Exciter
Thrash Speed Burn Blistering Records

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer

Comments: Canadian thrash metal pioneers Exciter are back with their ninth studio album, entitled Thrash Speed Burn. The album, which is only their second studio release of the decade (unless you count their New Testament re-recordings collection), is the first Exciter release with newcomer Kenny Winter on vocals.

Talk about rolling the clock back. It takes all of 35 seconds for opening track "Massacre Mountain" to take the listener back to 1985. That's when Kenny Winter comes in with his high pitched screaming vocals. They don't call Winter "metal mouth" for nothing! He's not Dan Beehler, but he's the perfect fit for Exciter's old school speed metal sound. Between the vocal performance and those signature speed metal riffs, Thrash Speed Burn not only brings to mind the classic Exciter sound, but is also very reminiscent of Welcome to the Ball-era Vicious Rumors, which is never a bad thing. Standout songs include "Demon's Gate", "The Punisher" and the title track, and "Rot the Devil King" is an absolute monster of a closer, but honestly the whole album is just one blistering metal cut after another.

Of course, the flip side to Thrash Speed Burn's retro sound is that it does sound somewhat dated. That probably won't matter to the band's existing fans, but it might not win them any younger converts either.

It's not as relevant as Testament's comeback album Formation of Damnation, but long time Exciter fans who were less than thrilled with The New Testament should find Thrash Speed Burn a much needed return to the signature Exciter sound. It should also please old school thrash/speed metal fans that can't quite get on board with bands like Carnal Forge and the Haunted who have taken thrash metal in a more extreme direction.

Online: www.myspace.com/exciterofficial

Lineup:
Kenny Winter: Vocals
Rob Cohen: Bass
John Ricci: Guitar
Rik Charron: Drums

Track Listing:
1. Massacre Mountain
2. Thrash Speed Burn
3. In Mortal Fear
4. Crucifixion
5. Demon's Gate
6. Hangman
7. Evil Omen
8. Betrayal
9. The Punisher
10. Rot the Devil King

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.5/10