IN REVIEW
DREAMS ON TOAST
The Darkness are back with a brand new album, 'Dreams On Toast'. This is the band's eighth studio album and follows their 2021 cracker of a record 'Motorheart', which claimed the top spot on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart.
The first question that sprang to mind when I saw The Darkness had new music coming out was "Can they possibly get any better?", a question which Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain and Rufus Taylor answered within the first few moments with a resounding yes.
The whole album is an eclectic mix of musical styles, kicking off with heavy rock with the opening track 'Rock and Roll Party Cowboy', a song which celebrates the rock n roll lifestyle with tongue firmly in cheek and manages to cram in pretty much every rock cliché in the book. From Jack Daniel's to Harley Davidsons, there is very little that Justin doesn't highlight in this incredibly catchy track.
The varying styles of song put me in mind of Queen's 'A Night At The Opera', in so much as The Darkness have managed to incorporate so much that you wouldn't normally hear on one album but still made it sound like one coherent body of work. Heavy as hell at times, then full-on country, The Darkness keeps you guessing what's coming next all the way through the album.
The singles that have already been released showcase some of The Darkness' finest writing to date. From 'The Longest Kiss' to 'I Hate Myself', it is clear that the band have been working hard to give us something out of the ordinary and unexpected, but totally brilliant. Of course there is plenty of humour. Just take 'Cold Hearted Woman', in which Justin turns the tables on the listener with his cunning linguistics, leading you down the garden path with a big sign saying "I didn't swear; you did" at the end of it. Is it childish? Maybe. Do we care? Nope. It is always refreshing when artists make the listener do a little bit of work, and the reward is totally worth it.
I found the whole album really engaging and enjoyable from beginning to end, from rock and country to blues and heavy metal. The Darkness have left no stone unturned in creating a record that is sure to please the most hardcore The Darkness fan. Yes, it is different from previous releases in many ways, but there is still that comforting streak of familiarity of The Darkness' sound that runs right through from beginning to end. Just as comforting and satisfying as beans on toast, 'Dreams On Toast' is a must for every fan of The Darkness and music lovers in general. Rock is very much alive and in very safe hands.
The band kicked off their tour earlier this month and will be taking in the sights of Newcastle on the 21st of March with full tour dates below which sold out incredibly quickly.
MARCH 2025 UK HEADLINE TOUR DATES
07/03 - Ipswich, Regent’s Theatre
08/03 - Oxford, New Theatre
09/03 - Swansea, Arena
11/03 - Guildford, G Live
12/03 - Hull, Connexin Arena
14/03 - Liverpool, Guild Of Students
15/03 - Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
17/03 - York, Barbican
18/03 - Edinburgh, Usher Hall
20/03 - Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
21/03 - Newcastle, O2 City Hall
22/03 - Manchester, O2 Apollo
24/03 - Bristol, Beacon Theatre
25/03 - Portsmouth, Guildhall
27/03 - Leicester, De Montford Hall
28/03 - Cambridge, Corn Exchange
29/03 - London, OVO Arena Wembley
Check it out when the album is released on 28th of March. Pre-order now here
The first question that sprang to mind when I saw The Darkness had new music coming out was "Can they possibly get any better?", a question which Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain and Rufus Taylor answered within the first few moments with a resounding yes.
The whole album is an eclectic mix of musical styles, kicking off with heavy rock with the opening track 'Rock and Roll Party Cowboy', a song which celebrates the rock n roll lifestyle with tongue firmly in cheek and manages to cram in pretty much every rock cliché in the book. From Jack Daniel's to Harley Davidsons, there is very little that Justin doesn't highlight in this incredibly catchy track.
The varying styles of song put me in mind of Queen's 'A Night At The Opera', in so much as The Darkness have managed to incorporate so much that you wouldn't normally hear on one album but still made it sound like one coherent body of work. Heavy as hell at times, then full-on country, The Darkness keeps you guessing what's coming next all the way through the album.
The singles that have already been released showcase some of The Darkness' finest writing to date. From 'The Longest Kiss' to 'I Hate Myself', it is clear that the band have been working hard to give us something out of the ordinary and unexpected, but totally brilliant. Of course there is plenty of humour. Just take 'Cold Hearted Woman', in which Justin turns the tables on the listener with his cunning linguistics, leading you down the garden path with a big sign saying "I didn't swear; you did" at the end of it. Is it childish? Maybe. Do we care? Nope. It is always refreshing when artists make the listener do a little bit of work, and the reward is totally worth it.
I found the whole album really engaging and enjoyable from beginning to end, from rock and country to blues and heavy metal. The Darkness have left no stone unturned in creating a record that is sure to please the most hardcore The Darkness fan. Yes, it is different from previous releases in many ways, but there is still that comforting streak of familiarity of The Darkness' sound that runs right through from beginning to end. Just as comforting and satisfying as beans on toast, 'Dreams On Toast' is a must for every fan of The Darkness and music lovers in general. Rock is very much alive and in very safe hands.
The band kicked off their tour earlier this month and will be taking in the sights of Newcastle on the 21st of March with full tour dates below which sold out incredibly quickly.
MARCH 2025 UK HEADLINE TOUR DATES
07/03 - Ipswich, Regent’s Theatre
08/03 - Oxford, New Theatre
09/03 - Swansea, Arena
11/03 - Guildford, G Live
12/03 - Hull, Connexin Arena
14/03 - Liverpool, Guild Of Students
15/03 - Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
17/03 - York, Barbican
18/03 - Edinburgh, Usher Hall
20/03 - Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
21/03 - Newcastle, O2 City Hall
22/03 - Manchester, O2 Apollo
24/03 - Bristol, Beacon Theatre
25/03 - Portsmouth, Guildhall
27/03 - Leicester, De Montford Hall
28/03 - Cambridge, Corn Exchange
29/03 - London, OVO Arena Wembley
Check it out when the album is released on 28th of March. Pre-order now here