By Mitch Holt, Special Contributor
A blast from the past has hurled itself into new millennium disc changers. The days of true rock ‘n’ roll, a.k.a. the ’70s and ’80s, are being relived in 2004. Articulate lead guitars, falsetto vocals, high-energy chord progressions, and melodic ballads are The Darkness.
Their debut album, “Permission to Land,” was released in the summer of 2003. Since then, The Darkness has released “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” and “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End).” The Darkness, out of London, has gained substantial popularity in the U.S. in the last few months. They have been touring in Europe, Australia and Asia, but have now begun touring in the U.S. with hopes of gaining exposure in the western world. The Darkness is on its way to worldwide stardom.
“Permission to Land” is rock from beginning to end. “Get Your Hands off My Woman” and “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” are two of the brightest spots on this album. Every track provides a rock-out experience. Screaming lead guitar solos appear on every song, revealing the true talent of The Darkness.
The vocals of Justin Hawkins, lead singer of The Darkness, closely resemble those of the late Freddie Mercury, vagrant vocalist of Queen. The band’s music radiates AC/DC and Queen, but not unoriginality. The lack of exceptional vintage rock ‘n’ roll in the new millennium saves this band from being an average rock band.
According to IGN.com, “Musically, this album is fantastic; it contains some of the catchiest rock riffs since Appetite for Destruction, plus it’s punctuated by amazing guitar solos.” In 2003, The Darkness was on the verge of becoming a media monger, having completed interviews with “Guitarist Magazine,” “Metal Hammer Magazine,” “Music Week” and “The Daily Star,” to name a few.
The Darkness’ heightening reputation will increase the workload of the band, the cash flow not too far behind. In a nutshell, the only thing that has prevented them from further popularity is the Atlantic Ocean. American tours and CD releases have eliminated that problem, so go indulge in The Darkness.
