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Rating: In the Darkness household, transformations are underway. In 2015, their fans will have surprises as soon as they can see them in action. The Suffolk band, as one will recall, made waves with the EP "I Believe in a Thing Called Love". It was 2002 and an independent label had taken a chance on them. It was a success. But the Darkness are capable of more. Despite the accusation of being just a "70s hard rock revival" band, they are especially fortunate and talented in shaping a vibrant destiny. In fact, after their independent venture, they signed with the major, Atlantic. A significant step up in a musical universe starting to be dominated by the internet, where record labels begin to struggle.
A feat not achieved by many. With the major, they managed to find the path that led their first Atlantic-labeled album to top the UK charts directly! The album was called “Permission to Land”. In this feat, they were skilled, preceded by Coldplay in 2000. The recognized leader of the Darkness is Justin Hawkins. Unfortunately, Justin not only has talent and charisma but also a tendency to depend destructively on various substances, mainly alcohol and drugs. Thus, while working on their third album, the band sees their guitarist and vocalist (famous for his distinctive falsetto) check into a rehab clinic. Despite the encouraging results that therapy has on Justin Hawkins' vocal cords and mind, he decides to leave the group's lineup to dedicate himself to a solo project.
Each one goes their own way. Thus, the Stone Gods are born, namely the rest of the band deciding to continue without Justin. The latter, as per his personal plan, prepares a solo album. 2011 brings everyone back to the original project: Justin Hawkins and his bandmates decide that the Darkness adventure can resume. So, they set in motion a new album, preceded by some concerts. The new record, "Hot Cakes," is released in 2012.
The latest news. And now we come to the updates hinted at at the beginning of this article: Ed Graham who, together with Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, and Frankie Poullain, gave life to the Darkness, decides to leave at the end of 2014. They were working on their fourth album. The bandmates, very diplomatically, wished a new career for their now former drummer. Obviously, they can't continue alone. The second update: the new drummer is... a drummer! Her name is Emily Dolan Davies and she was part of The Vixen. The new CD is provisionally named “Cliffhanger” and, as the Darkness declared, it will feature elements typical of English folk. So, fans are warned, the Darkness wants to veer towards a sort of Medieval Rock.
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