Exciter has always been a band that neither served fashion nor followed trends. This is also visible in their ninth studio work and new lead singer’s Kenny Winter debut, the powerful riffs, the screaming vocals, the artwork, the title. It’s typical “Thrash” and “Speed”, although I don’t know if I should take “Burn” as an encouragement.

That’s because the new album has absolutely nothing new to present. It’s exactly the opposite, ten songs that can stand by themselves just fine, however the fact that every single track has something in common with the previous one shows lack of inspiration. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t some good moments, they are just not enough.

Maybe the album has a lot to give to Exciter fans and to hardcore fans of this particular kind in general. The rest of you might just have to pass it by. The band isn’t able to release a second “Heavy Metal Maniac” or an “Unveiling the wicked” anyway; after all, such a demand would be absurd. Unfortunately, “Thrash, Speed, Burn” is too far from such an accomplishment.