There have already been some great Australian Rock releases this year but perhaps none more anticipated than Wicked Smile’s debut after a string of killer singles released over the past 18 months. Wicked Smile is the Melbourne band fronted by charismatic powerhouse lead vocalist Danny Cecati (ex Pegazus & Eyefear) with Stevie Janevski (The Radio Sun, ex Black Majesty & Cyclone Tracy) and Dave Graham (ex In Malice’s Wake) on guitars, Glen Cav (ex Virtue) on bass and Jason Tyro on drums.
If you love your rock with a hard edge and still replete with killer melodies and sublime hooks to have you punching the air and singing along at the same time then this is a record for you. ‘Wait For the Night’ sees the band hit their stride with ten tracks that are all killer no filler, and not a dull moment amongst them. As well as the quality of the song writing and musicianship there’s also some wonderful production (and writing contributions) by long term friend of the band Paul Laine (The Defiants) and mastering by Bruno Ravel (The Defiants/Danger Danger). Lyrically, its an album which explores more current themes within society rather than your standard hard rock fare.
We kick things off with the searing guitar and thrust of ‘Date With the Devil’ which sports a catchy chorus and nice Skid Row-like gang vocal, it’s a blistering start. Title track ‘Wait For the Night’ then hits you with some real Metal – it’s a song that plays beautifully to the band’s influences and wouldn’t be out of place on an early Dio or Maiden album, it’s a definite favourite and a sure sign this is going to be somethig pretty special. I must admit I get a hint of Dokken in the opening to ‘We Fall’ that follows, but the song is a little darker with a soaring chorus you’ll be singing yourself second time it hits.
There’s no time to take a breath before ‘Sign of the times’ adds another texture to the mix, this time it’s a sure-footed mid tempo rocker with and ear-worm of a refrain that honestly grows in stature with each play. ‘Daze of Delirium’ takes you in another direction entirely, it’s wonderfully melodic and as 80’s Rock as we get here, it’s undoubtedly one of my favouites here. Half way in we’re looking at a serious contender for one of the Rock albums of the year.
Side 2, if I can still use that anachronism hits first with ‘Killer at Large’ which starts with guitars just as sizzling as we opened with. It’s a great Metallic romp and the first single released back in February . It’s followed by the “definitely not a ballad” – ‘Last Goodbye’ the prefect fist-pumping mesh of hard rock and metal which has a gloriously understated chorus that you’ll love, and the vintage-forged ‘Love’s Got a Hold on You’ which has the most insistent chorus here. It’ truly epic stuff!
That just leaves ‘Don’t wait for Me’ with it’s complete change of pace, I had though that we might get through an album without the ubiquitous ballad but when you have one in the arsenal that is this good why wouldn’t you add it to the pot. There’s a little of The Scorpions in this one for me and it’s a real ‘lighter-waver’ moment and a real tear-jerker. By contrast ‘Stronger’ which closes proceedings takes us out in fine hard-rocking style. By the end you’ll be breathless.
It’s a wild ride for sure and one you’ll quickly find yourself taking again as you hit ‘repeat’ or whatever the steaming equivalent might be. Wicked Smile have made a huge statement here. This is an album that blends the hard rock and heavy metal we love so very well to please you would imagine huge potential audience at home and overseas. You’ll be left wondering when and where you can catch these guys live and longer term how good these guys can get.
As the press release states: If you’re a fan of bands like Priest, Maiden, Dio, Metallica, Icon, Savatage and Skid Row or just good old seventies and eighties heavy rock and heavy metal you should love this, and they’re right. Superb stuff!
9/10