Incredibly it’s been two and a half years since The Darkness released their debut album ‘Permission To Land’ so the obvious question with their follow up ‘One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back’ (‘OWTTHAB’) is: was it worth the wait? And the answer to that my friends is one that left a splinter in my arse to be honest as it is both a yes and a no. 

The first point is that the band have decided against simply making another ‘Permission To Land’ and by employing the gifts of celebrated Queen producer, Roy Thomas Baker, they have set out on an altogether different journey. Baker has successfully achieved what all top rock producers have the knack of and that is he has somehow managed to conceptualise the band. And by that I mean that this album isn’t just a collection of songs, but something that stands out as whole. 

And the weird thing is that this album is actually quite dark (pun intended). Sure Hawkins prattles on in his usual eccentric way and there are some light and fluffy moments. But I can’t help feeling that underlying all this is a certain dissatisfaction with fame and all its trappings. There’s an awful lot about escapism here. Lost youth and well, mid-life crisis really. Good luck to him – he’s certainly different in his lyrical approach! 

The album opens with the single ‘One Way Ticket To Hell…’ and is prefixed by some bloke called Fredy Gomez playing virtuoso Pan Flute. Fredy Gomez? Pull the other one. Anyway this I presume is to juxtapose with the fact that ‘One Way Ticket…’ is about Hawkins ‘brush’ with Cocaine. You can also here him sniffing a line or two before the actual track starts. Something I didn’t find remotely amusing at all. But then I’m a miserable b*****d. And really this track is about the closest The Darkness get to anything from ‘Permission To Land’.  

To be honest this album is a mixture of really stand out moments and some of the most cheesy stuff ever committed to CD. At times songs like ‘Hazel Eyes’ are so ridiculously camp they make Dale Winton seem like Hulk Hogan. Yet incredibly the band seem to have got away with it as reviewers have been generally kind. But this is a website and I’m writing strictly from a fans viewpoint and I must admit I’m frankly baffled by some of the nonsense on (‘OWTTHAB’). 

Where is that amazing vintage Marshall guitar sound that was so bloody addictive on the debut album? Where are all the retro-riffs and solos that got people strumming tennis rackets again? And where has Hawkins impression of that bloke from Sparks disappeared to? I’ve used the analogy of him sounding like a ‘Beaver on helium’ before – only this time he sounds like a Beaver on helium…with his balls jammed in a vice. Quite frightening. Clearly I didn’t expect them to make ‘Permission To Land 2’ but I expected at least some, er, balls! 

However I loved ‘Bald’ which has a cracking riff and Hawkins at his silliest, but in a good way this time. ‘Knockers’ is also a good representation of where the band are at now too. Then there is ‘English Country Garden’ a stunning track that combines the best of both Queen and The Darkness to produce some of the most inspired harmonies since…well since Freddie Mercury himself last sung into a microphone. High praise indeed.  

Then, oh dear. The album finishes with ‘Blind Man’. Her indoors, a massive Darkness fan, said it sounded like ELO! ARGHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Run to the bloody hills! Now I’m sure there is a good sentiment behind a song with a title like that but not to put too fine a point on it… I hated it. It’s way too sugary and saccharine and well… ELO-like to be anything other than scandalous to these ‘King Lear’s’ of mine. The vocals on the whole album also sound a bit low in the mix and also slightly muddy. And yes, she said that, not me. 

Clearly the band are heading into American, radio friendly territory with the production on this album and I suspect that whilst they will continue to attract female stadium rockers of the Nickleback/Bon Jovi persuasion they have all but lost the rockers who so enjoyed ‘that’ guitar sound and riffing on their debut. This album will sell millions and help them gain a foothold in the states. It is at times quite brilliant, and at others, some of the biggest tosh I’ve ever heard. That’s The Darkness for you, circa 2005 vintage.

Let us know your views on 'One Way Ticket To Hell And Back'

Track List

One Way Ticket
Knockers
Is It Just Me
Dinner Lady Arms
Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time
Hazel Eyes
Bald
Girlfriend
English Country Garden
Blind Man

Line Up

Justin Hawkins - Vocals/Guitars
Dan Hawkins - Guitar
Richie Edwards - Bass
Ed Graham - Drums