Album: Pinewood Smile by The Darkness (2017)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: Album

Description: "Pinewood Smile"   is the fifth studio album released by British hard rock band The Darkness. Produced by Adrian Bushby, released on October 6, 2017 and is the first album to be released by Cooking Vinyl. It is also their first album to feature Rufus Tiger Taylor on drums, after Emily Dolan Davies left the band in 2015.

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Happy, 2010s, Album, Cooking Vinyl

Additional Context: Based on 3 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


"Pinewood Smile"   is the fifth studio album released by British hard rock band The Darkness. Produced by Adrian Bushby, released on October 6, 2017 and is the first album to be released by Cooking Vinyl. It is also their first album to feature Rufus Tiger Taylor on drums, after Emily Dolan Davies left the band in 2015.

Album: Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) by The Darkness (2003)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: Single

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Happy, 2000s, Single, Cooking Vinyl


Album: Easter Is Cancelled by The Darkness (2019)
Genre: Rock | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: Album

Description: Whilst on a local radio show in the UK Justin Hawkins confirmed the band were in the studio and were hoping to release a new album in 2019. On 4 April the title was announced as Easter Is Cancelled and was listed for PreOrder, with a release date of 6 October 2019. The band later announced a U.K. tour for the album on 9 April 2019. The tour will start on 26 November 2019 in Belfast and end on 20 December 2019 in London.

The first single from Easter Is Cancelled, 'Rock and Roll Deserves to Die', was released on 9 August 2019. This was followed up one week later on 16 August 2019 with the second single 'Heart Explodes'. On 26 September 2019, the title track 'Easter is Cancelled' was made available as a digital download and on streaming platforms.

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Happy, 2010s, Album, Cooking Vinyl


Whilst on a local radio show in the UK Justin Hawkins confirmed the band were in the studio and were hoping to release a new album in 2019. On 4 April the title was announced as Easter Is Cancelled and was listed for PreOrder, with a release date of 6 October 2019. The band later announced a U.K. tour for the album on 9 April 2019. The tour will start on 26 November 2019 in Belfast and end on 20 December 2019 in London.

The first single from Easter Is Cancelled, 'Rock and Roll Deserves to Die', was released on 9 August 2019. This was followed up one week later on 16 August 2019 with the second single 'Heart Explodes'. On 26 September 2019, the title track 'Easter is Cancelled' was made available as a digital download and on streaming platforms.

Album: Last of Our Kind by The Darkness (2015)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: Album

Description: Last of Our Kind is the fourth studio album by British hard rock band The Darkness. Produced by the band's guitarist Dan Hawkins at his studio The Hawks Nest in Norfolk, it was first released on 27 May 2015 in Japan, and later in other territories, by Canary Dwarf Records. The album is the first and only by the band to feature drummer Emily Dolan Davies, who replaced Ed Graham in 2014 before leaving less than a year later. The album was promoted via PledgeMusic, with the band offering signed copies of the album on both CD and vinyl, as well as signed guitars, handwritten lyric sheets and setlists from the band's archive.

Last of Our Kind was entirely written in Ireland, then produced by guitarist Dan Hawkins at his own recording studio, Leeders Farm, in Norfolk. Around fifteen songs were in contention for the final tracklisting; ten appear on the standard release; with the Japanese and Best Buy releases containing two exclusive bonus tracks; while another, "Million Dollar Strong", was played live during their warm-up tour of Ireland in March 2015. A special edition of the album is expected to be released in September, containing five bonus tracks, as well as a DVD of a live performance from prior to the album's release.

The first song revealed from the album was "Barbarian", which was released on 23 February at the same time as the album's official announcement. "Barbarian" was released as the first promotional single on March 8, 2015. A PledgeMusic page was set up to promote the album before release. The release of Last of Our Kind will be preceded by a tour of Ireland in March 2015. The second promotional single from the album, "Open Fire", premiered on 23 March, followed by an official chart release on May 25, 2015.

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Happy, 2010s, Album, Cooking Vinyl

Additional Context: Rating score: 7. Based on 2 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Last of Our Kind is the fourth studio album by British hard rock band The Darkness. Produced by the band's guitarist Dan Hawkins at his studio The Hawks Nest in Norfolk, it was first released on 27 May 2015 in Japan, and later in other territories, by Canary Dwarf Records. The album is the first and only by the band to feature drummer Emily Dolan Davies, who replaced Ed Graham in 2014 before leaving less than a year later. The album was promoted via PledgeMusic, with the band offering signed copies of the album on both CD and vinyl, as well as signed guitars, handwritten lyric sheets and setlists from the band's archive.

Last of Our Kind was entirely written in Ireland, then produced by guitarist Dan Hawkins at his own recording studio, Leeders Farm, in Norfolk. Around fifteen songs were in contention for the final tracklisting; ten appear on the standard release; with the Japanese and Best Buy releases containing two exclusive bonus tracks; while another, "Million Dollar Strong", was played live during their warm-up tour of Ireland in March 2015. A special edition of the album is expected to be released in September, containing five bonus tracks, as well as a DVD of a live performance from prior to the album's release.

The first song revealed from the album was "Barbarian", which was released on 23 February at the same time as the album's official announcement. "Barbarian" was released as the first promotional single on March 8, 2015. A PledgeMusic page was set up to promote the album before release. The release of Last of Our Kind will be preceded by a tour of Ireland in March 2015. The second promotional single from the album, "Open Fire", premiered on 23 March, followed by an official chart release on May 25, 2015.

Album: Motorheart by The Darkness (2021)
Genre: Rock | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: Album

Description: Motorheart is the seventh studio album by the British hard rock band the Darkness. It was released on 19 November 2021 via Cooking Vinyl.

Paying homage to a devoted sex robot named Motorheart, the album growls, pounds and stomps with Rufus Taylor’s drums, Frankie Poullain’s bass and Justin & Dan Hawkins’ guitars all turned up to 11, whilst Justin’s trademark vocals soar to ever more earthquaking levels. Drop the needle anywhere on Motorheart and be instantly transported from this moaning and weeping vale of tears to Elysian fields of rock where all hands are raised, the drinks – just as in the Club Tropicana of yore – are free, and everyone wears a pleasingly salacious grin. Does it rock? Is the sun hot? Has your partner’s touch grown cold? The Darkness are the Orwellian boot stamping on the flaccid face of limp rock, forever!

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Happy, 2020s, Album, Cooking Vinyl

Additional Context: Based on 1 votes


Motorheart is the seventh studio album by the British hard rock band the Darkness. It was released on 19 November 2021 via Cooking Vinyl.

Paying homage to a devoted sex robot named Motorheart, the album growls, pounds and stomps with Rufus Taylor’s drums, Frankie Poullain’s bass and Justin & Dan Hawkins’ guitars all turned up to 11, whilst Justin’s trademark vocals soar to ever more earthquaking levels. Drop the needle anywhere on Motorheart and be instantly transported from this moaning and weeping vale of tears to Elysian fields of rock where all hands are raised, the drinks – just as in the Club Tropicana of yore – are free, and everyone wears a pleasingly salacious grin. Does it rock? Is the sun hot? Has your partner’s touch grown cold? The Darkness are the Orwellian boot stamping on the flaccid face of limp rock, forever!

Album: Dreams on Toast by The Darkness (2025)
Format: Album

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: 2020s, Album


Album: Permission to Land by The Darkness (2003)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: Album

Description: Permission to Land is the debut studio album by British hard rock band The Darkness, released in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2003 and in the United States on 5 August 2003. The album topped the UK Albums Chart and reached number thirty-six on the American Billboard 200 chart. Four singles were released from Permission to Land: "Get Your Hands off My Woman", "Growing on Me", "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and "Love Is Only a Feeling"; "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" was the most successful, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart. In addition to its chart success, Permission to Land also provided The Darkness with two high-profile music awards—Best Rock Album at the 2003 Kerrang! Awards and Best British Album at the 2004 BRIT Awards (at which they also won the awards for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act). Permission to Land was voted 49th in the 50 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century in Kerrang!. Permission to Land was later referenced in the song "Whichever Way You Wanna Give It" by lead singer Justin Hawkins' other band Hot Leg.

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Happy, 2000s, Album, Cooking Vinyl

Additional Context: Sales figures: 1300000. Based on 3 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Permission to Land is the debut studio album by British hard rock band The Darkness, released in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2003 and in the United States on 5 August 2003. The album topped the UK Albums Chart and reached number thirty-six on the American Billboard 200 chart. Four singles were released from Permission to Land: "Get Your Hands off My Woman", "Growing on Me", "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and "Love Is Only a Feeling"; "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" was the most successful, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart. In addition to its chart success, Permission to Land also provided The Darkness with two high-profile music awards—Best Rock Album at the 2003 Kerrang! Awards and Best British Album at the 2004 BRIT Awards (at which they also won the awards for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act). Permission to Land was voted 49th in the 50 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century in Kerrang!. Permission to Land was later referenced in the song "Whichever Way You Wanna Give It" by lead singer Justin Hawkins' other band Hot Leg.

Album: One Way Ticket to Hell... And Back by The Darkness (2005)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: Album

Description: One Way Ticket to Hell ...and Back is the second album by British rock band The Darkness. It was released on 28 November 2005 through Atlantic Records (see 2005 in music) and reached platinum status in the UK. The first single from the album, "One Way Ticket", reached #8 in the UK single charts as did the second single "Is It Just Me?" Bassist, Frankie Poullain, has said that "Hazel Eyes" is his favourite track on the record, citing, "I defy anyone after a couple of beverages to listen to "Hazel Eyes" standing up and NOT get the Michael Flatleys." Poullain was already familiar with six of the ten songs on the album, playing "Hazel Eyes", "Dinner Lady Arms", "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" and "English Country Garden" on tour with the band before his departure. He also co-wrote four of the tracks featured on the album. The working title for the album was The Painstaking. Most bass parts on the album are played by Dan Hawkins, following the departure of Frankie Poullain. Reviews for the album were mixed. Q magazine proclaimed it the 22nd best album of 2005. However Planet Sound remarked how it was the "world's most expensive penis joke", regarding the costly delay of the album. In an interview with The Sun, Dan said that it cost £1 million to make.

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Happy, 2000s, Album, Cooking Vinyl

Additional Context: Based on 3 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


One Way Ticket to Hell ...and Back is the second album by British rock band The Darkness. It was released on 28 November 2005 through Atlantic Records (see 2005 in music) and reached platinum status in the UK. The first single from the album, "One Way Ticket", reached #8 in the UK single charts as did the second single "Is It Just Me?" Bassist, Frankie Poullain, has said that "Hazel Eyes" is his favourite track on the record, citing, "I defy anyone after a couple of beverages to listen to "Hazel Eyes" standing up and NOT get the Michael Flatleys." Poullain was already familiar with six of the ten songs on the album, playing "Hazel Eyes", "Dinner Lady Arms", "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" and "English Country Garden" on tour with the band before his departure. He also co-wrote four of the tracks featured on the album. The working title for the album was The Painstaking. Most bass parts on the album are played by Dan Hawkins, following the departure of Frankie Poullain. Reviews for the album were mixed. Q magazine proclaimed it the 22nd best album of 2005. However Planet Sound remarked how it was the "world's most expensive penis joke", regarding the costly delay of the album. In an interview with The Sun, Dan said that it cost £1 million to make.

Album: Hot Cakes by The Darkness (2012)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: Album

Description: Hot Cakes is the third studio album by British rock band The Darkness, released on 20 August 2012 on Canary Dwarf Records. Produced by Nick Brine and band members Justin and Dan Hawkins, the album is the band's first since their 2011 reunion, and the first to feature bassist Frankie Poullain since the release of Permission to Land in 2003. Despite not being released until 20 August, the album was made available to stream on the Rolling Stone website on 14 August. In 2011, The Darkness reunited following a five-year break-up, with founding bassist Frankie Poullain returning to the band, replacing his successor, Richie Edwards. Regarding the band's reunion, drummer Ed Graham stated, "I heard a rumour that Dan and Justin [Hawkins] were actually writing songs together again and, having not spoken to them for ages, I emailed them. Basically I presumed that they were going to reform but I didn't really know that I was going to be in it. Then Dan, one day, was in London and he said, 'Ed, I'd like to meet with you' and we just had a drink and he said, 'we've been writing songs together for months and we've just finally got to a stage of where we really want the original four people, so are you interested?' Which was obviously great."

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Happy, 2010s, Album, Cooking Vinyl

Additional Context: Rating score: 7. Based on 2 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Hot Cakes is the third studio album by British rock band The Darkness, released on 20 August 2012 on Canary Dwarf Records. Produced by Nick Brine and band members Justin and Dan Hawkins, the album is the band's first since their 2011 reunion, and the first to feature bassist Frankie Poullain since the release of Permission to Land in 2003. Despite not being released until 20 August, the album was made available to stream on the Rolling Stone website on 14 August. In 2011, The Darkness reunited following a five-year break-up, with founding bassist Frankie Poullain returning to the band, replacing his successor, Richie Edwards. Regarding the band's reunion, drummer Ed Graham stated, "I heard a rumour that Dan and Justin [Hawkins] were actually writing songs together again and, having not spoken to them for ages, I emailed them. Basically I presumed that they were going to reform but I didn't really know that I was going to be in it. Then Dan, one day, was in London and he said, 'Ed, I'd like to meet with you' and we just had a drink and he said, 'we've been writing songs together for months and we've just finally got to a stage of where we really want the original four people, so are you interested?' Which was obviously great."

Album: Dreams on Toast by The Darkness (2025)
Genre: rock
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Format: CD

Description: special christmas edition

Artist Background: The Darkness are a British glam rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Ed Graham (drums) and are characterised by their classic rock influences and elaborate stage performances. The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Lov... Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Hard Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Status Quo, Danko Jones, The Struts, Thunder

Music Scene: Part of the Lowestoft, England music scene. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Hard Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: rock, 2020s, CD, Cooking Vinyl


The Darkness

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