The Darkness are Back, Baby, and Serving Up an Instant Classic (with Fart Gags)
Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? The Darkness’s new album, Dreams on Toast, isn’t just good; it’s a proper album. You know, the kind you listen to from start to finish, each track a perfectly crafted gem. As the inimitable Justin Hawkins himself croons on “Walking Through Fire,” with a wry wink and a knowing nod, “we never stopped making hit albums, it’s just that no one buys them anymore.” Well, dear readers, you should be buying this one. It’s crammed with bangers, pure and simple.
The genius of The Darkness lies in their uncanny ability to straddle the line between laugh-out-loud humour and genuinely brilliant songwriting. Their lyrics are witty, sometimes dipping into the hysterically puerile (yes, there are fart gags, and they are glorious), but the musicianship is always, without exception, superb. From country-tinged anthems to soaring ballads and the kind of Queen-esque headbangers that make your neck ache in the best possible way, Dreams on Toast has it all.
A special shout-out must go to Rufus Taylor, whose drumming throughout is nothing short of incredible. He channels the spirit of his legendary father with a power and precision that elevates every track. I love the songs Walking Through Fire, I Hate Myself and Don’t Need Sunshine, but the standout track for me is, Weekend in Rome. Featuring a monologue by Stuart Sutcliffe himself Stephen Dorf, the song sees Hawkins going full-on Freddy Mercury in Barcelona, a glorious explosion of vocal prowess that somehow segues into a genuinely lovely song complete with an unexpected and rather wonderful orchestral section. It’s this kind of audacious brilliance that makes The Darkness so damn captivating.
Speaking of captivating, we recently had the absolute pleasure of witnessing The Darkness live at the Beacon in Bristol. Despite being a long-time admirer, this was my first time experiencing their live show, and two things were immediately, and emphatically, driven home.
Firstly, Justin Hawkins is an incredibly talented musician. His vocal range is frankly ludicrous, and even recovering from a chest infection he effortlessly hit the high notes and had plenty of room to drop into a gritty rock growl. But it’s not just the voice; it’s the sheer showmanship. At one point, the man was standing on his head, clapping his legs in time with the drums! Add to that some blistering guitar solos and a stone-cold classic frontman persona – he had the Bristol crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, stopping the show for audience participation, and gentle phone use rebukage, and sidetracking into witty tangents that could rival a seasoned stand-up comedian.
Secondly, this band rocks. Hard. (Also featuring Dan Hawkins, also a great guitarist and the iconic Frankie Poullain on bass). They are tight, they are energetic, and they deliver a live performance that is nothing short of exhilarating. It was, without a doubt, one of the greatest shows I’ve seen in years.
As part of my ongoing mission here on the blog, I’ll be sharing more reviews and interviews with independent musicians, shining a light on the incredible talent that often flies under the radar and showcasing some of the music that inspires my own band, Joker’s Flight. You’ll find the full posts here, with tasty excerpts making their way to our Instagram.
But for now, do yourselves a favour and check out The Darkness’s new album, Dreams on Toast. Especially if you’ve fallen into the trap of thinking they’re just a “comedy band.” They are not. They are a phenomenal band that understands that music should be joyful, that it should be fun. And that infectious energy explodes from their records and their electrifying live performances. Trust me on this one.
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