The Night Falls, the Metal Rises: Wicked Smile Return Stronger Than Ever

The Night Falls, the Metal Rises: Wicked Smile Return Stronger Than Ever

Australian hard rock veterans Danny Cecati and Stevie Janevski have spent decades carving their names into the global metal scene. Cecati first roared onto the radar with Pegazus and later Eyefear, earning a reputation as one of the most powerful voices in melodic metal. Janevski made his mark with Cyclone Tracy and the long‑running power metal outfit Black Majesty, bringing his sharp songwriting instincts and unmistakable guitar style to every project he touched.

In 2020, the longtime friends finally united to form Wicked Smile—a band that blends classic heavy metal grit with modern melodic hooks. Their debut Wait for the Night established them as a fresh force, but their brand‑new album When Night Falls (out now on No Dust Records) pushes everything further: heavier riffs, bigger choruses, and a refined chemistry that only seasoned musicians can deliver.

Fresh off a triumphant run of shows in Japan and gearing up for a busy year ahead, Danny and Stevie sat down with us to talk about the new album, their creative partnership, their history in the Australian metal scene, and the milestones that shaped their careers.

We’re here with Danny and Stevie from Wicked Smile. The band officially formed in 2020. What was the spark that made you both decide to start this project together?
Stevie: It really came from a mutual respect for each other.

Danny: Absolutely.

Stevie: I’ve known Danny forever on the local scene. We played in a lot of rival bands over the years, so it just felt like the right time to finally do something together. It’s been fantastic—onwards and upwards ever since.

Danny: Yeah, it’s been a lot of fun.

You launched the project right at the beginning of the pandemic. What was that experience like?
Danny: It was pretty tough, to be honest. None of us knew what was going on or how long it would last. Australia had some of the strictest COVID restrictions, so we were in lockdown for ages. The timing was bizarre. But it didn’t stop us from doing what we set out to do. We filmed the video for “Wait for the Night,” and we recorded the album during that whole period. We kept pushing through. The only real setback was missing out on touring opportunities at the time. Once things eased, though, we finally got out there—we even made it to the UK, which was amazing.

Let’s talk about When Night Falls. Is there an overall story or concept behind the album title and the song?
Stevie: It’s really a progression from the debut album. Wait for the Night was our first release, and we wanted to keep that nighttime theme going. Songwriting-wise, this album was more of a band effort. Danny and I co‑wrote a lot of the material and really refined what we wanted to do. It’s a more focused, maybe slightly heavier record, and that works really well for us. It feels like the logical next step. We actually played a show last night, and the reaction to the new songs was fantastic.

Danny: Yeah, it was amazing.

“Back to Back” is one of my favorite tracks on the album—one of the big anthems. What inspired that song?
Stevie: It came from our shared experiences—what you go through sometimes just to play rock ’n’ roll. Danny and I have both faced adversity over the years, and together we’re stronger. We’ve always had each other’s backs, and we’ve respected each other for a long time. Lyrically, the song touches on that idea: we’re still here, still standing, and the songs keep getting better and more refined. It’s one of my favorites too.

Danny: Exactly. We’ve got each other’s backs—hence the title “Back to Back.” It’s a positive song, and definitely one of my favorites as well.

Who or what is the “Face of the Wicked”?
Stevie: (Laughs) It can be anyone, really. That was one of the first demos we put together for the second album, and it always had a cool vibe. It’s probably influenced by Dio and the Heaven and Hell/Mob Rules era of Black Sabbath. And honestly, Danny really shines on that track. It’s a privilege being in a band with him—his vocals are incredible. So in some ways, the “face of the wicked” could be Danny. You never know.

Danny: (Laughs) You never know. But yeah, that’s another favorite of mine. It’s been amazing collaborating with Stevie. We’ve known each other for so long, and on this second album I was able to contribute to some of the lyrics. I love writing, and I love Stevie’s writing too. We work really well together. When he gives me a song, I don’t dismiss anything—I take it away, sit with it, and try to bring something extra to it. Once I’ve done that, I send it straight back to him to get his vibe.

Stevie: And when we play that one live, it has such a great feel. The tempo, the groove—it’s got that old‑school metal energy. We love playing it, and the crowd really responds to it. It’s also our latest single from the new album.

What has it been like working with Paul Laine on both Wicked Smile albums?
Stevie: Oh, Paul’s fantastic. I’ve been friends with him for about a decade and always respected his work. He’s incredibly talented and just a genuinely good person. It’s great working with people who are the real deal. In this industry, you quickly learn who the good ones are, and Paul is definitely one of them—an amazing songwriter, a great producer, and an even better friend. When he works with Danny on vocals, he really understands what we’re trying to achieve with Wicked Smile.

Danny: He’s an amazing guy. The time and effort he’s put into us—especially early on—is something not many people would do. I’ve always said he’s like an angel to me. When he gives me feedback, I really listen. He’s helped bring out the best in me. I can’t wait to finally meet him in person.

You recently toured Japan, and you played a show last night in Australia. Have Wicked Smile ever played in the United States, or is that something you’d like to do in support of the new album?
Stevie: We’d absolutely love to come to the States—100%. Our Japan tour was fantastic. We played Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo, and it was an amazing experience. The album is already out in Japan, even though it doesn’t release for the rest of the world until February 6th. Danny’s played in the U.S. before with Eyefear, and I’ve been over a few times with previous bands. So yes, performing in America is definitely something we want to do.

Let’s talk about a few anniversaries. Danny, this year marks the 20th anniversary of 9 Elements of Inner Vision by Eyefear. Looking back, what does that album mean to you now?
That was an amazing time. I loved that album, and we had such a great run together. We even toured San Francisco with Jon Oliva’s Pain and Crimson Glory. The album itself was huge for me at that stage of my life. Listening to it now, 20 years later, I can hear the progression. Every album helps you grow, and with Wicked Smile I’ve grown again in a whole new way. Working with different musicians teaches you so much—you absorb everything they give you and use it to get better. Even when I’m given a song that doesn’t immediately click, I take it away and work on it. Sometimes those end up becoming my favorites. Everything I did with Pegazus and Eyefear helped shape who I am now, and that growth is important.

Stevie, it’s your turn for a 20‑year anniversary. Silent Company by Black Majesty is celebrating its 20th anniversary—and Danny appeared on that album as well. When you look back on it now, what comes to mind?

Stevie: First and foremost, I’m still best friends with the guys. The singer of Black Majesty is actually Danny’s cousin, so we were all very close on the local scene. I loved making that album. I co‑wrote the title track “Silent Company,” along with a lot of the other songs, and I’m really proud of it. It honestly doesn’t feel like it was that long ago. Danny guested on the acoustic version of “Guardian,” which was on that album too. Like Danny said earlier, all of these experiences helped shape who we are today. When we were in Japan recently, fans brought CDs from all our past bands—Danny’s, mine, Dave’s, Tom’s—for us to sign. Japan has real die‑hard fans. Moments like that remind you how far the journey has taken you.

Now we’re going back 30 years. Danny, this marks the 30th anniversary of the Metalbound demo from Pegazus.
Danny: Oh wow!

When you look back on that demo and your time in Pegazus, what do you think of now?
Danny: Oh wow, yeah. I remember Metalbound—I still have the tape. When I joined Pegazus, it was an amazing time and a great era. I remember recording that demo and then playing shows where the crowds just kept getting bigger. When we released Wings of Steel, things really took off, especially after the video clip. I had such a great time, and I’m still in touch with the guys. Listening back to those albums—Breaking the Chains, all of it—brings back awesome memories. And again, all of that helped shape who I am today with Wicked Smile. Everything is a stepping stone. You’re always learning, and you meet so many great people along the way. Some of those fans still come to Wicked Smile shows. In Japan, people brought Pegazus CDs for me to sign. It was like stepping into a time machine. Just amazing.

One more trip through the time machine—this time for you, Stevie. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of One Eyed by Cyclone Tracy. Looking back, what does that period mean to you?

Stevie: Like Danny said, it was a different time. Hard rock and heavy metal were much more in the mainstream—on radio, on MTV, everywhere. I’m proud of that album, and I’m still in contact with the guys. Many of them come to Wicked Smile shows and are really supportive. There’s not much I look back on and think, “I wish I’d done that differently,” because at the time you give it everything you’ve got. And like all the other projects, it was a learning experience that helped get us to where we are now.

Stevie, your daughter Cassidy Paris just released an amazing new album called Bittersweet. What advice have you given her throughout her career?
Stevie: First and foremost, I’ve always told her to enjoy the ride—writing songs, performing live, and always respecting her fans. She’s great with people. Anyone who asks for a photo or an autograph, she treats them with appreciation, and I love that about her. She embraces it all.

She grew up around music. She was coming to my shows when she was two years old, sitting in a high chair at the Hard Rock Café. She’s always had the bug for rock music—hard rock, metal, anything with a great song behind it. I’ve tried to teach her that if something is good, it’s good, regardless of genre. But she naturally gravitates toward the heavier stuff.

She knows her influences—Pat Benatar, Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Heart, and plenty of male singers too. And she’s learned from people like Danny and Danny’s cousin John from Black Majesty. She’s been like a sponge, taking everything in and now putting her own spin on it. I’m super proud. I’ve shared the stage with her many times, and as a parent, there’s nothing better than seeing your child blossom.

She’s got so much ahead of her. She’s living the dream—Monsters of Rock Cruise in April, a UK tour, European shows, and more. It’s fantastic.

And she just got back from a tour with Harem Scarem, which sounded pretty cool.
Stevie: Absolutely. We both love Harem Scarem, and they were so good to us. Pete Lesperance even plays guitar on one of her latest singles, “Stronger.” They’re fantastic people, and we learned a lot from them.

Back to Wicked Smile—what’s coming up in the new year? You’ve got a new album about to drop. What’s next?
Danny: Right now we’re focusing on writing new songs for the next album, which is really exciting. And in March we’ve got our CD launch show for When Night Falls, so we’re looking forward to that. We’re still buzzing from Japan, and last night was our final show of the year. Having Cassidy on stage with me singing “Stronger” was one of the best moments I’ve had in music. Music gives you friendships, experiences, and watching Cassidy grow as an artist is amazing. She’s going to do wonders.

Stevie: We’re also about to announce a UK tour happening mid‑year, which we’re really excited about. Quite a few shows lined up there. We’re in talks with booking agents across Europe as well, and we’ve already been invited back to Japan—which is the ultimate compliment when a promoter wants you to return. Things are going really well for us. We’re very happy.

Danny: Over the moon!

It would be great to see Wicked Smile play here in Los Angeles at the Whisky‑a‑Go‑Go. Think about it.
Stevie: We’d love to. A lot of it comes down to being booked around a bigger event. We’d love to be part of something like ProgPower, for example. If there are promoters out there who want to bring us over, we’re definitely keen. That’s how Japan happened—we played a show with Dream Evil about a year ago, and a promoter from Japan was in the audience. He wanted to bring us over, and he did. We were thrilled with how everything worked out. So if we can attach a U.S. trip to a major event, then adding shows like the Whisky becomes possible.

That would be very cool. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.
Danny: One hundred percent.

Do you have any messages for Wicked Smile fans who’ve been following the band—and your careers—for so many years?
Danny: I’m truly honored. Our fans have supported us from the very beginning. Some people who came to our first show were at our show last night. It’s amazing. And beyond that, we’ve made real friendships—genuine friendships. We’ve gone out to dinner with fans, gotten to know them, and they’ve gotten to know us. It’s hard to talk at shows with all the noise, so spending time with people outside the venue is special. These friendships go back through my whole career. I still know people from the Pegazus and Eyefear days. It’s crazy in the best way. And honestly, that’s how I met Stevie too.

Stevie: Absolutely. One thing people always mention is how approachable we are—Danny, myself, the whole band, and even my daughter. We talk to everyone before and after shows, sign whatever people want signed—t‑shirts, CDs, vinyl—and take photos. Last night was the perfect example. We did incredibly well at the merch stand, and that’s the ultimate compliment. We released a limited‑edition green vinyl of Wait for the Night, and it completely sold out last night. We nearly sold out of all our shirts too. When someone spends $130 or $140 on merchandise, that means the world to us.

Our fans know we’re down‑to‑earth. We appreciate them, and we want to be easy to talk to. So many bands charge for meet‑and‑greets, and I get that it’s harder for bigger acts, but I’ve always felt it’s not cool. Without the fans, you wouldn’t be where you are. So wherever possible, we sign everything and meet everyone. Japan was incredible for that, and last night was too. We took photos with so many people and caught up with fans we hadn’t seen in a while. Like Danny said, we even go out to dinner with fans. They’re part of the journey and part of the night. We always say, “Thanks for being part of the event,” because it’s not just us playing—the fans make us who we are.

In Conclusion

As Wicked Smile charge into a new chapter with When Night Falls, it’s clear that Danny Cecati and Stevie Janevski are carrying more than just decades of musical experience—they’re carrying the passion, gratitude, and humility that have defined their entire careers. From Pegazus, Eyefear, Cyclone Tracy, and Black Majesty to the powerful new identity they’ve forged together, the duo continue to build a band rooted in authenticity and connection. Their fans aren’t just spectators; they’re part of the journey, part of the family, and part of the fire that keeps Wicked Smile moving forward. With new tours on the horizon and a growing global audience, the future looks bright—and loud—for one of Australia’s most genuine and hard‑hitting melodic metal acts.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

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