Following their fans' tepid reception to
Violence & Force,
Exciter decided to secure the services of a ‘name' producer for the recording of their third album, 1985's
Long Live the Loud. And with
Motorhead producer
Guy Bidmead at the controls, the Canadians certainly obtained their most professional sounding record thus far. But its title was a somewhat contradictory as well, for the band was actually at their most civilized here, abandoning much of the previous albums' raw power in search of a more controlled power metal assault -- similar to Manowar's macho posturing (but without nearly as much chest-beating). Still, cuts like "Victims of Sacrifice", "Beyond the Gates of Doom" and "Sudden Impact" show
Exciter at their best, and the title track (with its wonderfully cheesy lyrics: "Long live the loud – we are loud and proud") may just be their finest moment.