"Justin Hawkins candidly reveals his disdain for pretentious bands, using AC/DC's Angus Young as an example, who dons a schoolboy ensemble despite his age, in his account of the Darkness' ascent, downfall, and resurrection"
The British rock band, The Darkness, has returned with their latest album, "Dreams on Toast," a sonic journey that showcases their evolution and exploration of various musical genres.
After the success of their debut album, "Permission to Land," which topped the U.K. charts and made it to Number 36 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., going gold, the band has been on a wild ride. This journey, marked by personal issues, creative differences, and a six-year breakup between 2006 and 2011, has culminated in the release of their new album.
In a candid conversation, frontman Justin Hawkins discussed the band's evolution, their hands-on approach for the new album, and the challenges they faced along the way. He acknowledged the influence of diverse musical interests and personnel changes on the band's sound.
"Dreams on Toast" is a testament to The Darkness's refusal to be boxed into a single genre. The album incorporates elements of shoegaze, grunge, and psychedelia, reflecting the band's desire to avoid creative constraints and embrace a broad palette of influences. This approach has resulted in a more genuine and varied sonic experience.
Changes in the band's lineup, particularly the addition of a new drummer and guitarist, played a significant role in shaping the album’s direction. These changes brought new energy and sonic textures, marking a departure from previous work.
The album also features a heart-on-sleeve song, "Hot on My Tail," inspired by a fart incident, and a departure from the band's usual high-voltage energy and flashy leads. Instead, it injects pop balladry, moustache-in-beer country, and singer/songwriter alt-rock into their musical oeuvre.
Hawkins' unique set of licks, which sound like a spider crawling across the fretboard, and his use of harmonic minor and ninth notes in addition to the pentatonic scale, add a distinctive flavour to the album.
The Darkness's music has always been enjoyed for its abundance of great ham-fisted riffs and their outrageous antics, but they were never condescending. Most of the time, their jokes were aimed at themselves. Despite being compared to Spinal Tap by some, they have always been more aligned with their true heroes, Queen and AC/DC.
Justin Hawkins, in true rock 'n' roll spirit, is drawn to the ribald and juvenile lyrics and antics of AC/DC. He believes that a good sense of humor makes rock 'n' roll more fun.
The new album, "Dreams on Toast," is available via Cooking Vinyl. It's a testament to The Darkness's resilience, creativity, and their commitment to staying true to themselves, even as they push the boundaries of their musical style.
The addition of new members, including a drummer and guitarist, contributed significantly to the unique direction of The Darkness's latest album, "Dreams on Toast." (ALBUM, BAND, MEMBERS)
Justin Hawkins showcases a diverse range of guitar techniques, incorporating harmonic minor and ninth notes alongside the pentatonic scale, adding a distinctive flavor to the album's sound. (ALBUM, HAWKINS, TECHNIQUE, GUITAR, CHORDS)
The new album, "Dreams on Toast," offers fans a departure from the band's usual high-voltage energy, introducing pop balladry, country, and alt-rock elements into their musical repertoire. (ALBUM, BAND, MUSIC)
The Darkness, inspired by their heroes Queen and AC/DC, have once again demonstrated their resilience and commitment to pushing the boundaries of their musical style with the release of "Dreams on Toast." (ALBUM, BAND, ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC)
