ALBUM REVIEW: Motorheart – The Darkness
Rock ‘n’ roll regulars THE DARKNESS are back with a new album, and they’ve pulled out all the stops to ensure it is just as extravagant as their previous efforts. Starting off with Welcome Tae Glasgae, you’re instantly thrown into a classic rock ‘n’ roll vibe with a fitting backing of bagpipes. The slightly satirical element of the lyrics paired with the genuinely groovy riffs and rhythms makes for a very entertaining song. This song has a very nostalgic feel, which THE DARKNESS are kings in creating. The drops during the chorus of this song add another level of edge, making the track really enjoyable.
Next up is the track It’s Love Jim, described as “E.T. boffing”. This song adds to the playful aspect displayed so far in the album. Opening with a classic sounding riff, this song keeps the listener engaged by having a catchy hook, surrounding the impressive melodic vocal range from Justin Hawkins. The lyrics to this track again have more of a jokey sounding spin, making for a really fun sound.
The title track, Motorheart, explores the topic of a robotic girlfriend and the pros and cons surrounding that. It’s definitely an interesting topic, paired with some really cool guitar chords and some faster paced sections, this song is once again a blast from the past, but delivered in an original fashion.
Sticky Situations starts out as a slower melodic track, picking up the pace a bit once the hook is introduced. All of the tracks on this release display how some well mixed drums, guitars and vocals can create a catchy sound, and with an added bit of charisma, can result in a well rounded track. THE DARKNESS has managed to achieve this really well in this new release, making sure that their lyrics are the real stars of the show.
Eastbound switches things up a bit by including some ad-libs/voice clips into the song, again with the playful factor that this band always manages to get through. The riffs and rhythms are once again groovy as ever, making for a fun listening experience. There may be one or two stand out tracks on this release, but the others seem to rank at a similar level just due to the fact that the pacing for the songs seems to be quite similar throughout the album. However, saying that, playing the album through in order makes for an enjoyable experience, definitely adding a bit of happiness to the listener (if they like slightly questionable lyrics at times).
Overall, this album is very entertaining and memorable. THE DARKNESS have managed to keep their classic sound, whilst also being able to add in a few bits here and there to keep the listener engaged. The playful lyrics keep this element of fun running throughout the listening experience, and when paired with the groovy riffs, solid drum beats and impressive vocal range, it makes for a really good album which many will be able to enjoy.
Rating: 8/10
Motorheart is set for release on November 19th via Cooking Vinyl.
Like THE DARKNESS on Facebook.