Welcome back The Darkness! Album number eight and coming up for 25 hours of keeping the rock alive, this one’s a bit of a banger.

What a killer opening track with Rock And Roll Party Cowboy. Everything is just so good from the riff, the groove, and the lyrics, it’s up there with one of my favourite Darkness tracks. I Hate Myself has to follow that and it’s a souped up, straight ahead, old school rock n’ roller.

Country rock/folk with a hint of Queen anyone? Well, that’s what you get with the delightful Hot On My Tail.  Mortal Dread is next and it’s a big dose of AC/DC style boogie. Don’t Need Sunshine…is a ballad, but I actually don’t mind this one because it’s really well done and the lyrics are quite cool.

There are many Queenisms on this album and The Longest Kiss is the one that screams it the most. The Battle For Gadget Land has a strange new wave groove and vibe and is the track that sticks out as different amongst the rest. That country folk vibe returns with Cold Hearted Woman.

Walking Through Fire is a typical Darkness tune. Big riff, big hook, and massive chorus that you will be singing constantly as it’s so infectious. The album comes to a close oh so quickly with Weekend In Rome and it’s a movie put to music, complete with all the strings and a monologue.

It’s not the most rockin’ of Darkness records but it’s the one I can’t stop playing because it’s style stretches far and wide. Great record!

9/10 from The Grooveman.