Smith/ Kotzen 'Black Light/White Noise' album review: Two guitar heroes create musical alchemy on their second album

Yin and yang, sun and moon, they are often two sides of the same thing: two complementary aspects working in synergy. The new album by Smith/Kotzen represents the same kind of balance: both come from very different musical careers (Iron Maiden and Winery Dogs). One is known for explosive yet melodic heavy metal guitar, and the other is considered more versatile, playing rock, blues, jazz-fusion, and funk. Put them together, and they work their musical alchemy.

Album opener 'Muddy Water' bursts into life with a familiar duel guitar riff worthy of Iron Maiden. The track soon reveals itself to be a bluesy little number that takes its foot off the gas rather than go hell for leather. In fact, given the flash guitar work of both six-stringers, the solos come hard and fast, but are even tempered and packed with sassy blues rock runs rather than hammer-on metal runs or crazy jazz fusion wizardry.

Kotzen is a much more technical player than Smith, but as a long-time fan of the blues, Smith's is all about phrasing and toneality: with this match, they manage to slot the best of both worlds together. Given the maturity of both players, the egos are well and truly out of the way, so there's no sense of one-upmanship. This is very much a collaboration, a jam between highly regarded musicians who bring out the best in each other.

Even the vocal work is evenly shared, with Smith maintaining his classic rock/blues feel, even channelling his inner Phil Lynott on 'Black Light. Kotzen is very much a rock vocalist, with screams and full-on rock belts, but like the guitar work, it's evenly balanced to do the songs justice. Two guitars, two singers, both bring their talents to the table.

The second half of the album is blessed with some great rock tracks with some killer hooks like 'Wraith' and 'Outlaw', which has a real classic rock feel and is perhaps the deep cut of the album. 'Beyond the Pale' follows a similar vintage rock vibe. At over seven minutes long, and takes things down to a simmering ballad that might reek of 80s soft rock familiarity, but it stays on the boil enough to get cooking, rather than turn into a cliché.

There's certainly no dreaded second album hurdles here, and why would there be with a duo that has an extensive discography. Sure, there might not be any wild surprises on the album, but the songs never play out in the way you expect, and everything is delivered with exactly the kind of precision you'd expect from musicians of this class, which makes 'Black Light/ White Noise' even more enjoyable.