The Darkness: Hot Cakes

The Darkness
Hot Cakes
Wind-up Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: More hard rocking from The Darkness.

Album Review:
I am not sure I thought that hard rockers The Darkness would ever make album number three but Hot Cakes is the living proof. Like before, I fully admit that I have a tough time trying to figure out where this band fits in on the rock spectrum today as they a play a style of hard rock that left the stage as soon as Nevermind [1991] was released. With that said, The Darkness had a really catchy debut so the band and Hot Cakes has earned a listen.

What you might have predicted here comes true as opening track "Every Inch Of You" features the always noticeable frontman Justin Hawkins hitting a high note singing "suck my cock" that, like it or not, is so rock n roll although the song's style becomes quickly forgettable. The more Queen like rocker "Nothin's Gonna Stop Us" is a much tighter offering that catches your ear and reminds you of the 70's rock radio glory days. This is one way that The Darkness succeed as these songs stand up on their own and stand out because there is no other bigger band currently coming at you this way.The muscular guitar and musical tightness keeps The Darkness from being completely dismissed as every instrument here roars out especially the guitars.

The remainder of Hot Cakes plays out almost as expected besides the cover of Radiohead's "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" which was not only a complete surprise but you won't recognize the track after it has been Darknessed. This is not a bad thing as its speed metal rock is enjoyable. This is the essence of how The Darkness roll and even though more tracks here have a sing-a-long quality to them I still can't see much replay value in Hot Cakes. It is probably a personal taste thing but honestly, is anyone going to be talking about this record from The Darkness next year or even in sixth months. Probably not.

Key Tracks: "Everybody Have A Good Time", "Street Spirit (Fade Out)", "Nothin's Gonna Stop Us"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Queen
AC/DC
Foreigner

The Darkness Website
The Darkness Facebook
Wind-up Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony