Picking up the torch for hard rock and heavy metal with real grit and gusto, ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ sees the New Jersey-based quintet Who On Earth deliver a one-two punch of hard-hitting hooks and airtight instrumentation bolted down by pummeling grooves and piercing riffs.
The band continues to pay homage to rock’s past as they usher in its future on this new EP.
Home to the recent singles ‘DAWGZ’ and ‘Lobotomy’, the band state: “We are proud of this EP. The songs speak to the deceptive nature of corporations on ‘DAWGZ’ and ‘Voodoo’, shitty people on ‘Trash Talker’, plus social media and bastardised news reporting on ‘Lobotomy’. Unfortunately, what you see is rarely the truth. As for ‘Yesterday’s Future’, it is an epic song and we think of it as our ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’. You can certainly hear the Iron Maiden influences coming through!”
The EP is rounded out with a cover version of Toto’s ‘Hold the Line,’ adding crunchy guitars, pounding drums, new solos, bass elaboration and a strong vocal from frontman Coosh. Released in late 2023, it has been streamed half a million times.
‘Smoke & Mirrors’ has been produced, mixed, engineered and mastered by Mike Orlando (Category 7, Adrenaline Mob) at Sonic Stomp Studios in New York, while the EP cover art has been created by Ken Adams (Lamb of God).
Having completed the recording of new material in the summer of 2024, lead guitarist Bruce Gatewood died of a sudden heart attack.“We have vowed to honour him by getting this music out to the world and keeping his memory alive,” the band reflect. A beloved friend and musician, his legacy is deeply embedded in their music.
“We are releasing new music throughout 2025, with ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ being the end of phase one,” the band continue. “We can’t wait for people to hear how the band has grown from our debut album ‘Blame’ [issued in 2022] and how layered our songwriting and musicianship has become.”
SMOKE & MIRRORS
TRACKLISTING
1 Lobotomy
2 DAWGZ
3 Voodoo
4 Trash Talker
5 Yesterday’s Future
6 Hold The Line
WHO ON EARTH
Coosh – vocals
Pete Rizzi – bass
Howie Fallon – drums
Johnny James Barone – guitar
Jimmy Kocha – drums