Twenty years after strutting onto the scene in spandex and falsetto,
The Darkness remain steadfastly committed to hell-for-leather maximalism. '
Dreams On Toast' arrives as their eighth studio album, and while the musical landscape has shifted dramatically since their breakthrough, the band's dedication to theatrical, tongue-in-cheek rock remains admirably unwavering.
Opening track '
Rock and Roll Party Cowboy' sets the tone immediately, gleefully ticking off every possible rock cliché with the enthusiasm of teenagers who've just discovered their parents' vinyl collection. It's simultaneously a parody and celebration of rock excess, delivered with such conviction that you can't help but be swept along.
The album oscillates between styles, from the pop-rock jaunt of '
The Longest Kiss' to the heavier riffs of '
The Battle For Gadget Land'. There's even a detour into country territory with '
Hot On My Tail' and '
Cold Hearted Woman', suggesting that no genre is safe from their musical mischief.
