By BRIAN GIFFIN
THE creative core of Melbourne act Wicked Smile consists of a duo of musicians whose collective experience stretches back to the early 1990s and includes bands like Cyclone Tracy, Pegazus, Anarion and Black Majesty.
That type of pedigree definitely bodes well for those yet unfamiliar with Wicked Smile’s deft blend of power metal bombast and hard n’ heavy riffing. Night Time Riders is old school heavy metal all the way, and Wicked Smile more than just take cues and inspiration from the classic acts of the genre if the main chugging riff from “Edge of Madness” is any indication. They better hope Mustaine’s lawyer isn’t paying attention too closely, let’s put it that way.
The title track is soaring melodic power metal that hearkens back to both members’ earlier outfits, perhaps more Black Majesty than Pegazus, with Danny Cecati’s stratospheric vocals finding a mature, more developed lower register while retaining his ability to hit the higher end effortlessly. “Never Surrender” almost sounds like a Judas Priest song with its uplifting message and steely, stomping riff to which Stevie Janevski adds some fluid soloing and the EP is wrapped up with the hair-metal flavoured “Scream N Shout” with its instantly catching fist-pumping chorus (it literally asks you to “raise your fist and let it out”).
It might only be short, but with big production and even bigger songs, this is the total package for lovers of classic metal.
Listen to Night Time Riders on Apple Music
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