Wicked Smile: Delirium

With the combined experience of having been key members of Pegazus, Eyefear, The Radio Sun and Black Majesty, powerhouse lead vocalist Danny Cecati and pyrotechnic guitarists Stevie Janevski and Jon Bonnici are here to flash us a Wicked Smile. A four track EP taster of the band that was encouraged into being through the overwhelmingly excited response to their debut single “We Fall�, Delirium is a short sharp blast that really does come along and chop you down at the knees.

Produced by Paul Laine and mixed by Bruno Ravel (both of The Defiants and Danger Danger), Laine also plays bass here and, if I’m not mistaken had a hand in crafting this cohesive smack of hard rock that verges on metal. The best example of that mix of tones and styles is “Stronger�, a track that somehow takes a classic Iron Maiden framework and hangs from it a chorus that Skid Row would have made a subhuman race from. If you’re not singing ‘I-I-I-I-I-I-I wiiiiiiilllllllll be strongeeeeeeeer� at it’s conclusion then I can only presume that you’re now clinically deaf.

And it’s not alone, the aforementioned “We Fall� hitting as though it’s the bigger, bolder and more brutal brother of Dokken’s “In My Dreams� as the guitars howl and the drums explode. Add in a few fret squeals of the Zakk Wylde variety and all that’s needed to nail this beauty home is a chorus that shines with bright sparkling lights as it bites your head off. That my neck is still bearing the teeth marks should leave you in no doubt that Wicked Smile always had their teeth sharpened and ready. With track three showing off the title “Love’s Got A Hold On You�, there’s no doubt that we’ve stumbled across this EP’s slowie and yet with a mid-paced thump and Danny Cecati’s vocal holler landing somewhere between Steve Newman and Bruce Dickinson, even the lighter-waver here is set to explode.

All of which leaves the riff driven monster of “Daze Of Delirium� to wooooaaaaahhhh it’s way into the sort melodic rock territory that used to set alight festivals like Firefest. And I’ve no hesitation in suggesting that if this outfit could get themselves on a bill like that, then they’d steal the show.

The Delirium EP is as much fun as I can remember having with a new band for many a moon. There are no pretensions here and no cares given as to whether these four tracks are rock, metal or AOR. Instead Wicked Smile get on with the task of cranking out gimeganormous guitar heavy stunners that you can both bang your head and sing along to. Remember those days? Wicked Smile do and it’s making them delirious!

Track Listing
1. We Fall
2. Stronger
3. Love’s Got A Hold On You
4. Daze Of Delirium

Added: June 28th 2020
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Wicked Smile @ facebook
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Language: english

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