The Darkness 'Dreams On Toast' (ALBUM REVIEW)

It’s a brace of decades since ‘Permission To Land’ catapulted then cult NWOBHM throwback quartet ‘The Darkness’ into the stratosphere, infectious power pop underpinned by tongue-in-cheek 80s metal sonic pyrotechnics, leaving the listener wondering if the East Anglians were the real deal or simply the greatest piss take since Bad News.    

Since those heady days, enough water has flown under The Darkness bridge to fill Lake Baikal, but now with frontman Justin Hawkins passing the half century mark, album number eight finds The Darkness brand of music hall metal as playful as ever. 

 

Released on 28th March courtesy of Cooking Vinyl, the ten track ‘Dreams on Toast’ once more plants the Darkness tongue firmly in its cheek;  that is, when it’s finished licking the fretboard. Opener ‘Rock and Roll Party Cowboy’ takes a trip down amnesia lane to the cocaine blizzard of mid-80s hair metal mayhem, the words seemingly curated with the help of a flagon of bourbon and the script from This is Spinal Tap. Thing is, they sort of pull it off, the closing “Fuck Off” testament to the band still not taking themselves too seriously. Next up, the turbocharged break up song ‘I Hate Myself’ reeks of Spektor era Ramones, Hawkins wearing his self loathing on his sleeve as he declares “I really hate myself, so you don’t have to”.  

 

Naturally, The Darkness are all too familiar with the rock album manual so ‘Hot On My Tail’  eases back the afterburners, acoustic guitars to the fore, sprinkles of country and music hall equally evident. ‘Cold Hearted Woman’ reminds me of The Wonder Stuff’s Golden Green, in terms of subject matter, country-tinged feel and clever wordplay. The sarcasm continues on penultimate ‘Walking Through Fire’ an ode to the rock and roll lifestyle through thick and thin, Hawkins sardonically quipping “We’re only doing this because it’s fun, don’t even think my mum bought the last one”.... You know when you’ve hit rock (and roll) bottom. 

All things considered, ‘Dreams on Toast’ proves a surprisingly enjoyable listen, Hawkins’ vocal still delivering the dizzying range, the band certainly still in possession of the chops with which to knock out a banging tune. If they’re half as good live as they used to be back in their pomp, the special album launch gig at Leeds Met on 17th May looks a mouthwatering prospect. 

 

Turn it up to eleven.

Words by Michael Price

Released March 28th on Cooking Vinyl

The Darkness official