EXCITER unveiling the wicked MFN61

The Evolution of Canadian Speed: Exciter’s ‘Unveiling The Wicked’ (MFN 61)

Today’s entry looks at a pivotal moment for the Canadian speed metal trio. We are examining the 1986 UK pressing of Unveiling The Wicked by Exciter, released on the powerhouse label Music For Nations with the catalog number MFN 61.

A New Chapter in Speed

By 1986, the landscape of heavy metal was changing, and so was Exciter. This album marks the debut of guitarist Brian McPhee, who replaced original member John Ricci. While Dan Beehler’s signature scream and drumming remained central, McPhee brought a slightly more melodic and technical approach to the songwriting. Produced by Guy Bidmead at Britannia Row Studios, the sound is cleaner than their earlier raw classics like Heavy Metal Maniac, but still packs a serious punch.

The Tracks

The album is split into Side Heavy and Side Metal. It opens with the crushing mid-tempo stomper Breakdown The Walls and the frantic Brainstorm. Side A also features the rebellious anthem (I Hate) School Rules. Side B takes a darker turn with the atmospheric Invasion / Waiting In The Dark and the relentless Living Evil, proving that despite the lineup change, the band had not lost their heavy metal identity.

Collector’s Details

This UK pressing on Music For Nations is a standard-bearer for mid-80s European metal vinyl.

Format:
The record was pressed at the MPO plant in France, a common practice for Music For Nations releases at the time, ensuring a solid and quiet pressing.

Runout Etchings:
Collectors love this release for the hidden messages scratched into the dead wax. Side A reads “WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IS…..” and Side B completes the thought with “…..NO TUNNELS,” a quirky detail often found on British metal records from this era.