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BERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: Singer Justin Hawkins of the British band The Darkness performs live on stage during a concert at the Admiralspalast on November 7, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Frank Hoensch/Redferns)
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The Darkness Explore the Rock n Roll Grind on ‘Walking Through Fire’

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The Darkness have dropped another taste of Dreams On Toast, this time with ‘Walking Through Fire’. The track cuts through any of the rock n roll glam to lay bare the reality of life as an artist. The album lands March 28.

Leaning into their love of ’70s rock excess, the track piles on big riffs, theatrical vocals, and the band’s usual mix of sincerity and piss-taking. Justin Hawkins doesn’t sugarcoat it, singing, “Our next long player, it’s coming out soon / I’ll be honest, I’m under the moon / We’re only doing this ‘cause it’s fun / Don’t even think my mum bought the last one.”

Hawkins describes the song as a reflection on the uphill slog of being a musician, calling it “a gruelling endeavour, leavened with rare moments of shining success.” He puts it another way: “It’s like climbing a mountain for the view, while studiously avoiding the discarded condom stuck to your stylish yet practical hiking footwear.”

Lyrically, it’s classic Darkness—self-aware, theatrical, and strangely profound. Musically, it taps into the band’s usual bag of tricks: layered harmonies, fist-pumping riffs, and a chorus built for massive singalongs. It’s a fitting follow-up to ‘The Longest Kiss’, ‘Rock And Roll Party Cowboy’, and ‘I Hate Myself’, all leading up to Dreams On Toast.

Produced by guitarist Dan Hawkins, the album promises to capture The Darkness at full tilt, celebrating their influences while pushing into new sonic territory. A press release calls it “The Darkness at their peak, celebrating their influences while also embarking on avenues never before heard from the band.”

After more than two decades in the game, The Darkness aren’t slowing down. If Dreams On Toast is anything like its lead singles, it’ll be another gloriously over-the-top entry in their stacked back catalogue.

‘Walking Through Fire’ is out now. Dreams On Toast lands March 28.