Exciter

In 1978, a band called Hell Razor was created in Ottawa, Canada. The band consisted of John Ricci (guitar), Dan Beehler (drums) and Allan James Johnson (bass). Two years later, they changed their name to Exciter and recorded a demo, which they sent to Mike Varney at Shrapnel Records. Varney included a song from this demo on the album “US Metal Volume II” in 1982. Shortly afterwards, Exciter signed a contract with Shrapnel Records. The following year, their first album, “Heavy Metal Maniac”, was recorded.

Later that year, the band signed with Megaforce Records. In 1983, they released their second album, entitled “Violence & Force”. After opening some concerts for the band Anthrax, they visited the United States with Mercyful Fate.

After signing with Music For Nations, they travelled to London to record their third album, “Long Live the Loud”. Soon after, they left for Europe with the band Accept and, later, for the United States with the bands Motörhead and Megadeth.

Still, in 85, they recorded the EP “Feel the Knife”, the last work to be recorded by the band’s original formation; after the release of the EP, John Ricci left the band, and Brian McPhee became the new guitarist.

“Unveiling the Wicked”, the fourth album, was released in 1986. Afterwards, the band went on a European tour with Motörhead and Manowar, followed by a tour in South America in 1987 with Venom. The band decided that Dan Beehler, who played drums and vocals, would no longer sing. Rob Malnati was then hired. Malnati debuted in 1988 on the album “Exciter”.

In 1991, Dan Beehler also returned to be vocalist, and drummer and guitarist John Ricci returned to the lineup. They signed with Noise Records the following year and recorded their sixth album, “Kill after Kill”. For three weeks, the band toured Europe with Rage.

In 1993, they released their first live album, “Better Live than Dead”, recorded in ’91 on a tour across Canada.

In March 1996, an almost new line-up was announced: Rick Charron (drums), Jacques Bélanger (vocals), and Marc Charron (bass). After some concerts in Canada, they recorded the album The Dark Command. A European tour followed with the bands Anvil, Flotsam and Jetsam.

During two years, the band only appeared twice at festivals. In the summer of 2000, Blood Of Tyrants was presented. A year later, Marc Charron left the band. At the beginning of 2003, a new line-up was announced: John and Rick returned, and Rob Degroot and Paul Champagne joined the band. This lineup only lasted until March 2003, when Rob Degroot left the band, and Jacques Bélanger returned to the band.

In 2004, Paul Champagne left the band, and John recorded the guitar and bass parts for the album “New Testament”, a kind of best of. Shortly afterwards, bassist Rob “Clammy” Cohen joined the band. Exciter ended the year on a high with a tour of Europe, together with Steel Attack.

In 2005, he performed at several European festivals: Tradate Iron Fest (Italy), Bang Your Head (Germany) and Metalcamp (Slovenia). The following year, Jacques Belanger left the band again. Kenny Winter replaced him.

On March 4, 2008, Thrash Speed ​​Burn was presented to the public.

At the end of 2010, they released the album “Death Machine”, which maintains the band’s classic/fast sound, with shrill, high-pitched Metal Mouth vocals.

In 2012, the band opened “Metal Open Air”, a Metal festival held in São Luis, Maranhão.

In April 2014, the return of Exciter’s original lineup was announced: Dan Beehler, Allan James Johnson and John Ricci.

Studio Albums
Heavy Metal Maniac (1983)
Violence and 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)
Thrash Speed Burn (2008)
Death Machine (2010)