome! Recommend this to any speed metal fan!!!"

One of Thrash's biggest influences.

James Simpson | USA | 01/29/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1983 was the year that the Metal beast known as "Thrash" officialy broke into the world as a legitimate genre of music.

Influenced by Judas Priest,Accept,Motorhead,Diamond Head,Anvil,Venom,Savage and a good dose of Punk,this was Metal's most brutal sub-genre of the time.



One of the genre's forgotten architects was the Canadian based "Exciter",a band who experimented with speed and combined garage level production values for a rawer,meaner sound that most Metal available at the time.

There contribution is not often cited as much as Metallica,Exodus and Slayer,but they deserve more credit.



This was there debut,and as exemplified by the wonderfully,rebellious artwork,a real kick in the pants to the unsuspecting Metalhead.

The album is a non-stop attack on the senses,producing many classic tracks like "Stand Up and Fight","Iron Dogs","Cry of the banshee" and a wonderfully brutal,sexually driven maelstorm of a title track.



Drummer,Dan Beehler has a unique vocal delivery that sets him apart from his contemporaries,and still makes the band sound unique today.

While the sound is somewhat dated,the album still has enough youthful energy to keep it moving along at a good headbang.

Exciter will make an even better follow-up with "Violence and Force",but unfortunately did not progress,and today remain a footnote in Metal history.



Still,this is essential in any Thrash collection,and a worthy edition to the Top 500 Metal albums.



This re-mastered edition features two interviews with the band and legendary demo track,"World War 3",which is a real a s s kicker of a track and the good,"Evil Sinner".



"

Metal Maniac = Masterpiece

Doc Shred | 08/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Exciter's 1982 release, Heavy Metal Maniac, is a criminally underrated album. If you're into thrash or metal like Exodus, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Slayer, Metallica, or Megadeth, then Exciter is a band you should check out. Hard to believe this album came out the same year as Number Of The Beast, because "Maniac" is so much heavier and faster. And it predates Metallica's first album by at least a year. The remaster edition CD with the bonus interviews is a nice touch."