Speaking of old warriors, of forefathers of metal; Exciter always remains hidden in the background, a well kept secret that has been overshadowed by the early Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer years; not overshadow because of their musical superiority but by the simple factor that those bands belong to the Bay Area movement that pretty much started the heavy metal revolution, moving away from rock base songs and introducing all the rage of hardcore into our music. Exciter was one of them, perhaps as early as Metallica this Canadians evolved only from influences and not the hype of a movement and a city, like the San Francisco movement was.

Without a doubt there are some familiar Maiden riffs in “Heavy Metal Maniac”; a song that perfectly displays this NWOBHM influences is the mid tempo “Iron Dogs”, even the name takes them back to those British leather and metal bands of the early 80’s; but is not that track the one that keeps Exciter intriguing and desperate for some recognition; instead is the global hardcore punk attitude and sound that clearly features the early and honest development of thrash metal.

The sound in this 1983 release is rawer than anything Metallica, Slayer and the rest did during that era and that comes to show in the classical anthem “Heavy Metal Maniac” a song that should be included in everybody’s list of all time thrash metal songs… sadly many have forgotten this band, perhaps it was their later development that infused a more speed metal based sound that got many early fans off based, but it is this album the one that features one of the best releases of thrash metal the world has seen.

Every song has the peculiar ability to master heavy metal and directly inject speed and a powerful drum work, that keeps things heavy, loud and most importantly fun, memorable, interesting…you name it! This is one of those few well hidden treasures that should be dusted up and appreciated for what it meant to the global thrash sound that we enjoy today.