EXCEL "Split Image" LP
[Originally published: Issue #5, circa 1988]
This Venice, Cal. band has been around for a while, but this is only their first LP. Ten selections of powerful hardcore with a strong metal influence. Each song has alot of music, but its not wasted on endless guitar solos, but on some cool riffing, sometimes reminiscent of early METALLICA. The vocals are cool - kind of like Mike Muir of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES who, by the way, is the executive producer of this Suicidal/Caroline Records release. The lyrics are mostly personal (lyric sheet is enclosed, thank God!). I'll admit that the first time I gave this a spin, I wasn't too crazy about it. But by the second and third time, I really started to dig it. (Suicidal/Caroline)