Ottawa’s very own heavy metal maniacs have been around in one form another since ’78, but the line up and this band name are from ’80. This is Exciter’s second release, from ’84. I vividly remember buying this and sprinting home to hear the delights within. I was big into the whole thrash thing at the time as it was fresh, exciting, and loud. Exciter do not get the credit they deserve. This album and similarly, Kill Em All influenced a ton of bands. This album still stands up well within the genre, and is a classic of the time. It was produced by Carl Canedy of The Rods, and the raw in your face sound was perfect for the band.
The title track is the birth of speed metal. It has a kick-ass simple groove and riff played as fast as possible without losing the bounce. Pounding Metal has an old school approach, as the riff is straight out of the seventies but the sound and vibe are awesome. In fact, it’s very similar in style and sound as Anvil’s Metal On Metal, who were just down the road. Favourite track is Destructor. It is full of pace and groove, giving the listeners that full on metal experience.
The band were taking the riffs and ideas from the NWOBHM bands and taking the sound a step further. This album is up there with Kill Em All and Bonded By Blood as one of the best early thrash albums.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
