Exciter (band)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2008) |
Exciter | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Speed metal, heavy metal, thrash metal |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | Megaforce, Osmose, Massacre, Noise, Maze Music, Music For Nations, Shrapnel |
| Members | Kenny "Metal Mouth" Winter John Ricci Rob "Clammy" Cohen Rick Charron |
| Past members | Dan Beehler Rob Malnati Brian McPhee Allan James Johnson David Ledden Jeff McDonald Marc Charron Jacques Belanger |
Exciter is a Canadian speed metal band from Ottawa, Ontario. They are widely considered to be one of the first speed metal bands[1] and a seminal influence of the thrash metal genre. Exciter have sold nearly 300,000 units in the USA and a total sales close to 500,000 units worldwide[citation needed]. Despite many changes in personnel, the band has managed to keep a small but dedicated following for more than 25 years.
History
In 1978, the band Hell Razor formed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They consisted of vocalist and drummer Dan Beehler, guitarist John Ricci, and bassist Allan James Johnson. In 1980, the band changed their name to Exciter and recorded a demo which they then sent to Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records. Varney included one song from it, "World War III", on the compilation album US Metal Volume II in 1982. Shortly after that, the band were signed to Shrapnel Records. In 1983, they released their debut album, Heavy Metal Maniac.
Later that year, Exciter signed a record deal with Jon Zazula's Megaforce Records and, in 1984, they released their second studio album, Violence & Force. After a few opening dates with fellow American thrash metal band Anthrax, they embarked on their first U.S. tour with Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate. Exciter switched to a new label, Music For Nations, and traveled to London to record their third album, Long Live the Loud. It was released in 1985 and produced by Motörhead producer Guy Bidmead. It contained a slightly more "mainstream" heavy metal sound than the pure speed/thrash metal of the first two albums. After its release, the band went on a European tour with German heavy metal band Accept and later a U.S. tour with Motörhead and Megadeth. Before the year ended, Exciter released the three-track EP, Feel the Knife, which was the last release from the original line-up. Shortly after its release, John Ricci left the band and was replaced by Brian McPhee.
Along with a new guitarist came a new, more melodic sound. The band's fourth album, Unveiling the Wicked, was released in 1986 on the Music For Nations label. After its release, the band went out on a very successful European tour with Motörhead and American power metal band Manowar. It was decided at this time that Dan Beehler (who had handled both drums and vocals since the band's inception) would not sing anymore. New vocalist Rob Malnati was hired, and made his debut on the band's next album, self-titled (a.k.a. O.T.T.). The album was released in 1988 through the Canadian record label Maze Music. A Canadian tour followed but the band went on hiatus shortly after.
In 1991, Exciter re-emerged with Beehler on lead vocals again. John Ricci also returned to the band. Bass duties were handled by new bassist David Ledden. The band's first recording with this line-up was the song "Born to Kill" which appeared on a compilation album titled Capitol Punishment, which was released in 1991. The same year, the band went on a reunion tour in Canada, which would largely be focused on songs from their first three albums. The band's first live album, Better Live than Dead, which was released in 1993, had been recorded during their reunion tour at this time.
In 1992, the band signed to German metal label Noise Records and recorded their sixth album, Kill after Kill. The band went on a three-week European tour with Rage to support it. After the tour, the band disappeared for a second time. It would be three years before they would be heard from again.
In March 1996, an almost completely new line-up was announced. Ricci was the only returning original member. Jacques Bélanger was the new vocalist and Rick Charron and Marc Charron (both have no relation to each other) would handle drum and bass duties respectively. The new line-up played a few well received gigs in Canada before recording a new album, The Dark Command. The album was released in 1997. With one of their strongest albums in years, the band went out on a European tour with fellow Canadian heavy metal band Anvil and American thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam.
Between 1998 and 2000, the band was basically dormant with only two festival appearances in the two-year span. The summer of 2000 saw the release of the follow-up album to The Dark Command, Blood Of Tyrants. The new album was heavier and more aggressive than its predecessor. In the fall of 2001, Bélanger left the band due to "creative differences". A year later, Marc Charron quit to pursue a career in the technology industry.
At the beginning of 2003, a new line-up was announced, with Ricci and Rick Charron returning along with new vocalist Rob Degroot and new bassist Paul Champagne. This line-up only lasted until March 2003 when Degroot left. His replacement was former vocalist Jacques Bélanger. In 2004, Paul Champagne was released from the band. The band recorded their ninth studio album, New Testament, with Ricci on both guitar and bass. New Testament is somewhat of a compilation album of re-recorded classics from throughout the band's entire career. Later that year, bassist Rob "Clammy" Cohen joined the ranks. The year ended with the band heading out on a European tour with Swedish power metal band Steel Attack.
A clarification needs to be made regarding sales. Exciter has NOT sold millions of records. In fact, their "biggest" selling records were their first 3 in the early 80's and Megaforce Records was quoted as saying the band had sold "a few hundred thousand records". All Exciter records that followed never came close to these figures and the band sells in the neighborhood of 2000 units worldwide on their last half dozen releases.
Exciter participated in a number of European summer festivals in 2005, including the Tradate Iron Fest in Tradate, Italy, Bang Your Head!!! in Balingen, Germany and Metalcamp in Tolmin, Slovenia.
In 2006, Exciter played Keep It True VI in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. Shortly thereafter, Bélanger left again due to irreconcilable differences. He was quickly replaced in October that year by Kenny "Metal Mouth" Winter, from Brooklyn, New York.
The band played only one headlining show in Toronto, Canada in August 2007 thanks to an intense rehearsal and recording schedule involving a weekly 23-hour trek from NYC to Ottawa by Kenny Winter.
Twice delayed in December 2007 and January 2008, the band's tenth album Thrash Speed Burn was released on February 22, 2008 in Europe, and on March 4, 2008 worldwide. It has since garnered positive reviews from many a European fanzine. [citation needed]
The band's first European show for the tour, with the current line-up, saw their debut at the Atarfe Vega Rock Festival in Granada, Spain. Coincidentally, it also marked Exciter's first ever appearance on the Iberian Peninsula.
Band members
Current line up
- Kenny "Metal Mouth" Winter - vocals (2006-)
- John Ricci - guitars (1978–1985, 1992-)
- Robert "Clammy" Cohen - bass (2004-)
- Richard "Rik" Charron - drums (1996-)
Former members
- Dan Beehler - drums, vocals (1978–1993)
- Rob Malnati - vocals (1988)
- Brian McPhee - guitars (1986–1988)
- Allan James Johnson - bass (1978–1988)
- David Ledden - bass (1992)
- Jeff McDonald - bass (1993)
- Marc Charron - bass (1996–2002)
- Jacques Belanger - vocals (1996–2001, 2003–2006)
- Robert William DeGroot - Vocals (2003)
- Paul Champagne - Bass (2003)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
- Heavy Metal Maniac (1983)
- Violence & Force (1984)
- Long Live the Loud (1985)
- Unveiling the Wicked (1986)
- Exciter (O.T.T.) (1988)
- Kill after Kill (1992)
- The Dark Command (1997)
- Blood of Tyrants (2000)
- New Testament (2004) (rerecordings of previous Exciter songs)
- Thrash Speed Burn (2008)
- Death Machine (2010)
Live albums
- Better Live Than Dead (1993)
Compilation albums
- Capital Punishment (Leidecker Music Productions Ltd., 1991)
EPs
- Feel the Knife (1985)
Demo
- World War III (1980)