Nearly 15 years after The Darkness took the world by a storm of sequins and spandex the hard rockers from Lowestoft in Sussex have proved they are far from the irrelevant parody some critics think they are. A protest song titled “Southern Trains” is coming up on their new album “Pinewood Smile” to be released on October 6.
Lucky fans were given an early rendition of this upcoming track at a “Darknesstival” convention at the O2 arena last year. Previews of the album give a taste of the anthem inspired by the dreadful experiences inflicted on Southern Rail users by strikes and staffing issues.
A harsh and mincing guitar riff opens before frontman Justin Hawkins fades in with a note mimicking – with heavy irony – the sound of a speeding train. Supporting vocals from Frankie Poullain, Rufus Taylor and Justin’s guitarist brother Dan neatly sum up their view of the service in the chorus refrain: “Fuck you Southern Trains. We’re not getting anywhere.”
Even aged 42 Justin carries the increasingly high notes with the lines: “Journey into pure despair. I just want to get somewhere. Throw away the itinerary. The whole railway is stationary. Is this the best Southern Trains have got?”
Perhaps the most telling aspect of this unusual addition to the album is that with an October release intended to target sales up to Christmas, the band is obviously confident that the Southern Rail fiasco is not going to be solved any time soon.
“The rise of the arseclowns”
Another topical viewpoint from the band came in a recent interview with NME as Justin Hawkins used that colourful expression to describe the political events of 2016, which he said saw “the wealthy shoot themselves in the foot.” He argued that an obsession with London had disenfranchised much of the UK’s population and fuelled the Brexit vote. He conceded however that as an expat living in Switzerland he had little right to comment.
“The history of the human race has always been that things have to get worse to get better,” said bassist Poullain, “and we’re in that period of things getting worse and worse and then things will pull back.”
The focus on consumer rights and politics marks a new turn for a band that has produced such tracks as “Givin’ up giving a fuck” and “Knockers” but musically they are an enduring force for the dying classic rock genre.
The first single released from the album is a similarly hard-punching addition to the cock rock cookbook. “All the Pretty Girls” recounts the groupies of the early days of the band’s fame when the 2003 debut album “Permission to Land” sold 1.5 million copies in the UK alone.
Pinewood Smile
The latest single builds on the success of the 2015 album “Last of Our Kind” with the addition of new drummer Rufus Taylor – the son of Queen’s Roger Taylor- who toured with the band after the album had been recorded with departing drummer Emily Dolan Davies.
Best known for his cover shoots for Esquire Magazine, photographer Simon Emmett has been making a documentary about the band’s steady comeback. He also directed the videos for the song “Open Fire” and the album’s title track “Last of Our Kind.”
The “Pinewood Smile” cover artwork might not be great but as with every Darkness release this album is sure to be a fun and whimsical journey off the rails – even when your own train is going nowhere.
by Stewart Vickers
The post The Darkness: Bands, Brexit & Rail Strikes appeared first on Felix Magazine.
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