Review | Wicked Smile – When Night Falls

No Dust Records

This magazine has regularly featured the efforts of Melbourne, Australia based heavy metal rockers Wicked Smile, founded by guitarist Steve Janevski and singer Danny Cecati. Their first record was the 4-track EP ‘Delirium’ (September 2020) followed a year later by their full-blown debut ‘Wait For The Night’. A blistering heavy metal album with great vocals by Cecati, strong songs, a stellar production (courtesy of Paul Laine), scorching guitars and thunderous bass and drums. The reviews were raving. Their 2023 EP ‘Night Time Riders’ pictured even a heavier approach still, with four more blistering songs that now have been included on ‘When Night Falls’.

A NEW CHAPTER

Although their new record ‘When Night Falls’ was already sold via the band’s own website late 2025 (and also in Japan), the official release will be in February as the band has signed with Dutch label No Dust Records. A smart move by No Dust Records, as Wicked Smile is by far the best Australian band in the classic heavy metal genre, and has an enormous growing potential. It is a new chapter for Wicked Smile.

SONG FOR SONG

To do things a bit different it seems that Wicked Smile approached this album from another prospective. As soon as they wrote a new song, it got recorded and so on. Finally ending up with eleven melodic metal songs including the obligatory (power) ballad (,,Heavens Falling Down (Crutch)’’). Obviously, Janevski, Cecati, guitarist Dave Graham, bass player Tom Nugara and (latest recruit) drummer Andrew Sharp enjoyed this way of working. The results are not to be ignored. ‘When Night Falls’ has more or less the same style as ‘Wait For The Night’, but is at stages more brutal, more intense and certainly extremely dynamic.

Variety is also a very important thing. Listen to the doomy metal rocker ,,Face Of The Wicked’’ where the intense voice of Cecati combined with the heavy and doomy tempo of the song just draw your attention, whether you like it or not. For me one of the highlights of this record but there are certainly a few more songs that will knock you out (the opening title-track, ,,Phoenix Will Rise’’, the up-tempo rockers ,,Never Surrender’’ and ,,Walking The Wire’’). Wicked Smile is as classic as heavy metal can be on this anthemic record. The sound is just impeccable, the guitars as sharp as knives and especially bass player Nugara also has his moments on the record.

WICKED SMILE – THE CONCLUSION

Critics might say that Wicked Smile might not be very original. So what? These boys are not trying to hide their influences, far from. What it is about in this business is good songs, ditto musicianship and a fabulous sound. And all these mentioned characteristics and ingredients are fully present on ‘When Night Falls’. If you were into ‘Wait For The Night’, wait until you hear ‘When Night Falls’. It seems that the band will be in the UK in the months of May and June of this year, so check their website (wickedsmileband.com) for dates. And as they are signed to a Dutch label a trip there could happen as well, who knows? But there is one thing that I deeply regret… The band plays in Japan and the UK but I have not seen them coming to my hometown Perth for a gig. How about it guys?

Release date: 6 February 2026