Four years ago, the self-titled debut album by Smith/Kotzen completely blew me away, eventually topping my Best of 2021 list. Obviously, the immense songwriting and guitar playing skills of both Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen weren’t unfamiliar to me, but expecting a manufactured supergroup, yet receiving one of the best hard rock albums in many years was not on my bingo card at the time. Given the fact that Smith and Kotzen are part-time neighbors, a follow-up was inevitable. ‘Black Light/White Noise’ has many of the same strengths as ‘Smith/Kotzen‘, but branches out a bit more with great results.

In terms of songwriting, ‘Black Light/White Noise’ is definitely closer to Richie Kotzen’s solo work than it is to what Adrian Smith does with Iron Maiden, but with a much stronger seventies hard rock undercurrent. A more modern version of Bad Company with more pronounced soulful touches and some clear nods to eighties hardrock with catchy hooks, but without the thick layer of gloss, is my best attempt at describing the sound. The interaction between Kotzen’s powerful vocals – which are still reminiscent of Chris Cornell – and Smith’s lower, warmer bluesy voice works even better than on the debut here.

Overall, ‘Black Light/White Noise’ feels a bit more dynamic than its predecessor. The more rocking moments are slightly rawer, making songs like ‘Black Light’ and ‘Life Unchained’ pack a stronger punch than the average rocker on the debut. On the other end of the spectrum, the quieter moments are given much more room to breathe this time around. Closing ballad ‘Beyond the Pale’ – which features a downright spectacular vocal performance by Smith – is probably the best example of this, but the low-key southern rock-esque grooves of the excellent ‘Darkside’ likely also need the confidence of a second album to reach their full potential.

Ultimately, what makes Smith/Kotzen so much better than many other projects with similar star power is the songwriting. ‘Outlaw’ is an unashamedly poppy hardrocker that proves that anything can work on a rock album if you work with great melodies, powerful guitar arrangements, and gorgeous harmonies. ‘Heavy Weather’ is a swampy blues rock stomper until it transforms into a beautiful chorus, ‘Blindsided’ is an AOR song without all the excessive fluff commonly associated with the style, ‘White Noise’ has a monstrous groove, and ‘Muddy Water’ is a no-nonsense rocker with interesting rhythmic accents, making it the perfect opener for the album.

‘Black Light/White Noise’ is exactly what I had hoped for when I expressed hope that the debut would not be a one-off. It is already a serious contender to top my Best of 2025 list, and that is simply because these two men make each other better songwriters, singers, and guitarists. It’s total seventies rock worship, but in a far more lively and contemporary-sounding package than most bands pining for the same era of music. Both Smith/Kotzen albums are an absolute must-have for anyone who likes rock music with strong melodies, great vocals and fantastic guitar work.

Recommended tracks: ‘Darkside’, ‘Outlaw’, ‘Black Light’, ‘Life Unchained’