For those of you who don’t remember the name, Exciter started life sometime in the early 1980s as a speed metal/ proto-thrash band and debuted with 1983’s Heavy Metal Maniac. An album that was just as embarrassing as the title suggested. After that the band released Violence and Force which in some circles is thought of as a bit of a classic but honestly this is one of those bands from the 80s who consistently bore me.

So anyway, this year saw the band release its ninth full length album called Thrash Speed Burn. The album starts in typical Exciter fashion with Massacre Mountain and Thrash, Speed, Burn and it’s immediately apparent that not a lot has changed in the Exciter camp. It’s still rudimentary Judas Priest riffs played at warp speed over some very one-dimensional drumming and that typical 80s shouting vocal style. Crucifixion tries to change things around with a mid-tempo approach but the song is a bit too long and things get boring. After this, the album is pretty much a one trick pony. Every song has a riff that you just know you’ve heard before and the Halfordian screams get a bit irritating. Evil Omen has a truly crappy beginning with the band employing gang vocals to shout out Evil Omen over and over but it’s the screechy high pitched vocals and the awful solos that bring this song down to the level of a pale and dying Iced Earth imitation.

Still, Exciter was never the most original band in the world. You’re supposed to play it, bang your head and drink a few beers. That would be all right if the music on offer was a bit better but as it stands, Thrash Speed Burn is stuck in a quagmire of mediocrity.

Overall, there are no memorable songs on this album. There are tiny bits here and there that make you think “this isn’t too bad” but then the band comes up with some real shit to drown out the few seconds of quality.

I suppose people who love the first two albums will find something in this to like but I don’t see what appeal this album will have for people who’ve never heard the band before. It’s mostly generic, and always plain boring.



Label - Massacre Records
Year of Release - 2008