The Darkness

Janitor of the Void Number of posts : 3361 Age : 56

I know they've been around for a few years now, and when I first saw their first video in 2003, I dismissed them as goofball-posers. impatient

But I got to hear their debut and some of their other stuff just last week for the first time and I am totally digging them! What a Face

I remember a lot of people were hailing them as "the return of 80's metal" but I don't hear them that way at all. In fact they sound more to me like a perfect cross between Queen, Thin Lizzy, Cheap Trick, AC/DC and Sweet! (in other words, not "80's" at all, but TOTAL 70's worship! The Darkness 604261

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Damn! This is good stuff! Any other fans? The Darkness 309780

The Darkness Darkness-the-photo-the-darkness-6226775

Scarred But Smarter Number of posts : 3487 Age : 53

Totally agree....I've loved them since "Permission" came out....lots of folks just didn't get the tongue-in-cheekness.

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Janitor of the Void Number of posts : 3361 Age : 56

Shiney wrote:: Totally agree....I've loved them since "Permission" came out....lots of folks just didn't get the tongue-in-cheekness.

Yeah, and I'm sure Justin Hawkins' falsetto stylings put many people off at first blush too. I can't seem to get enough of it right now though! The Darkness 309780

Scarred But Smarter Number of posts : 3487 Age : 53

Did you get their follow up? It's pretty good too....a lot bolder in the 70's influences..almost proggy in spots.

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Man, I tried and tried to dig this band, but the Muppet vocals just killed it for me. The music was great, and even the mid-range singing was great, but the high-pitched crap was terrible. I've thought about trying them again, because I see their CDs and singles with the non-LP stuff for cheap all the time, but I haven't tried yet. I actually may still own one of their albums.

I actually have wondered if I wrote them off because sooooo many idiots jumped on the bandwagon. That could have made it seem too much like parody to me.

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 12811 Age : 54

I like the Darkness alot - too bad Justin Hawkins did too much herione and killed the band.

Permission To Land seemed very AC/DC, Early 80's Metal influenced. I used to listen to it all the time. My ring tone on my cell phone for home/wife's cell is I Believe In A thing Called Love

One way ticket seemed very 70's influenced, they wanted to be Queen on some of the songs (they even used the producer of Bohemian Raposody and recorded parts of the album in the same studio. I thought it was a solid, second effort.

Too bad they are done. The rest of the band did form a new band call the stone gods - website with sample of a song:

http://www.stonegods.co.uk/stonegods.php

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37644 Age : 53

The first thing I thought when I first heard/saw The Darkness was "Did Spinal Tap make a new record?"
I remember seeing the "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" video on VH1 for the first time and thinking "if these guys are supposed to be a spoof, then it's a very well done spoof. If they're supposed to be a serious band, then they gotta get the hell outta here..."

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Now see, that Stone Gods stuff sounds excellent! Hell yeah. Have they put anything out yet?

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 12811 Age : 54

Eyesore wrote:: Now see, that Stone Gods stuff sounds excellent! Hell yeah. Have they put anything out yet?

Nothing other than the song sample - I'll probably pick it up whne it comes out, sounds pretty good

Metal is in my blood Number of posts : 2546 Age : 34

I love The Darkness, fantastic band. They were pretty big here in Blighty for a bit around the time of their debut.

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The Darkness MnoAeeo

Administrator Number of posts : 19452 Age : 57

I have their first album, was their second as good?

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ULTIMATUM - TOO METAL FOR WIKIPEDIA!

Subject: Re: The Darkness Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:45 am

I like them.Permission to Land is a great disc.I dig the throwback to the 70's and 80's.Whether its tongue in cheek or not I like it

nOOb master Number of posts : 4429 Age : 35

i used to be a huge fan they just play good ole cock rock on the debut but then their second album bombed (with good reason) and they split up. i saw them live though in their heyday

Bukkake Tsunami Number of posts : 25557 Age : 52

Eyesore wrote:: Man, I tried and tried to dig this band, but the Muppet vocals just killed it for me. The music was great, and even the mid-range singing was great, but the high-pitched crap was terrible. I've thought about trying them again, because I see their CDs and singles with the non-LP stuff for cheap all the time, but I haven't tried yet. I actually may still own one of their albums.

I actually have wondered if I wrote them off because sooooo many idiots jumped on the bandwagon. That could have made it seem too much like parody to me.

That pretty much sums up my feelings as well. I had a copy of their debut and I wanted to like it, but the vocals just sounded too over the top and it made them seem like a joke. Maybe now that time has passed and they've become yesterday's news I should give 'em another shot.

nOOb master Number of posts : 4429 Age : 35

hey when i was at school this was the heavist thing we had ever heard. we used to listen to it on the way to school everyday for a year

Janitor of the Void Number of posts : 3361 Age : 56

thejokeriv wrote:: too bad Justin Hawkins did too much herione and killed the band.

Can you post some links to information that substiantiates this statement or is this just rumor/speculation?

ultmetal wrote:: I have their first album, was their second as good?

I haven't dug deeply into the second one yet, but as soon as I do I'll let you know. At first blush, it seems to have more of that same kind of sound as the first one, which is the main thing I like, but I'm not sure yet if the songwriting is as solid as the debut. They did have Roy Thomas 'Night at the Opera' Baker at the production helm though, so that's interesting all on its own.

I've also found what is at least another full album's worth of b-sides/bonus tracks I need to make my way through also.

Have you heard their Christmas song, ult? That's the first one I heard and it hooked me immediately.

Administrator Number of posts : 19452 Age : 57

TrogDawn wrote:: Have you heard their Christmas song, ult? That's the first one I heard and it hooked me immediately.

No. Haven't heard that one. I only have their first album.

ult

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Bukkake Tsunami Number of posts : 25557 Age : 52

Quote :: Can you post some links to information that substiantiates this statement or is this just rumor/speculation?

Doesn't mention heroin, just coke & booze...

http://www.hecklerspray.com/justin-hawkins-ditches-the-darkness-blames-all-the-drugs/20065284.php

Janitor of the Void Number of posts : 3361 Age : 56

ultmetal wrote:: No. Haven't heard that one. I only have their first album.

I'll hook you up, brah. The Darkness 604261

Janitor of the Void Number of posts : 3361 Age : 56

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Quote :: Can you post some links to information that substiantiates this statement or is this just rumor/speculation?

Doesn't mention heroin, just coke & booze...

http://www.hecklerspray.com/justin-hawkins-ditches-the-darkness-blames-all-the-drugs/20065284.php

Thanks for that. The article is a bit biased and hostile, but if their quotes of Justin are accurate, that's a damn shame.

nOOb master Number of posts : 4429 Age : 35

TrogDawn wrote:

ultmetal wrote:: No. Haven't heard that one. I only have their first album.

I'll hook you up, brah. The Darkness 604261

i could send you their second album becuase i dont want it anymore because i dont like it

Zooey Addict Number of posts : 17074 Age : 44

If I find used CDs from them real cheap I might give them a good try. I heard one song from them and didn't like it at all (mostly for the vocals).

nOOb master Number of posts : 4429 Age : 35

i dont mind the vocals actually only becuase we spent so much time listening to them

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 12811 Age : 54

TrogDawn wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Quote :: Can you post some links to information that substiantiates this statement or is this just rumor/speculation?

Doesn't mention heroin, just coke & booze...

http://www.hecklerspray.com/justin-hawkins-ditches-the-darkness-blames-all-the-drugs/20065284.php

Thanks for that. The article is a bit biased and hostile, but if their quotes of Justin are accurate, that's a damn shame.

Woops - wrong drug. I guess I forgot to take some ginko yesterday

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 12811 Age : 54

ultmetal wrote:: I have their first album, was their second as good?

It's not as good as the first, but I do think it is a good album (I like it alot!). You should pick it up and check it out - expect a different sound than the first one, expect a more 70's influenced sound, heavily Queen (roy thomas baker era) influenced - he did produce one way ticket also