After contributing the song "World War III" to Shrapnel Records' U.S.
Metal, Vol.
2 compilation, Exciter promptly signed with Shrapnel and recorded their full-length debut, Heavy Metal Maniac, in 1983.
Though their debt to Judas Priest was clear for all to see (starting with their name, of course), the album packed a hard-edged ferocity and love for speed that pushed it well beyond the bounds of "classic" heavy metal and into the realms of the then-nascent speed metal movement.
Its rough production values and nearly out-of-control distortion added a crucial punk attitude and provided the "push over the cliff," as it were, that characterized most of thrash's original stars (Metallica, Exodus, Slayer).
That being said, time has proven that Heavy Metal Maniac is a much more one-dimensional affair than, say, Kill 'Em All, but this wasn't nearly as obvious in the heady days of thrash metal's infancy, and songs like "Cry of the Banshee," "Stand Up and Fight," and the excellent title track are all mini-classics in their own right.
[The 2005 CD reissue of Heavy Metal Maniac on Megaforce Records includes five bonus tracks, including a pair of radio interviews with bandmembers.].
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The HolocaustDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 01:39 | 3 MB | 10 MB |
| 2 | Stand Up and FightDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 02:47 | 6 MB | 21 MB |
| 3 | Heavy Metal ManiacDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 03:47 | 8 MB | 30 MB |
| 4 | Iron DogsDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 05:58 | 13 MB | 44 MB |
| 5 | Mistress of EvilDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 05:13 | 11 MB | 39 MB |
| 6 | Under AttackDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 04:17 | 9 MB | 33 MB |
| 7 | Rising of the DeadDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 03:32 | 8 MB | 27 MB |
| 8 | Black WitchDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 07:00 | 16 MB | 51 MB |
| 9 | Cry of the BansheeDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 03:47 | 8 MB | 28 MB |
| 10 | World War IIIDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 03:42 | 8 MB | 25 MB |
| 11 | Evil SinnerDan Beehler, Allan Johnson, John Ricci | Exciter | Play | 04:58 | 11 MB | 34 MB |
| 46 mins | 106 MB | |||||
| 46 mins | 347 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dan Beehler | Composer, Drums, Liner Notes, Primary Artist, Vocals |
| 2 | Carl Canedy | Producer |
| 3 | Exciter | Primary Artist |
| 4 | Allan Johnson | Bass, Composer, Liner Notes |
| 5 | John Ricci | Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist |
| 6 | Jeff Waters | Remastering |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |