Current and Ex Members of Iron Maiden and Poison Announce New EP

Smith/Kotzen, the surprisingly popular project from Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Richie Kotzen (ex-Poison, Winery Dogs), will release Better Days for Record Store Day, a.k.a. Black Friday, a.k.a. November 26.

Better Days is described as “a global limited edition 12” black vinyl release of four previously unreleased tracks.” There will also be a digital release, which is now available for pre-order/pre-save here.

The duo have released the title track, and while I was hoping it would be a God Forbid cover, but no, it’s just more admittedly-above-average dad rock.

Kotzen komments:

“When Adrian came over to L.A. earlier this year, we got together and started throwing ideas around and we very quickly came up with the new songs. ‘Better Days’ almost seemed to write itself. It’s got a nice groove to it. Adrian came in with the riff and we came up with a melody for the chorus together, pretty much working to the same formula we used when writing the S/K album, bouncing ideas off each other.”

Smith supplements:

 “’Better Days’ is a song I’m really excited about. I think its slightly different to the songs on the S/K album – it’s kind of heavy but melodic. I’d played Richie the riff and I was looking for a reaction, and I got one! Kind of like the old grey whistle test scenario – there was a spark and we started building the song from there. I’d have an idea, then Richie would have an idea and we’d go back and forth, like building blocks.”

Check out “Better Days” via the below music video.