UK rock band The Darkness has announced their eight studio album, Dreams On Toast, set for release on March 28, 2025 via Cooking Vinyl. Led by Justin Hawkins (vocals/guitar), Dan Hawkins (guitar), Frankie Poullain (bass) and Rufus Taylor (drums), the band recently released the album’s lead single, “The Longest Kiss”.
The new track captures the essence of 1970s pop influences, reminiscent of Queen and Paul McCartney, blending upbeat piano melodies with lively guitar riffs. Typical of The Darkness, the song carries a quirky, energetic rock vibe. Hawkins described the album as a collection of “elite songs” crafted with divine inspiration, stating, “What the world needs now is rock sweet rock.”
Hawkins shared insights into the creation of “The Longest Kiss”, explaining how a moment in Nairn, Scotland, inspired the lyrics. The music, originally part of an unfinished musical about the Lowestoft fishing industry, led to this new single.
Dreams On Toast is their best collection of songs yet, as The Darkness will hit the road next year on their Dreams On Toast Tour, playing 17 shows across the UK, concluding at London’s OVO Wembley Arena on March 29, 2025. North American dates are expected to be announced soon.
Since forming in 2000 in Lowestoft, England, the band skyrocketed to fame with their debut album Permission to Land (2003), which sold over 1.3 million copies and was certified quadruple platinum in the UK. The debut featured hit singles like “I Believe in a Thing Called Love,” “Growing on Me,” “Get Your Hands off My Woman” and “Love Is Only a Feeling.”
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