Exciter are a Canadian speed metal band from Ottawa, Ontario. They are widely considered to be one of the first speed metal bandswww.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:k9foxqq5ldfe~T1 and a seminal influence of the thrash metal genre. Despite many changes in personnel, the band have 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 black 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 3-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.