Exciter Heavy Metal Maniac, Violence & Force, Long Live The Loud & Unveiling The Wicked
Megaforce Records 2005
By Russell Garwood
The first in a set of four recent reissues from Megaforce Records, Exciters Heavy Metal Manic is early speed metal, aptly titled, and somewhat ahead of its time, dating from 1983. Vocals vary between high-pitched singing and more archetypal thrash vox, while the guitars are unsurprisingly pretty damn fast. Lightening speed solos are frequent and welcome, while the rhythm work is not particularly heavy by todays standards, but at the time must have been pretty impressive. Tight drums and barely audible bass are par for the course, and the production is not bad considering the albums age and style. A tinny sound is about the only major complaint. While Heavy Metal Manic has not aged well, it is a must for speed metal fans as this is a part of the genres earliest history.
Follow-up Violence & Force continues in a similar vein to the bands debut. Dating from 1985, this CD is closer to early thrash than the bands 1983 effort; the vocals are tend to be less melodic, and more of a tune is carried in the guitars. There is also increased variation in the songs, with differing tempos, time changes and even occasional acoustics and quiet refrains Crazy! Again the production is not perfect, the sound feeling weak, with little power or low-end. That said, this marks a subtle development in the bands sound, and again - is part of the history of thrash, and as such is a must for the genre.
Long Live The Loud followed a year later, and sees Exciter step up the speed and accessibility a bit more. The song-writing had improved by this release, but at the same time the bands approach had become slightly formulaic, and the songs often feel samey and repetitive. Tight performances all round and the sheer enthusiasm of the band members make up for this, however, and this seminal release will be appreciate by most speed and thrash metal fans. Still fairly dated.
The final re-issue in this set from Megaforce is Unveiling The Wicked. This marks a slight departure from the style of these seminal speed-metallers first three albums. The music is generally a bit slower, with more melodic guitar lines and screeched vocals. The lyrics are verging more into laughable territory (song titles include I Hate School Rules), yet this is an interesting development. The songs are good, and this is all very listenable, accessible stuff. That said it is probably only a release for Exciter fans, as its impact is not as great as the bands first three albums.
All in all these reissues chart a seminal speed metal act, and show consistent quality. While dated they are a must for fans of the style.
Heavy Metal Manic 7.5/10
Violence & Force 8/10
Long Live The Loud 7/10
Unveiling The Wicked 6/10
Official Megaforce Records website
Megaforce Records 2005
By Russell Garwood
The first in a set of four recent reissues from Megaforce Records, Exciters Heavy Metal Manic is early speed metal, aptly titled, and somewhat ahead of its time, dating from 1983. Vocals vary between high-pitched singing and more archetypal thrash vox, while the guitars are unsurprisingly pretty damn fast. Lightening speed solos are frequent and welcome, while the rhythm work is not particularly heavy by todays standards, but at the time must have been pretty impressive. Tight drums and barely audible bass are par for the course, and the production is not bad considering the albums age and style. A tinny sound is about the only major complaint. While Heavy Metal Manic has not aged well, it is a must for speed metal fans as this is a part of the genres earliest history.
Follow-up Violence & Force continues in a similar vein to the bands debut. Dating from 1985, this CD is closer to early thrash than the bands 1983 effort; the vocals are tend to be less melodic, and more of a tune is carried in the guitars. There is also increased variation in the songs, with differing tempos, time changes and even occasional acoustics and quiet refrains Crazy! Again the production is not perfect, the sound feeling weak, with little power or low-end. That said, this marks a subtle development in the bands sound, and again - is part of the history of thrash, and as such is a must for the genre.
Long Live The Loud followed a year later, and sees Exciter step up the speed and accessibility a bit more. The song-writing had improved by this release, but at the same time the bands approach had become slightly formulaic, and the songs often feel samey and repetitive. Tight performances all round and the sheer enthusiasm of the band members make up for this, however, and this seminal release will be appreciate by most speed and thrash metal fans. Still fairly dated.
The final re-issue in this set from Megaforce is Unveiling The Wicked. This marks a slight departure from the style of these seminal speed-metallers first three albums. The music is generally a bit slower, with more melodic guitar lines and screeched vocals. The lyrics are verging more into laughable territory (song titles include I Hate School Rules), yet this is an interesting development. The songs are good, and this is all very listenable, accessible stuff. That said it is probably only a release for Exciter fans, as its impact is not as great as the bands first three albums.
All in all these reissues chart a seminal speed metal act, and show consistent quality. While dated they are a must for fans of the style.
Heavy Metal Manic 7.5/10
Violence & Force 8/10
Long Live The Loud 7/10
Unveiling The Wicked 6/10
Official Megaforce Records website
