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Canada is a nation where metal isn't, I think, as widespread as in Europe or America, but over time, with cunning and excellent preparation, some bands have come out that have marked the history of heavy metal, namely the thrashers ANNIHILATOR, the grand ANVIL, and the earth-shattering EXCITER!!
The latter, led by guitarist John Ricci, is the "classic" band that, with the "usual" staggering anthemic track, managed to create a personal genre, that later influenced the American thrash metal a lot. That is SPEED METAL!! Exciter is considered "the fathers" of this type of metal, which is a very fast musical style, even more than Motörhead and Tank, with small influences from the omnipresent Venom, a very fast drumming section, and a shouted and ungracious voice. The Bay Area thrash will be heavily influenced by speed, especially bands like Possessed, Metal Church, and Overkill, while today the term speed is also used in power. The band was initially called Hell Razor, but the name was later changed to Exciter, taking inspiration from the famous Judas Priest song.
The band recorded their first official album in 1983, namely "Heavy Metal Maniac", which featured a raw and fast sound, with singer Beehler hitting very high peaks. It's needless to dwell too much, because every word is useless and superfluous in front of a MASTERPIECE like this. The following "Violence And Force" and "Long Live The Loud" continued to gain huge success among critics and fans and to propose excellent songs that are still battle horses today. Other important albums by the group include the "melodic" shift of "Unveiling The Wicked" and the powerful "The Dark Command" and "Blood Of Tyrants". The current lineup consists of John Ricci on guitar, Kenny "Metal Mouth" Winter on vocals, Rick Charron on drums, and Rob Clammy on bass.
"New Testament" is not a new album by Exciter, but is a collection of the greatest hits re-recorded and reinterpreted by the band in 2004, with the then-second-to-last vocalist Jacques Belanger. The initiative to replay the classics by Exciter was actually by the singer, and listening to the album it was a very good choice, also because tracks like "Heavy Metal Maniac" or "Violence And Force" had the chance to be heard with a better and cleaner sound, compared to the original albums. In "New Testament", tracks from "Exciter" and "Unveiling The Wicked" were omitted. The first track chosen is "Rising Of The Dead", a classic ride supported by a great performance by Belanger, who in the execution of the piece seems to be up to singing Beehler's high vocal lines. "Rising Of The Dead" still retains the power and devastating impact of twenty years ago, managing to release the charge and grit of the Exciter sound. It continues with the anthem "Violence And Force", endowed with that extraordinary power and irresistible refrain where Belanger screams "TAKEN BY VIOLENCE AND FORCE"!! It's a unique emotion to hear that initial riff and that crescendo of pure anger that can be felt when listening to this big hit. The next three tracks, "Rule With An Iron Fist", "Rain Of Terror", and "Brutal Warning", are shards of rare speed and technique, with unleashed riffs, the possessed vocals of the singer who seems like Rob Halford in the golden times of "Painkiller", a full and powerful sound that completely overwhelms you in endless headbanging, perfect for shaking a long mane like mine.
With "Victims Of Sacrifice" we return to the period of the "Long Live The Loud" album and the song shows less frenetic rhythms compared to the previous ones, gradually becoming a good ride in full N.W.O.B.H.M. style, like Anvil or Witchfinder General. "The Dark Command" is another furious and rabid track, a very engaging chorus, and Belanger with his screaming vocals demonstrates to be truly up to the task, recalling the golden age of Beehler. It returns to the past with "I Am The Beast", a track rescued from the third album, where the band gives a good lesson to all the Bay Area bands, being able to consider it as the real "thrash piece" by Exciter. "Pounding Metal" is a battle horse, with a riff that surely has the merit of being copied by Judas Priest in their "Revolution", featuring the classic bursting sound with a refrain that once listened to, you will keep singing it for dozens of hours!! It's time for "Heavy Metal Maniac": A LEGEND!! A very famous riff that I have played many times with my band, the Tormentor, a magical refrain "I'M A HEAVY METAL MANIAC", a beautiful solo, and a performance to be immortalized by the whole band. Seems easy, huh! After a moment of pause with the ballad "Black Witch", we arrive at the good "Burn At The Stake" and the anthem "Long Live The Loud", another demonstration of the technical and compositional qualities of Exciter. It concludes with the beautiful "Ritual Death", featuring a sound like Metal Church and a very catchy chorus, which ends this interesting collection of the grand Exciter by John Ricci.
LONG LIVE THE LOUD!!!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
08 I Am the Beast (04:56)
Don't try to run I've got you in my claws Grip of death You're trapped in my neck breaking jaws Tied up in chains The coldness of steel Lightning quick You're shocked frozen with fear Kill for the feast Nothing gets away from me Kill for the feast I'm the one I am the beast You're breaking your neck To turn to see You love to stare Then look straight at me My eyes burn holes In your spineless frame I am the beast No one will ever tame Kill for the feast Nothing gets away from me Kill for the feast I'm the one I am the beast Biting, bleeding, screaming But no one will hear your cries Grinding, blinding, finding my claws Stuck in your eyes At night time I strike while you sleep I am the beast Don't try to run I've got you in my claws Grip of death You're trapped in my neck breaking jaws Tied up in chains The coldness of steel Lightning quick You're shocked frozen with fear Kill for the feast Nothing gets away from me Kill for the feast I'm the one I am the beast I am the beast, I am the beast I am the beast, I am the beast I am the beast, I am the beast I am the beast, beast, beast, beast, beast
09 Pounding Metal (03:40)
Goin' to the show pounding your fists to the air Heads slamming, brains bashing, it's Over The Top you don't care Headbanging rats rip this place from the ceiling to the ground Black night, Metal fight, tear it apart as we pound Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Losing control, feeling the force from the back to the stage Caught in the spell, 'cause it's louder than hell, gone past the pressures of pain Leather 'n spikes strapped to the wrists of this Metal brigade Like pistons pumping, headbangers pounding, the sound of an army in rage Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal (Yeah) Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Dark night intense fight, bone crushing metal disease Watts of power, wanting it louder Noone can stop us when we're pounding Goin' to the show pounding your fists to the air Heads slamming, brains bashing, it's Over The Top you don't care Headbanging rats rip this place from the ceiling to the ground Black night, Metal fight, tear it apart as we pound Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal (Yeah) Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal (Pounding) Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal (Rip it apart) Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal (Yeah) Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal (Pounding) Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal (Tear it apart) Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal Pounding Metal, Pounding Metal
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