CD REVIEW: THE DARKNESS – Last Of Our Kind

Shane | 20 December 2015 | 1 Reply

CD REVIEW: THE DARKNESS – Last Of Our Kind
Canary Dwarf
27 May, 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8/10

After a second album (One Way Ticket To Hell… And Back) in 2005 that screamed overblown self-indulgency from under the mountain of Columbian marching powder that buried it, and an unfocussed comeback record (2012’s Hot Cakes), it’s finally great to hear Lowestoft’s The Darkness regaining some of the brazenly assured form they displayed on their 2003 debut Permission To Land.

Similarly bonkers as all their releases, Last Of Our Kind gets near the heights of their first by remembering that – as in their first incarnation – the songs come first. That means before all the pomp and circumstance, the vocal histrionics, the aping of Queen’s grander moments and the holier-than-thou super-arrogance. These facets are all present on Last Of Our Kind, and sound great, but because the songs are strong enough to support them, we can forgive The Darkness their excesses. On One Way Ticket… especially the songs were a far lower priority.

Last Of Our Kind opens with the Saxon tale of Barbarian, before Open Fire puts in its bid for their new live set opener with a ripstorming riff and great energetic tune. The title track is similarly gonzoid rock, while Mudslide goes at it like a head shaking denim rock explosion.

Sarah O’Sarah is a sweet Thin Lizzy-ish rocking ballad, whilst Hammer & Tongs, which features some great Stonesy guitar, pitches in with perhaps the album’s best track.

Four bonus tracks feature on this tour edition of the album, with the galloping Always Had The Blues, horn-drenched Million Dollar Strong and madcap I A Santa – revisiting the theme of their 2003 Christmas single, Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) – hitting all the right notes.