Unwitting real-life Spinal Tap invokers, The Darkness have been steadily working on a new studio album since their reformation last year. Now the band have unveiled the first single from their forthcoming third studio album, the band’s first since 2005’s One Way Ticket To Hell And Back; and the first to feature the original line-up since 2003 debut, Permission To Land.
“Everybody Have A Good Time” is the first single from new album Hot Cakes, due for release in August, and if the anthemic tune and it’s crazy accompanying video are anything to go by, the band are back on form.
Which is to say, tongue planted firmly in cheek as they deliver their trademark seventies rock sound reminiscent of classic acts like AC/DC and Queen. The video for the single, unveiled earlier today on the good ol’ interwebs, features a stripping bear, a company called ‘Rock Hard Financial” and frontman Justin Hawkins’ rockin’ new muskateer ‘tache.
The track is the first full offering from Hot Cakes, self-produced by Hawkins along with his guitar-toting brother Dan and long-time collaborator Nick Brine.
Speaking to NME about the record, Hawkins revealed the album “has a nice raw feel to it like the first album had, with occasional luxurious moments akin to the second. We’re proud of the songs, and we can’t wait for people to hear them.”
Hot Cakes also contains a newly recorded version of the Radiohead classic, “Street Spirit (Fade Out)”, which Hawkins notes “has been a live favourite for many moons, and we wanted to release a definitive recording of our interpretation.”
In fact much of the album’s material – including ‘Every Inch of You’ and ‘Forbidden Love’ – has been surfacing in their live sets for some time now, including their recent Australian tour. “Each time we play a new song,” says Hawkins, “it feels like a deep powerful thrust in a frenzied love ritual between us and our fans.”
The Darkness have also revealed that they’ll be supporting Lady Gaga on her upcoming UK Stadium tour in September, as well as her European summer tour.
You can watch/listen to lead single, “Everybody Have A Good Time”. Be sure to watch it all the way to it’s butt-punching, love-making conclusion.
