Exciter Heavy Metal Maniac CD

 long overdue on CD
"Heavy Metal Maniac" is BY FAR the best Exciter album though I must say that at long last, they finally did release an album worthy of HMM succession ("2004's "New Testament"). Jeff Waters of Annihilator, the riff king of Western Canada and now apparently Ontario, has remastered this BLAZING guitar extravaganza and reviatalized its' "made for vinyl" sound. These guys knew what they were doing when they invaded the studio in 1982 with nothing but sheer destruction on their minds. John Ricci created an uncompromising guitar riff drone kind of like punky, sped up Maiden and carefully overlayed searing little "snippets" of speaker-blowing solos even while the verses were still being sung. This was, and is, a most interesting approach to their songcraft as the solo bits dutifully serve to accentuate the extreme rowdiness & malicious intent of this record. Dan Beehler pummels this thing bloody home with a drum attack only Dave Lombardo could appreciate and his vocals are very Paul D'Ianno like on this one (though certainly more O.T.T. in delivery). The bass lines bob & throb throughout and all the while, a heathen-esque Rome burns. I purchased this album on vinyl "back in the day" when it first came out and am most pleased to say that it has lost absolutely nothing in the 23 years (yikes) since it's LOUD & PROUD release. Though album #2 "Violence & Force" is generally more widely known, it PALES considerably in comparison to this debut. The liner notes indicate that the band themselves, to this very day, confidenty assert that their original producer was the one best able to capture their ultra-aggressive sound. Unfortunately, a string of average, if not forgettable albums ensued though again, 2004's "New Testament" is a most entertaining, paint-peeling affair. For those in avid pursuit of all that which slays by riff, BUY THIS! Exciter split skulls as wide open as a bug-eyed kamikaze pilot just about to slam snout first into the gaping hole of a nuclear bazooka and when the smoke finally cleared, no prisoners were taken. Unbridled, in your face, and very reminiscent of the first 2 Maiden albums aggressively treated & infused with highly caffeinated violence, Heavy Metal Maniac is a most worthy metal beast to rip, riff & ride into a heavy metal purist's hammerhead headphone oblivion. * Great job on the remastering Jeff.
Submitted by The Trooper (Marysville, WA)
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 Maniacs should check this out!
This is Exciter's best album. If your an old school Thrash/Speed Metal fan than you have to own this.
Submitted by OGRE (NY, USA) 
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 KILLER!
This album was definately,looking back in retro,years ahead of it's time! I first heard this back in late 1983, and I was just blown away at how heavy it was! A true ''power-metal'' classic! You need this!
Submitted by jason (modesto,ca.)
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 The first Speed Metal album of the 80's
Yep it's true released in January of 83 five months before the Kill em all record! I respect this band more than I do Metallica for the simple fact that what they brought to the table influenced a lot of bands that came after them. Heavy Metal Maniac should get the credit it deserves!!!
Submitted by MrRadioactive (Overland Park KS, USA)
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