Review SMITH/KOTZEN “Black Light / White Noise”

Smith/Kotzen is the collaboration of two guitarists who share a passion for hard rock. Richie Kotzen and Adrian Smith are both well known and respected guitarists. Kotzen began releasing solo albums at a time when shred guitarists had their heyday. In addition to more than 20 solo albums, Kotzen has also worked with numerous bands and projects such as Mr. Big, The Winery Dogs, Poison,…. And in case you haven’t been living under a rock for the last four decades, you know Adrain Smith as one of the guitarists of the legendary Iron Maiden.

Both musicians started working together in early 2020 when they recorded a self-titled debut album that was released in March 2021. The record received very good reception and entered several longplayer charts in Europe.

Encouraged by the positive response, Smith and Kotzen began working on a follow-up album. “Black Light / White Noise” is the title of the second release, which picks up where the duo left off with the debut. Thunderous hard rock is what the second effort contains, starting with the excellent opener “Muddy Water”. Blues infused hard rock is what roars out of the speakers and the great thing about this song and the whole album is that the guys focus on the songs instead of endless solo parts. The song is the center and the guitar skills are the tools to bring the songs to life.

“Black Light / White Noise” has two title tracks, if you will. There is the gentle rocker “White Noise”, which also shows that both are great singers. Both of them not only provide some guitar power to the album. They also take care of the vocals and they do it in a great fashion. “Black Light” is the ‘other’ title track and it is the spirit of bands like Thin Lizzy that resonates more than once, being embedded in this hard-hitting rock song.

Calm and soulful, that is “Darkside”, before the easy going beginning of “Life Unchained” makes you think of a ballad to come. Wrong thought. After a bit more than a minute the song develops into an up-tempo rocker that hits you right in the face. “Wraith” is a heavy pounding track before the darker and bluesy “Heavy Weather” shows another aspect of Smith/Kotzen. With “Beyond the Pale” the album has a great finale. The seven-minute epic is an emotional highlight of the album.

“Black Light / White Noise” is a brilliant rock album, delivered by two greats when it comes to rock and metal. This album features down-to-earth music that comes straight from the heart. Two passionate guitarists who are also gifted singers have recorded an exceptional record that inhales the spirit of rock from start to finish.