[Grigoris]: When you feel your neck like torn apart, your ears as if they're bleeding nonstop and your head over-aching, then you can tell it was obviously a great gig. Speed Metal masters EXCITER were in town, unfortunately playing in an 'insulting' (so-called) venue far from relevant to their untold value in their 25 years of career...what the hell, as soon as their recital was over it was not the worlds best kept secret that few bands can kill on-stage the way this Canadian legendary act did.
Having hordes of support acts to open up for the main band is the most unlike move a promoter can make, except only for 'financial' reason$...Hence, non of the Metal Temple team was present when ANTHEM did their thing plus I entered just in the middle of THE GREAT BLACK's set; watching a 'solid' band with a very tight sound and some well-worked song-list was the good news. Listening to a PANTERA / DOWN / SPIRITUAL BEGGARS-related blend was not a good treat, though, since this style should not be even compared to the sounds the audience was expecting that evening (something that was also evident during Greek metallers KINETIC's setlist).

Thankfully, next act was as close to the originals as possible. STEAMROLLER ASSAULT played as loud as possible, the personnel was in kranking mode, their 'vintage' Speed/Heavy/Thrash_Hard filthy amalgam would not take prisoners and 'retro' Metal maniacs had a blast to the hearing of tunes like Alcohol, Pussy And Rock 'n' Roll, Burnt At The Stake, Future's Uncertain and Breakout. If only this band (think of PILEDRIVER, old RIOT, BULLDOZER, traditional RAVEN and novel EXCITER in one!) was the only opening act, the vibe should have been miles better anyway.

[Harry]: KINETIC had the misfortune to hit the stage after STEAMROLLER ASSAULT and before the long awaited headliners EXCITER. To tell you the truth, I was never a fan of their music. Their combination of Death metal with female vocals that I don't like much and, don't hide behind our finger; they are not a Thrash Metal band. So, most of the Thrash metalheads in the basement eh... venue just saw it as an intermission and time to rest between the previous and the next band. Furthermore, their sound wasn't good at all and the only thing that you could hear was noise. That's not the bands fault, but that's another story. That was the second time I had the opportunity to see them performing live, but I believe that the first time was quite better than this one. After a small break from moshing and headbanging, it was time for the headliners, the ones that we all were waiting for. The huge (metaphorically and literally speaking) EXCITER! By the way,Kenny is a Hell of a guy and really enjoyed the little chat we had outside the venue for a few minutes just after the show).

[Grigoris]: Around 200-250 faces were on hold for the final preparations prior to the living legends of uncompromised classic Metal hitting the stage.

EXCITER's latest album, Thrash Speed Burn, offered nothing less than an exciting overdose of blistering Speed Metal the Canadian way; add the anticipation for the beloved early 80s classics anyway and - what's the sum? - fists were raised as soon as John Ricci (founder and only original member -aged 56, please!) saluted a hungry crowd consisting of young thrashers (not clearly understanding when a pit or some slam-dance is a good idea - it's not always an EXODUS_ANTHRAX gig, for fuck's sake...) and 80s Metal warriors in their post-30s.

New singer Kenny Winter did make a good impression in the Thrash Speed Burn album and - it was witnessed - is a great live performer too, with a clear distinct voice and sufficient high-pitched screaming fulfilling the songs' requirements (while he was very good at reacting with the frenzied crowd too). The Cohen_Charron rhythm section stood proud and demonic throughout the whole gig, sending shivers down our spines several times. That leaves us with...

a) John Ricci: really, the man's a rare gem. Hardly ever can we see again such a 'Metal to the bone' musician. The man responsible for one of the most influential albums in the history of Heavy Metal (you should know which one!) performed as if he's running a second youth. In tons of sweat, he delivered the goods in endless metallic dignity and simple-yet-ultra-ample heavy performance. To the power of ten, his guitar spit fire with merciless force and you would not easily resist his hostile assault, in minimum gear but maximum appetite for sonic onslaught destruction...

b) The setlist: having in mind we'd have the chance to listen to songs from the albums boasting Ricci's participation, it was not a wild guess to build the basis in our heads. On countdown timeline, the band's latest album offered neck-breaking cuts like Massacre Mountain and In Mortal Fear while from the Blood Of Tyrants (2000) album Metal Crusaders and Violator shook the earth (no sample from the The Dark Command CD). From the 'obscure' Kill After Kill album (from 1992) we screamed our guts out to the thunder of Reign Of Terror and - finally - the testament of the three first EXCITER monumental LPs was unveiled through the live making of anthems like Heavy Metal Maniac, Rising Of The Dead, Violence & Force, Pounding Metal, Long Live The Loud, I Am The Beast and Victims Of Sacrifice. Most of the crowd was banging endlessly, mosh pits were present all the time and - really - it was the kind of gig everyone was screaming as loud as possible to declare an out breaking Metal identity. Would not expect something more honest, in truth.

It's really sad what's promoted as Heavy Metal music in our days. To those who know, thanks to JUDAS PRIEST's and MOTORHEAD's legacy the world of Heavy Metal bows all these 25 years to the supremacy of EXCITER. It can't be more Metal, can it?

(photos by Harry)

THE GREAT BLACK

STEAMROLLER ASSAULT

KINETIC

EXCITER