Exciter - The Dark Command
1996 Osmose

Track Listing:
1.  The Dark Command
2.  Burn At The Stake
3.  Aggressor
4.  Assassins In Rage
5.  Ritual Death
6.  Sacred War
7.  Let Us Pray
8.  Executioner
9.  Suicide Overdose
10. Screams From The Gallows

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Jacque Belanger
Guitar:  John Ricci
Bass:  Marc Charron
Drums:  Rick Charron

Website:  www.monsternation.se/exciter

Horatio's Rating:  A
Overall Rating:  A

Horatio's Review:
Forgotten by the metal world it would seem are Canada's finest metal exports, who with 1983's 'Violence And Force' captured one of the more intimidating metal assaults ever unleashed on the scores of losers within the scene.  Following that particular apex the downhill slide quickly gained momentum, resulting in several hundred lineup changes and a lessening of heaviness.  I cannot confirm this accusation as I haven't heard all of their catalogue, but most metal encyclopedia's claim this fact which means they are wrong.  So where did this album spring from?  I had no idea it existed until a backwoods tape trader sold it to me in a bundle with hundreds of other tapes for twenty bucks.  The creative juices must have been reawakened within the band as this competes with and possibly exceeds 'Heavy Metal Maniac' for axe swinging compulsions tempered by the thrash attack!

I recall a review for this in Metal Maniacs bashing it for all its worth.  The reviewer took cheap shots at the supposedly dated song titles and overall image.  For fucks sake the world was begging for metal this heavy and pure in that decrepit era!  What was that fellow looking for?  Black metal, I assume.  Ricci was the lone original member, preserving the guitar sound to equal the rawness of the early material.  Only this is even rawer, faster and absolute thrash.  For 1997, even Slayer couldn't have risen above this, not that they were rising above anything other than their fried chicken and TV sets watching World War II documentaries.  Exciter really turned back the clock with this masterpiece of war and on first listen I actually thought this was 1986 and some unreleased demos.  Belanger is obviously a Rob Halford disciple, easily sensed on the title track, but delves into Bruce Dickinson realms at his disposal also.  Every track features the same shredding riffs that are so distinctive of Ricci and armed with a mountain of speed one can only look at Megadeth and Metallica in '97 and chortle to ones self.  'Aggressor', 'Ritual Death, 'Assassin In Rage', 'Executioner'......it's like a jolt of electricity to the balls and so persistent in maintaining a manic pace that you will be overwhelmed and forced to abandon listening.

'Suicide Overdose' is aptly titled, I could foresee imminent self inflicted death while overdosing on this crescendo of thrash mastery.  This is the way metal was designed to be played, no frills, heavy and thoroughly disgusting to the casual onlooker who would dismiss it as noise and an affront to society in general.  Crucially, this is a clinical example of how to make an impact with yet another comeback.  Stick to the strengths that provided success in the early years.  For those that were conscious of the mid to late 90's and how there was a dearth of true metal (similar to now and forever) this was the metal equivalent of winning three hundred million dollars.  Headbang until your neck gives out and your two man mosh pit leaves you in a nude and crumpled heap!
Horatio's Rating:  A

Discography (last updated 6.1.06):
World War III demo - 1980
Heavy Metal Maniac - 1983
Under Attack demo - 1983
Violence & Force - 1984
Feel The Knife EP - 1985
Long Live The Loud - 1985
Unveiling The Wicked - 1986
O.T.T. - 1988
Kill After Kill - 1992
Better Live Than Dead - 1993
The Dark Command - 1997
Blood Of Tyrants - 2000
New Testament - 2004