- advertisement -

THE DARKNESS
Dreams On Toast
Cooking Vinyl
https://www.thedarknesslive.com

It's been 22 years since Permission to Land, the debut album by the UK Glam Rock outfit THE DARKNESS. Back then, some passed them off as the next coming of QUEEN, while others compared them to SPINAL TAP.

One thing is for sure, after two decades and eight studio albums, THE DARKNESS continues to make infectious rock music with a bit of happy-go-lucky humor. Their latest album Dreams On Toast doesn't stray from the formula.

The album's opening track "Rock and Roll Party Cowboy" is a bombastic anthemic song with killer riffs and catchy singalong choruses. Vocalist Justin Hawkins delivers the lyrics with a mix of seriousness and outright comedy.

THE DARKNESS tackles relationships like only they can on "I Hate Myself". How could Hawkins' love interest possibly have a comeback to "I hate myself for two...I really hate myself so you don't have to." The track is set to a high-speed blues shuffle, with brass instrument accents.

I don't claim to have heard every song by the band, but the group goes old-school Country on the acoustic ditty "Hot On My Tail". The lyrics are sprinkled with the same humor and double speak as a Mickey Gilly or Conway Twitty song.

"Mortal Dread" is a straight up Rock track with an infectious chorus. Justin flexes his falsetto while Dan Hawkins continues to display his guitar versatility. "Don't Need Sunshine" treads Singer-Songwriter territory (or Yacht Rock to you kiddos) with its slow grooves and somber tones. The song is about loving life, with a little swipe at traits Hawkins could do without in his partner.

I was trying to come up with a style that "The Longest Kiss" reminded me of, but then I realized that if I told you it reminded me a lot of ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA's "Mr. Blue Sky", I think you'd understand what I meant. THE DARKNESS gets their Punk-meets-New Wave grind on with "The Battle For Gadget Land". The song is like an epic tale come to life, narrated by Hawkins himself.

THE DARKNESS returns to the honky tonk with a tale of heartbreak and scorn on "Cold Hearted Woman". The band takes aim at themselves and the music business on "Walking Through The Fire". Despite all of the roadblocks, Justin, Dan, Frankie, and Rufus love to rock and roll and they're willing to brave the fires to endure.

Dreams on Toast made me laugh just as much as it made me pump my fist in rousing approval. If it doesn't have the same effect on you, you might want to check your pulse.

4.8 Out Of 5.0