THE DARKNESS – Easter Is Cancelled [Deluxe Edition +4] (2019)

With a gleam in their eye, those crazy characters known to Rock-n-Roll fans as THE DARKNESS will be releasing their brand spanking new album, “Easter Is Cancelled”, on Friday, October 4th, 2019.
As one of the most successful British acts of the last near two decades, The Darkness has won the world over with their charismatic and quirky personalities which mesh perfectly with strikingly well-written tunes that rock as much as they connect with the listener.
Never be fooled, aside from their offbeat and clever appearance, Guitarist Dan Hawkins, Bassist Frankie Poullain, Drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor, and Vocalist Justin Hawkins are extremely talented gents with a true knack for entertaining and reaching the soul of music fans.

Too giddy to wait until spring, The Darkness decided to unleash ‘Easter Is Cancelled’ to the world before even Halloween would fall upon the land. Playing double duty, ‘Easter Is Cancelled’ is produced by Guitarist Dan Hawkins, brother of frontman Justin Hawkins, who also produced The Darkness’ highly acclaimed 2015 release, Last Of Our Kind.
Not only are The Darkness sticking with a proven commodity, the lads also decided ‘Easter Is Cancelled’ would be The Darkness’ first ever concept album.
Conceptually, the new album was written to explore the persona of a musician in today’s messed up society, and how the “We’re Not Gonna Take It” attitude which many music artists lived by years ago has fallen to the waste side.

All of this grand conception in mind, ‘Easter Is Cancelled’ gifts ten new tracks of Rock goodness as the follow-up to 2017’s Pinewood Smile and 2018’s Live at Hammersmith.
Straight and to the point, the CD begins via “Rock and Roll Deserves To Die.” A different but fitting start, this tune kicks off with a very Led Zeppelin like, mystical acoustic guitar piece that takes your ears to Justin’s immense falsetto which sounds like it was created by magic. Then, a rocking kick-in-the-behind of guitar and drums take this song to the next level in a quintessential yet different way of paying homage to pure Rock-and-Roll, even for The Darkness.

Thereafter, we are treated to a full bag of engaging tracks like the stirring “Live ’til I Die,” the irresistible ballad “Heart Explodes,” as only The Darkness can create, and the title track “Easter Is Cancelled” starring a main hook that is reminiscent of Queen’s “Tie Your Mother Down” and rocks all the same.
Baring their souls, “Heavy Metal Lover” sees The Darkness fall head over heels for anyone into Heavy Metal with lines like “You’re so Metal, I’m afraid you’ll rust.”

The one that got away, “In Another Life” holds a melody reminiscent of an early 1990s Pop Rock ballad about reaching for love. Spiteful, the grudge holding “Choke On It” is the predecessor to the finale “We Are The Guitar Men,” closing Easter Is Cancelled the way it began; mystical with a bit of Pop Rock appeal and the declarative lyric “Long Live Rock-and-Roll.”

Always different, The Darkness has written yet another charming collection of Classic Rock music with ‘Easter Is Cancelled’. Well formulated with immortal riffs and majestic vocals, Easter Is Cancelled is Rock-n-Roll like only The Darkness can portray.
All in all, “Easter Is Cancelled” is yet another fine choice added to a catalog of albums which fans of The Darkness and Classic Rock will continue to indulge in for years to come.

01 – Rock and Roll Deserves to Die
02 – How Can I Lose Your Love
03 – Live ‘Til I Die
04 – Heart Explodes
05 – Deck Chair
06 – Easter is Cancelled
07 – Heavy Metal Lover
08 – In Another Life
09 – Choke on It
10 – We Are the Guitar Men
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Laylow
12 – Different Eyes
13 – Confirmation Bias
14 – Sutton Hoo

Justin Hawkins – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards
Dan Hawkins – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals
Frankie Poullain – bass, backing vocals
Rufus Tiger Taylor – drums, backing vocals

BUY IT
www.amazon.co.uk/Easter-Cancelled-Darkness/dp/B07W8LJNNP