Tag: Danny Cecati

Wicked Smile – ‘Wait For The Night’ Review

Wicked Smile hit the ground running with their powerful debut. Fans of 80s stalwarts such as Dio, Skid Row, Maiden and Sabbath can find something to enjoy here

By Paul Chesworth

Australian heavy rockers Wicked Smile will release their debut full length album titled ‘Wait for the Night’ on September 24th. Oct 15th in the UK.

Wicked Smile are all about bringing back fist pumping heavy rock to the forefront with a collection of ten ‘killer songs’. The forthcoming album is produced by Paul Laine (The Defiants) and mastered by Bruno Ravel (The Defiants/Danger Danger).


Guitarist Stevie Janevski goes on to say, “last year was all about giving the world a ‘taste’ of what we’re about. We’re a five-piece kick ass heavy rock band and I think we made our presence known with the release of our Delirium sampler EP”.

Wicked Smile is fronted by charismatic powerhouse lead vocalist Danny Cecati (ex Pegazus & Eyefear) with Stevie Janevski (The Radio Sun, ex Black Majesty & Cyclone Tracy) and Dave Graham (ex In Malice’s Wake) on guitars, Glen Cav (ex Virtue) on bass and Jason Tyro on drums.

I won’t dwell on the EP songs from last year as all are included here. (see link to my EP review at the bottom of this paragraph) What WS have done is capitalise on the success of the EP and gone full steam ahead and put the album out a year after the EP. WS set their stall out early with the powerful ‘Date With The Devil’. Its full on 80s metal, very guitar heavy and Cecati sounding great. ‘Daze Of Delirium has a cracking chorus and is as soft as WS get to Steves other outfit The Radio Sun. ‘Don’t Wait For Me’ shows that balladic side to WS and Cecati and sounds a different vocalist completely.It has its obligatory searing guitar solo to appease the faithful. ‘Sign Of Times’ is a more doom laden vibe, which is quite Tony Martin era-Sabbath, which for me is praise in itself. ‘Last Goodbye’ has an opening riff that transports me to Bark At The Moon era Ozzy. The title track ‘Wait For The Night’ is the strongest on the album by a mile, it will certainly please fans of bands like Maiden and Halloween and Cecati’s vocals soar throughout the song. The twin guitars of Janevski and Graham definitely need a mention here as they shred the arse off each other.

EP Review – https://needle-in-the-groove.com/2020/06/07/wicked-smile-delerium-ep-review/

It’s on songs like ‘Killer At Large’ ‘Date With The Devil’, and ‘Wait For The Night’ where they really hit the mark. Theres a variety of styles and influences coming into play as they show on the melodic ‘Daze….’ I understand this melodic rock style based on previous bands. But its the heavier, metal songs that stand out for me, and with that in mind I’m already looking forward to that difficult No2 album!

8/10

Date With The Devil
Wait For The Night
We Fall
Sign Of Times
Daze Of Delirium
Killer At Large
Last Goodbye
Loves Got A Hold On You
Don’t wait For Me
Stronger

Wicked Smile – ‘Delirium’ EP Review

Cracking EP from Aussie rockers WICKED SMILE. Evoking 80s bands like Skid Row, Dio and Judas Priest

Australian heavy rock band Wicked Smile will release their debut ep titled ‘Delirium’ on July 1st. 

The band is fronted by charismatic powerhouse lead vocalist Danny Cecati (ex Pegazus & Eyefear) with Stevie Janevski (The Radio Sun, ex Black Majesty) on guitars. The four song ep is produced by Paul Laine (The Defiants) who also plays bass and sings backing vocals on the ep. 

Danny and Stevie are no strangers to the world stage, having both toured around the world with their respective bands and performed at prestigious festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Masters Of Rock, Metal Universe, Hard Rock Hell, and Screamfest amongst others. The boys have released a whopping twenty- five full length albums combined. Match fitness? – Absolutely!!

Guitarist Stevie Janevski goes on to say, “because we’re a new band, we released our debut single ‘We Fall’, an in your face uptempo song to give everyone a taste of what we are about. It received such a fantastic response worldwide that people wanted to hear more right away. This was particularly pleasing to both Danny and I. We were both overwhelmed by the positive response. It was also fantastic to have so much support from Internet Radio who got behind us by playing our song, with some stations putting us on heavy rotation”.

Vocalist Danny says “I’ve really enjoyed putting my stamp on these songs. It’s allowed me to put my heart and soul into them and really capture the emotion of the lyrics. We cover important issues such as government and decision making in the song ‘We Fall’ and discuss the human state of mind in ‘Daze Of Delirium’. Another talking point is the track ‘Stronger’ which was written by Stevie to highlight the issue of bullying in schools and in society as a whole. 

We can’t wait to get out there and launch things in a live setting. Songs like ‘Love’s Got A Hold On You’ are going to sound huge. We’re going to be loud and proud!”

From the first few bars of ‘We Fall’ it’s what Ive been wanting (occasionally) from Stevie’s other band The Radio Sun. I knew he had ‘more metal’ in him, it just needed a likewise parter to bring it out. It blazes with an 80s style riff, and oh my God has he got a fine singer to deliver the vocals in Danny Cecati. Ive only heard a didgeridoo once on a record and that was Cryptex, but fair play in opening with an Aussie musical instrument. The chorus on the other hand is very European, like Avantasia. It’s a very good start. ‘Stronger’ digs deep into a Judas Priest vibe only with better harmonies. Its driven foremost my Janevskis metal riff, and its a song about Steves daughter Cassidy getting bullied. Well I guess they have both stuck two fingers up to the bullies, and is a great message for anyone you use for their armour. Stevie and myself both have a love of Rainbow, and I wonder if there’s a bit of ‘Man On The Silver Mountain’ coming into play for the riff of ’Love’s Got A Hold On You’ ?  It’s a bit lighter than the other two but that doesn’t mean its any less effective, and have a very catchy and immediacy remembered chorus. Well done Ritchie, I mean Stevie! Finally, it’s ‘Daze Of Delirium’ again delivery a driving, pulsating beat, with some great backing vocals (all courtesy of Paul Laine). Laine also weighs in with bass on all four songs , and produced it, with catering by Bruno Ravel

I wasn’t too sure what to expect as Im so used to The radio Sun, but Stevie and Danny have definitely pulled a massive rabbit out of the hat. Its four infectious songs all delivered in an 80s vibe that RAWK. 

If this is an entree for what’s to come, then my appetite is well and truly whetted! Bring it on

Score 8.5/10

Review by Paul Chesworth

Tracklisting –

We Fall

Stronger

Love’s Got A Hold On You

Daze Of Delerium

Wicked Smile are –

Stevie Janevski – Guitar

Danny Cecati – Vocals

Additional musicians

Paul Laine – Bass and BVs

TBR – Drums

Contact Wicked Smile : 

Email : wickedsmileband@outlook.com 

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/wickedsmileband/ 

YouTube : Wicked Smile (please subscribe)

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/wickedsmileband/ 

Merchandise : official merchandise available via : https://store21429008.ecwid.com/