Nearly four years since their last studio album, 2025 marks the moment that multi-platinum rockers The Darkness returned to the international stage. Initially announced back in September 2024, The Darkness’s Dreams on Toast arrived on March 28, 2025, through Cooking Vinyl.
Produced by Guitarist Dan Hawkins and completed at Hawkland Studios in Sussex, England, the hard-charging new record illustrates the band’s perpetual showmanship, flair for Theatrical Rock, and exhilarating knack for hopscotching through a wide range of musical genres.
Their eighth overall studio album, Dreams on Toast, was built up by six singles, all of which are included in the tracklist. With ten songs in total, the album offers a mix of familiar sounds and some unexpected musical destinations.
Led by frontman Justin Hawkins, The Darkness returns with Producer/Guitarist Dan Hawkins, Bassist Frankie Poullain, and Drummer Rufus Taylor to once again deliver a thunderbox of musical adventure that not many current acts can compete with. The energy and passion displayed across the ten-track record show that even after twenty-five years of industry acclaim, there is no sign of deterioration.
The opening track, “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy,” catapults the band out of the shoot; with its stampeding celebration of all that is and has been Rock-n-Roll, it perfectly showcases the group’s trademark mix of wit and musical prowess. Following with “I Hate Myself,” the band delivers an anthem-like quality, with the tune beautifully underscored by emotional and reflective lyrics. The song’s lyrics burrow deep into themes of personal criticism as a form of preservation, offering a raw peek into the band’s deep lyrical archives.
Moving on, “The Longest Kiss” stands out as a tribute to The Darkness’s ability to blend 1970s Pop sounds with their distinguishing capacity for drama and flair. The song’s lively narrative and addictive melody reach back to the band’s first influences, providing a jovial journey of listening. Then, although at first seemingly out of place, “The Battle for Gadget Land” introduces a quirky, honky-tonk rambler that fits well within the album’s broader context. This divergence has led to mixed reactions among some fans. Still, it is a perfect embodiment of what the band has been striving for for the last two decades and shows not only their creativity as a group but also their enduring commitment to pushing boundaries and expectations.
Lastly, a wonderful surprise and unexpected gift on the record is the inclusion of Actor Stephen Dorff for the finale track, “Weekend in Rome.” Dorff’s spoken word addition lends a theatrical element, enhancing and elevating an atmosphere of romance that follows the group’s propensity for going left when all signs point right.
In the end, Dreams on Toast is a collection that embodies The Darkness’s progression as a musical act, unafraid to toil around in the lab to advance not only their sound but the sounds of Rock-n-Roll as a whole. While humans tend to balk at the experimental or diversion from the status quo at times, there is no question that Dreams on Toast is both a beneficial and necessary trip down this controversial path.
The Darkness retains the elements that have created a beloved international following. With that said, upon each studio release, they work tirelessly to push themselves forward to a previously unvisited nook of Rock-n-Roll sound and continuously delight millions of fans around the world. They are uniquely their own, and Dreams On Toast is a must-listen for any Hard Rock music lover looking to expand their palette and adventure into The Darkness. Well worth the wait and one of the most exciting Rock releases of 2025 thus far, Cryptic Rock gives The Darkness’s Dreams On Toast 5 out of 5 stars.
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