Wicked Smile - When Night Falls

Christmas has come early to fans of the Australian Heavy Metal Band Wicked Smile. Their upcoming full-length studio album, titled When Night Falls drops on February 6^th, 2026. That is, unless you’re in Japan, where you will be able to get your hands on it on October 29^th of this year!

The band is set to launch a new tour in Japan this coming November, with a European tour to follow in the new year.

Wicked Smile is all about bringing back fist-pumping, melodic heavy metal to the forefront of today’s music scene. Guitarist Stevie Janevski goes on to say, “We’re a five-piece kick ass heavy rock band and I think we made our presence known with the release of our 2021 debut album Wait For The Night.”

Wicked Smile is fronted by charismatic vocal virtuoso Danny Cecati (ex Pegazus & Eyefear) with Stevie Janevski (ex Black Majesty & Cyclone Tracy) and Dave Graham (ex In Malice’s Wake) on guitars, Tom Nugara (Envenomed) on bass and Andrew Sharp (ex Pegazus) on drums.

Offerings from Down Under

Lyrically, the band has always explored current issues within society such as civil unrest, bullying and mental health. Songs like “We Fall,” “Sign Of Times,” “Daze Of Delirium,” “Stronger,” “Last Goodbye” and “Don’t Wait For Me” are all thought-provoking and not the cliché lyrics that you’d expect for this style of metal music.

2023 saw Wicked Smile independently release an EP worldwide titled Night Time Riders and tour the United Kingdom (for the second time in one year). They performed at renowned festivals such as Winter Storm, Hard Rock Hell and Planet Rockstock Festival. Alongside their festival appearances, Wicked Smile played 20 club shows over two UK tours in 2023 & 2024.

The reception and atmosphere received by fans at Wicked Smile’s live shows are really second to none and up there with the big guns!

Wicked Smile has toured nationally with heavy hitters like Skid Row and H.E.A.T. and has shared the stage with legendary acts such as Michael Schenker Group, FM, Slaughter, Uli John Roth, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Tyketto, Lynch Mob, Dream Evil, Graham Bonnet Band and many more worldwide!

When Night Falls

The new single, title track and album lead-off is an up-tempo song which again showcases the mega voice of Danny Cecati on lead vocals. Guitarist Stevie states, “Our new album is the natural progression for us. We wear our influences on our sleeves, and the new album is no different. If you’re a fan of Dio, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Savatage, Dokken, Icon and Skid Row, I think you’ll like what we’ve done on our new album. We’ve written a heavier album with classic metal roots and have a solid mix of up-tempo, mid-tempo and slower tracks, reminiscent of many of the eighties heavy rock/metal albums”. This scorcher just sets up the listener for more of what’s to come.

“Back To Back We Stand” has a great intro that just leads you down a path. One can imagine a music video with an evil being reaching out to lead one by the hand (maybe bearing a ‘Wicked Smile’)

“Face Of The Wicked” has a killer guitar solo and an overall sinister vibe all throughout the track. That sinister vibe continues through into the next song, titled “Rebel Souls.” With a hard and heavy riff to start off, “Never Surrender,” now is the time to break out the air guitar and work up that sweat because this track will just make you move.

Up next is “Close Your Eyes Before The Rain.” A mid-tempo rocker with a very catchy riff and interesting lyrics. I think this one can be very thought-provoking and interpreted differently to each person hearing it.

The Rising Of The Dawn

Since this is the second half of the album, let’s move on towards the dawn. “Walking The Wire” has a blistering start that just doesn’t let up. This could honestly be the heaviest song that Wicked Smile has done to date. Not letting up on the next track, “Night Time Riders,” vocalist Danny Cecati is giving us his best, as is Stevie on the guitar…Let’s be honest here with this one, the complete band is on fire here, and I think this could honestly be the second single from this album (Let’s see if I am correct later down the road!)

Slowing the pace down is “Heaven’s Falling Down (Crutch).” A simple riff, and eventually the pace picks up to a mid-tempo pace just to relax again. This track has a great flow to it and shows that Wicked Smile have so much talent between them all and can take their music in any direction they please, all the while staying true to themselves.

Rounding out the album are the last two tracks, “Phoenix Will Riser” and “Scream N’ Shout.” The first thought of “Phoenix” I had while listening is that this is such an Iron Maiden-sounding track. You can almost hear a Bruce Dickinson influence in the vocals.

Finishing this truly killer album is “Scream N’ Shout.” Its lyrics almost sound like what a performer in the music industry can take as a mantra to say (or scream) into a mirror.

Psychotic Thoughts

This is an album I wasn’t aware was on the horizon. I have been a fan of Wicked Smile since the first EP, and have been awaiting a new full-length album for a while now. I’m so glad that the band is back, and I am absolutely positive that this album will be many people’s favourite of the year! I know it’s one of mine!