The Darkness returns to us with a fourth album due to be released on the 1st of June and what can I say about it? At first I wasn’t sure I was listening to the same band who astounded us when they stormed the charts in 2003. My confusion was not resolved by their tantalizing animated comic video ‘The Barbarian’ because the instrumentals were The Darkness we knew, even with new drummer Emily Dolan Davies; but the singer wasn’t as high-pitched throughout the duration of all the songs.
However, I am not saying this is a bad thing. The Darkness have gone through many changes; including forming separate bands in the mid-point of their career so far. It is not surprising that their sound has evolved and created Last of our Kind. Have no fear, Justin Hawkins is still our entertaining front man, even if you might not completely recognize him with his bohemian pirate make over. I have personally not danced around like a teenager as I once did with their previous tunes, but I have had a casual listen to the album and it grew on me once I thought of it as a new band.
To conclude, do not be disheartened as I was on my first instinct. Instead, absorb their modified melodies because The Darkness are still with us and will continue to perform to us with thousands of Marshall amps.
Kim Durrant
Live Dates:
3 June – LONDON, Dingwalls album launch
4 July – WICKLOW, Groove Festival (Ireland)
5 July – WATERFORD, Daytripper Festival (Ireland)
12 July – CHELMSFORD, Brownstock Festival
9 August – NEWQUAY, Boardmasters Festival
30 August – PORTSMOUTH, Victorious Festival
Blast of Our Kind UK Tour:
30 November – NORWICH, Open
1 December – CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange
2 December – NOTTINGHAM, Rock City
4 December – NEWCASTLE, O2 Academy
5 December – GLASGOW, O2 Academy
9 December – LEEDS, O2 Academy
10 December – MANCHESTER, Academy
11 December – BIRMINGHAM, O2 Academy
13 December – BRISTOL, O2 Academy
14 December – SOUTHAMPTON, O2 Guildhall
15 December – BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavillion
17 December – BOURNEMOUTH, O2 Academy
19 December – OXFORD, O2 Academy
20 December – LONDON, Roundhouse
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 15th May priced £25.00 & London £27.50 adv.
http://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/the-darkness-tickets Live Nation presale from the 14th and O2 / Fanclub presale from the 13th.
‘Last of Our Kind’ will be released on limited edition colour vinyl, Compact Disc and downloadable computer files in partnership with Kobalt Label Services.
