In 1978 (noteworthy the same year that Judas Priest released the track "Exciter") HELL RAZOR was formed in Ottawa, Canada. The band consisted of John Ricci (guitars), Dan Beehler (drums) and Allan Johnson (bass).
In 1980 they changed their name to EXCITER and recorded a demo. This demo was sent to Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records, who included one song from it, "World War III", on the compilation album US Metal Volume II in 1982. Shortly after that EXCITER was signed to Shrapel Records and in 1983 they released their debut LP, Heavy Metal Maniac.

Later that year EXCITER signed a 3-record-deal with John Zazula's Mega Force Records and 1984 they released their second album, Violence & Force. This album was recorded in New York and produced by Carl Canedy (The Rods). They toured some dates with ANTHRAX before going on their first U.S. tour with MERCYFUL FATE. The year after EXCITER changed record company to Music For Nations and travelled to London to record their third LP, entitled Long Live the Loud. This was the last album that the original line-up recorded together. It was produced by MOTORHEAD-producer Guy Bidhead and had clearly better sound than the previous albums and was more straight Heavy Metal than the Speed/Thrash Metal of the first two albums. After this  went on an European tour with ACCEPT and later an U.S. tour with MOTORHEAD and MEGADETH. Before the year ended they released the 3-track EP Feel the Knife, which was the last release from the original line-up. Shortly afterwards John Ricci quit the band and was replaced by Brian McPhee.

Brian McPhee marked the beginning of  's more melodic era and his first album was Unveiling the Wicked, released in 1986 by Music For Nations. After the release of Unveiling the Wickedexciter headed out on a very successful European tour with MOTORHEAD and MANOWAR. Then suddenly a drastic decision was made, Dan Beehler would not sing anymore! A new vocalist was found in Rob Malnati who made his debut on the album Exciter (also known as O.T.T.) which was released in 1988 on Canadian label Maze Music. With Exciter (O.T.T.) the band pushed the melodic sound even further, maybe too far. A Canadian tour followed but after that nothing happened...

Until 1991 when  emerged again with the line-up: Dan Beehler (drums and lead vocals), John Ricci (guitars) and David Ledden (bass). Together they recorded the song "Born to Kill" which appeared on the compilation album Capitol Punishment released in 1991. In 1992  was sigend by German metal label Noise Records and recorded their sixth LP entitled Kill after Kill. The band went on a three week European tour with RAGE. In 1993  released their first live album, Better Live than Dead, which was recorded in Canada in 1991. Bassist on this album was Jeff McDonnald. The album consisted of songs only from the first three albums. After this release nothing more was heard from  in three years time.

In March of 1996 the new line-up was announced consisting of John Ricci (guitar), Jacques Bélanger (vocals), Rik Charron (drums) and Marc Charron (bass). John Ricci and Jacques Bélanger played together in a band called BLACKSTAR in 1985/86. Noteworthy is that Rik and Marc are not related. The new line-up played a few well recieved shows in Canada before releasing the album, The Dark Command.
This album was released in 1997 by Osmose Productions. With one of  's strongest albums the band headed out on a European tour with ANVIL and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM.
Only two festivals gigs were done in 1998-2000, Wacken Open Air 1998 and Bang Your Head 2000, both in Germany. In the summer of 2000  released the follow-up to The Dark Command, which was even harder and more aggressive, named Blood of Tyrants. An album which dealt with the subjects of dictatorship and revolution. In the fall of 2001 Jacques quit the band because of “creative differences“.
A year later Marc quits the band to pursue a career in the high tech industry.
In the beginning of 2003 a new line-up was announced, with John and Rik along with vocalist Rob Degroot and bassist Paul Champagne. This line-up lasted until March of 2003 when Rob Degroot was dismissed after failing to adopt the  -style.  As his replacement former vocalist Jacques Bélanger stepped in. In 2004 Paul Champagne was let go from the band. They recorded New Testament with John on guitars and bass, which is a "best of"-album of re-recorded -classics. Later that year bassist Clammy joined the ranks. 2004 ended with the band heading out on a European tour with STEEL ATTACK.

The band gigged extensively during 2005 but in May 2006 Jacques quit the band once again. The search for a new vocalist began with applicants from all over the world. In October the band had found their new vocalist in Kenny "Metal Mouth" Winters from New York.

As work began on a new record with Kenny the band broke its contract with Osmose and signed to the German label Massacre Records.
Finally in February 2008, after several years of waiting, Thrash Speed Burn was released, showing the great voice of Kenny to  fans everywhere.  Work on a documentary on the band began was later canned due to the production company.

October 2010 saw the light of ’s 10th studio album, entitled Death Machine. The album was released to great fan and critical acclaim. In the spring of 2011 the band embarked on a very successful South American tour.

After a long period of issues within the band, John Ricci amnnounced the reunion of the original line-up of JOHN RICCI, DAN BEEHLER and ALLAN JOHNSON in April 2014! The band played many shows around the world and started working on new material.

In late 2018, John Ricci decided to leave the band. Beehler and Johnson will carry on under the  banner with guitarist Daniel DeCay.

LONG LIVE THE LOUD!!!!
 
 
 
 

Short biography:

EXCITER, originators of speed and thrash continues it`s metal assault with devastating power and intense energy.The line-up consisting of guitarist John Ricci, drummer Rik Charron, bassist Rob `Clammy` Cohen and screamer Kenny `MetalMouth` Winter ( from Brooklyn `don`t mess with him`) deliver an over the top live performance that will send fans into a headbangin` frenzy !
EXCITER plays classics from the early albums as well as material from newer classic albums such as The Dark Command, Blood Of Tyrants, Thrash Speed Burn  and more recently Death Machine released October 2010 on German label Massacre Records.
   Since 1996 when `new` EXCITER was founded by original guitarist Ricci, the band has played the globe including  Wacken Open Air
(Germany, 1998 + 2001) and Bang Your Head fest (Germany , 2005). In addition EXCITER have performed earlier in 2011 a mini-tour of South America (Argentina Chile and Brazil) and a gig in Madrid,S pain at a fest called Pounding Metal Union fest, which is actually named after EXCITER`s classic signature song `Pounding Metal`. It was definitely an honour for us to participate in this year`s fest.
EXCITER have scheduled dates in various cities for the rest of 2011 maybe EXCITER will be in your town for a `metal meltdown`!!!

In 2014 the original line-up of JOHN RICCI, DAN BEEHLER and ALLAN JOHNSON reunited!!!!

Hail To Metal !!!
Stay True To Metal !!!