"Justin Hawkins candidly discusses the career trajectory of The Darkness, a band known for its lighthearted approach, contrasted with the serious demeanor of Angus Young, who continues to sport a schoolboy uniform despite his age"
The British rock band The Darkness, known for their high-voltage energy and glam-influenced outfits, have unveiled a new chapter in their musical journey with the release of their latest album, Dreams on Toast.
The band's last album, Motorheart, was not their most unified record. Due to the pandemic, most of the time, Dan sent backing tracks, and he was socially distanced while recording drums and building tracks. However, for Dreams on Toast, the band worked together, a significant change that made an enormous difference. They fought for every note and every word, a process that has been confrontational at times but has made their music more authentic.
Justin Hawkins, the frontman of The Darkness, admits he is drawn to the ribald and juvenile lyrics and antics of AC/DC and has always believed that a good sense of humor makes rock 'n' roll more fun. This attitude is reflected in the lyrics of Hot on My Tail, a song about a regretful fart incident in a romantic setting.
The writing process for Dreams on Toast took place over a period of three years, allowing the band to be super-discerning about all the choices they made. As a result, the album has no superfluous or unnecessary elements. The band took advantage of this extended period to write riffs that make the guitar the prominent and powerful voice in the arrangement.
The stylistic openness of Dreams on Toast stems from the band’s collective desire not to be boxed into one genre. They deliberately avoided confining themselves to a single genre, blending elements of shoegaze, grunge, and psychedelia to maintain authenticity and sonic openness. This stylistic openness is also a result of personnel changes, such as the introduction of a new drummer and guitarist during the recording phase, who brought different musical palettes and energies, prompting the band to take a new path sonically and creatively.
The new album, Dreams on Toast, injects pop balladry, moustache-in-beer country, and singer/songwriter alt-rock into the band's musical oeuvre. Justin Hawkins, known for his use of harmonic minor and ninths in his guitar solos, has also learned to play slide guitar with traditional tuning for this album.
The band's wild ride includes a six-year breakup between 2006 and 2011 due to both personal issues and creative differences. Despite comparisons to Spinal Tap, The Darkness have always aimed to align themselves with their true heroes, Queen and AC/DC. Hawkins denies that the Darkness were ever intended to emulate Spinal Tap.
In 2003, The Darkness released their debut album Permission to Land, which topped the U.K. charts and hit Number 36 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., where it went gold. However, the band was not satisfied with their follow-up album Hot Cakes, feeling it was predictable and polite.
Justin Hawkins has been open about his past struggles, including a self-destructive lifestyle involving heavy cocaine use and excessive drinking, for which he sought help in rehab. Through these challenges, the band has become more willing to listen to each other over the years, making their music-making process more collaborative and their music more authentic.
In conclusion, Dreams on Toast is a testament to The Darkness' evolution as a band, showcasing their willingness to experiment with new styles while maintaining their unique energy and sense of humor.
The Darkness, in their latest album Dreams on Toast, have integrated diverse genres, such as pop balladry, moustache-in-beer country, and singer/songwriter alt-rock, into their music oeuvre. Justin Hawkins, the band's frontman, has expanded his guitar skills for this album, learning to play slide guitar with traditional tuning. The clear influence of AC/DC's ribald and juvenile lyrics and antics is also reflected in the song lyrics, like in the regretful fart incident-themed song, Hot on My Tail. The band's music-making process has become more collaborative over the years, contributing to their music's authenticity, as seen in the creation of Dreams on Toast.
