Exciter signed a record deal with Jon Zazula ‘s Megaforce Records the

Exciter signed a record deal with Jon Zazula ‘s Megaforce Records the year after based on the promise of tour support and, in 1984, released their second album, Violence & Force . After a few headlining dates with American thrash metal band Anthrax , they embarked on their first U.S. tour with Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate opening for Motörhead . Exciter was forced to switch to a new label, Music for Nations , when Megaforce sold its contract and travelled to London, England for a tour that was cancelled at the last minute and then again to record their third album, Long Live the Loud . It was released in 1985 and produced by Motörhead producer Guy Bidmead. It contained a slightly more “mainstream” heavy metal sound than the pure speed/thrash metal of the first two albums. After its release, the band went on a European tour with German heavy metal band Accept . At the end of 1984, Exciter was the support band on one of the US legs of Motörhead’s No Remorse Tour ; the following year, they were the headliner in a tour with Megadeth and Exodus . Before the year ended, Exciter released the three-track EP, Feel the Knife , which was the last release from the original line-up. Shortly after its release, John Ricci left the band and was replaced by Brian McPhee.