WICKED SMILE – When Night Falls (2026) *HQ*
320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2
Aussie rockers WICKED SMILE are back on the scene with their second full length release, ‘When Night Falls‘. Having arrived with all guns blazing back in 2021, the band made a name for themselves as flag carrying, old school heavy metal / hard rockers.
Well, if their previous album was a blast, wait to hear ‘When Night Falls‘. This is a fabulous follow-up opening with the killer title track, taking you to the ’80s when metal fused horror movies. Track 2’s ‘Back to Back’ slows things down a bit but ups the heaviness with with a solid midtempo groove. Credit to bassist Tom Nugara. From the isolated opening lines, he is all over this track and owns it. He gives this song the power it demands. Think KISS circa Revenge.
‘Rebel Souls’ is a standout and sounds like a mix of the best qualities of the old and new iterations of Dokken. It’s a classic George Lynch style riff that fires all the right neurons in my brain. The gang vocals in the chorus are interesting as they are pronounced but then start to fade ethereally before they are completed. A haunting effect that I don’t recall hearing in other songs in the genre.
The blood gets pumping for the high energy rocker ‘Never Surrender’. A return to horror with a fight for survival in a dreamscape narrative. Guitarists Stevie Janevski and Davey Graham employ a classic metal riff that should fire up all who were into the early 80s rock scene. My second favorite track on the album.
Those classic type metal riffs can also be found on tracks ‘Walking the Wire’ and ‘Night Time Riders’. Classy stuff played with gusto and muscle. Solid efforts all around.
‘Face of the Wicked’ is modeled after the Dio-era Black Sabbath sound, with the band adding their own spin.
I did a comparison to the sonics of the debut and the band tightened up their bottom end. The bass and drums are bigger and thick here. The overall production is clean and powerful in fact.
If you liked the first album, you are going to love this. The band is firing on all cylinders.
This will make people’s Top 10 lists for 2026 for sure.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – When Night Falls
02 – Back To Back We Stand
03 – Face Of The Wicked
04 – Rebel Souls
05 – Never Surrender
06 – Before The Rain
07 – Walking The Wire
08 – Night Time Riders
09 – Heaven’s Falling Down (Crutch)
10 – The Phoenix Will Rise
11 – Scream ‘n’ Shout
Danny Cecati – Lead Vocals
Stevie Janevski – Guitar
Davey Graham – Guitar
Tom Nugara – Bass
Andrew Sharp – Drums
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