Wicked Smile burst onto the hard rock scene a couple of years ago and many people took notice, Their debut album Wait For The Night was on the lists of both fans and music journalists best albums of 2021, including mine. These guys are phenomenal musicians and their singer Danny Cecati has an incredible voice. Great songwriting aside, One of the things that helps these guys stand out musically is that while they are a hard rock band there’s also a strong power metal influence in their songs and the combination of those two styles is absolutely incendiary.
Their first album has some lighter moments amid all the explosive rock songs, but on Night Time Riders Wicked Smile have unleashed four songs of hard hitting, Unrelenting rock n roll. The EP starts off with the title track, A high octane song with galloping drums and hard hitting riffs, Danny wails over it all with vocals that would make Bruce Dickinson proud. Guitarists Steve Janevski and Dave Graham tear the roof off with killer riffs and a great guitar solo.
Next up is “Edge Of Madness” which has a riff that slightly reminds me of “Symphony Of Destruction” by Megadeth, This song hits hard in the verses before going a bit more melodic in the chorus. There’s another stunning guitar solo in this song and the drumming by Jason Tyro on this EP as a whole hits like a machine gun.
“Never Surrender” shreds and has a great thundering bass line by Tom Nugara, Danny puts on display here the dynamic vocal range he has between his grittier lower range and those high hitting wails.
“Scream and Shout” ends things off with a strong Slave To The Grind era Skid row influenced track, there’s a melodic section that takes you a bit by surprise before launching into another excellent guitar solo. I think this song will go over great at their shows and have the audience shouting along to the chorus.
This EP from start to end goes straight for the throat and doesn’t let go, it’s an adrenaline fueled thrill ride that further illustrates why Wicked Smile quickly became the talk of the die hard rock community when their first album dropped. the musicianship is excellent and the vocals are incredible, these songs will blow your roof off. If this EP is any indication of the quality of the next full length album then we are all in for something truly great.
8/10