"Justin Hawkins openly criticizes serious-minded music groups, pointing to Angus Young's schoolboy outfit as an example; this is the candid account of the Darkness's ascent, downfall, and resurgence"

After making a splash in the music industry with their debut album Permission to Land in 2003, The Darkness, a British rock band, has returned with a new album, Dreams on Toast. This latest offering represents a significant evolution in the band's musical style, moving away from the bombastic glam rock revival of their early days towards a softer, more melodic homage to the lush pop-rock of the 1970s.

Permission to Land, which topped the U.K. charts and hit Number 36 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., showcased a glam rock revival sound characterized by loud, brash, and energetic anthems driven by flashy guitar riffs, power chords, and Justin Hawkins’ distinctive falsetto vocals. The band's style was an anathema to many alt-rock fans in 2003, as they wore glam-influenced outfits and played energetic anthems with power chord riffs, flashy leads, and sometimes falsetto vocals. Comparisons drew a line from their style to classic acts like Queen and AC/DC, as well as parody bands like Spinal Tap.

By contrast, Dreams on Toast represents a development from other records, with some songs rocking like a beast, a country song, and MOR rock. The album was written over three years, during which the band had more time to be super-discerning about their choices and write every note and word together. The band took advantage of this time to focus on writing riffs that make the guitar the prominent and powerful voice in the arrangement.

One of the standout tracks on the album is "Hot on My Tail," a country song about an unpleasant fart in an opportune moment that has disastrous consequences for a long-term relationship. Justin Hawkins wrote the lyrics after analyzing common themes in modern country songs. The band members fought for each other and the songs on the new album, and feel that it is their best work since Permission to Land.

The band's breakup between 2006 and 2011 was not solely due to Justin Hawkins' addiction issues. In 2006, the Darkness entered uncertain territory, needing to establish themselves as more than rousing, flamboyant rockers. The band took a break due to creative differences and the pressure they were under. The band members felt that their creativity was stifled on the album Hot Cakes and were unhappy with the way it came out.

The band's six-year breakup allowed them to grow up and listen to each other more. Writing together was a confrontational process for the band when they were younger and stubborn, but they've grown up and are now more willing to compromise and more eager to experiment. The passing decades have made Hawkins and his bandmates more willing to compromise and more eager to experiment.

In addition to his distinctive falsetto vocals, Hawkins is known for his unique licks that sound like a spider crawling across the fretboard. He uses harmonic minor in addition to the minor pentatonic scale for rock leads and incorporates a ninth in his guitar solos to force a decision between going up or down the scale.

Many rock fans embraced the band, but music purists dismissed them as a parody band, comparing them to Spinal Tap instead of aligning them with their true heroes, Queen and AC/DC. However, The Darkness' new album, Dreams on Toast, injects pop balladry, moustache-in beer country, and singer/songwriter alt-rock into their musical oeuvre, projecting a more mature and nuanced sound.

The Darkness' musical style originated as a deliberately theatrical and retro-inspired take on classic rock, heavily influenced by 1970s and 1980s bands, especially Queen, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wings. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (frontman), Dan Hawkins (guitarist), Frankie Poullain (bassist), and Ed Graham (drummer). Hawkins also cops to being a big fan of This Is Spinal Tap, but stops short of accepting that the Darkness were ever intended to emulate Tap.

In summary, The Darkness' journey from Permission to Land to Dreams on Toast signals a shift from a bombastic exuberance rooted in glam rock pastiche towards a more polished and musically diverse expression that retains homage to classic rock traditions but with added emotional subtlety.

| Album | Style & Characteristics | |---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Permission to Land (2003) | Glam rock revival with loud, energetic, and tongue-in-cheek anthems; heavy Queen and AC/DC influences; flamboyant, falsetto vocals; playful and satirical lyrics. | | Dreams on Toast (2023) | Softer, melodic '70s pop rock homage; more emphasis on piano and melody; inspired by Queen, ELO, Wings; more mature, introspective tone with refined musicianship. |

"Justin Hawkins openly criticizes serious-minded music groups, pointing to Angus Young's schoolboy outfit as an example; this is the candid account of the Darkness's ascent, downfall, and resurgence"