(Rock) The Darkness - Permission To Land

[CrazyLegsMC]

Permission to Land is the debut LP from the British Rock band "The Darkness" Here's a quick run down on the band for those who dont know them.... They play a classic rock style of music, I would say they're Queen meets, Ac/Dc, meets Led Zeppelin.

Some very notable songs are "I Believe In a Thing Called Love" and "Love Is Only a Feeling" and "Get Your Hands Off My Woman Mutherfuc*er". These are only there big time definate "single" songs, but dont get me wrong the rest of the album is not filler its qctually rather good with a variety of fast and slow rock songs.

Some might argue that The Darkness are ripping off all the great bands of the past, and that Justin Hawkins, the singer and one of the guitarists, voice is too high pitched and is bad. In my humble opinion, Justins voice is a breath of fresh air to the rock scene of today, he has a great voice, and I believe his voice works well with this style of music (just as Freddie Mercury's voiced did with Queen).

Overall I think this is one of the best genuine rock albms I've listened to in the past decade. I recommend this to all rock fans, new or old out there.

4/5 (solid cd with great tunes, I cant wait to see what their next LP can deliver)

[manuscriptreplica]

hehe i read this review when you had 666 posts, which is insanely cool.

even though i think the singer is a total wanker, the music is pretty good.

[Maveryck]

I'll do a track-by-track.

1. Black Shuck

Starts with an awesome classic rock riff, very reminiscent of AC/DC, with the dual guitars and driving rhythm section. The verses show off the singer's vocal versatility, from Freddie Mercury-like high sections to throatier hard rock sounds. The chorus isn't too memorable, but it works nicely enough. A more chaotic, almost free-time bridge comes next, followed by the out-chorus, where the singing gets more and more ad libbed, culminating the mandatory rock and roll finish to round out a very competent, rockin' starter to the album. 4/5

2. Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman

The opposite of Black Shuck, this song has a good intro, mediocre verses (with little in the way of the catchy melodic content this band are best at), but a fantastic chorus. A cool ascending guitar line leads into the chorus, which features singing at a range comparable to - you guessed it - Freddie Mercury. The bridge/solo comes after the second chorus, with some cool layering between the dual guitars, and then a final chorus to finish this kickass track. 4/5

3. Growing On Me

The first single to be released off Permission To Land, this didn't catch my ear until I heard myself singing it to... myself. The song is very catchy, despite the poor sound (production-wise), which is odd, because the album as a whole is very professionally done. The solo vocals in the verse and backed up vocals in the chorus are complimented very well by the understated yet talented guitar work, and the bass and drums don't intrude on the main melodies. After a brief chordal interlude, comes the first real solo on the CD. It's short, but it shows The Darkness aren't just another band of rhythm guitarists. Then the outro solo confirms this, with licks in the vain of seventies hard rock. Killer track. 4.5/5

4. I Believe In A Thing Called Love

Wow, this song rules in every way. The chorus stands out more than anything else on the whole album, just for the jokingly over-done vocals (in falsetto British accent)! The solos are more than up to the task of carrying the momentum, and the false build-up after the second one (it leads to a quieter bridge instead of the expected chorus) is fantastic. The instrumental section at the end gives the guitarists their chance to shine, with blazing solos, a driving rock riff, and a even legato outro figuro. 5/5

5. Love Is Just A Feeling

The drum intro heralds the coming of the power ballad (essential on what is, at heart, an original hair rock tribute album). The guitar sounds here are really diverse. From the electric melody lines in the intro and the chorus, to the acoustic arpeggiation of the first verse, and the tremolo strumming of the second verse, it's a subtle showcase of the diversity many people fail to see in The Darkness. The chorus is fantastically melodic, ensuring this slower song never gets boring, and the solos are splendid, featuring bluesy bends, harmonised lines and even climactic tapped passages. The outro is almost folksy, with dual acoustic guitars reprising their roles of arpeggiation and speed-strummage from each of the verses respectively. I could listen to this for quite a long while. 5/5

6. Givin' Up

The intro/verse riff here is so reminiscent of the early Rolling Stones, it's a wonder there aren't lawsuits. But then, there's the chorus, with its descending vocal melody and catchy-as-hell hook (givin' up, givin' up, givin' a ****). Add to the equation the 24-bar solo, in which each lead guitarist gets a chance to voice his style, with harmonisation from the other, and we have an adequate song. Neither filler nor killer. 3.5/5

7. Stuck In A Rut

The drumming comes through in this song's intro and verse more than anywhere else on this album so far. Despite the grooviness of the early sections, the chorus's mediocrity and breakdown's total rhythmic bankruptcy spoil this outing somewhat. The call-and-answer solo makes this a worthwhile song, but I might find myself skipping past it in the future. 3.5/5

8. Friday Night

Another ballad-type song. That's not a complaint though. This song is so listenable, and on closer inspection, it's quite a well written track too. Probably the deepest lyrics on the album (even if they are a carbon copy of The Cure's Friday I'm In Love), set to vocal melodies that are a pleasure to hear Justin sing. The harmonised guitar line in the bridge is pure gold, and the outro solo leaves the song lingering nicely, without going into the kind of theatrics some other songs do on this album. 4.5/5

9. Love On The Rocks With No Ice

The bad humour of the title aside, this song rocks. Probably the most "heavy metal" song on the album, with sludgey rhythm guitars comparable to Black Sabbath, and consistently driving riffage, a la Judas Priest. The chorus, as always, features outlandishly high vocals, but it still works with the song here. In fact, without that touch of contrast, this would be a lesser song. The solos really set this song apart though. From the 3:00 mark onward, there's a barrage of pentatonic lead work that is just plain cool to listen to. And just as it starts getting tiresome, Justin Hawkins interrupts with a shattering rendition of the word "ice" that sends the rest of the band into a frenzy, paradiddling and tapping like mad to provide an appropriately heavy rock finish to this above-average heavy rock song. 4/5

10. Holding My Own

This song isn't as much a breath of fresh air as it is a choking waft of sickly sweetness. The comparison one can draw between this and the ballads of 80s hair metal is amusing, but short-lived. The competence of The Darkness at writing catchy melodies salvages some of this track, as does the powerful yet shamefully short first solo, but on the whole, this is just too cheesy. Maybe after forcing myself to listen to More Than A Feeling, I'll be able to take this track seriously. Then again, maybe not. 3/5

Overall Rating: 4.25/5

I'd've given it 4/5 but with the general fun-ness of The Darkness to listen to, most especially the engaging singing, makes this album that much better than the sum of its tracks.

P.S., I'm seeing them at the Big Day Out in 36 hours (exactly ), so I hope they appoint...

...as opposed to disappoint, of course.

[Tomahawk]

I think that the Darkness are the best pop metal since Def Leppard. I love the album, mainly because I'm a sucker for a good hook, and this album is full of them.

And I also cannot wait to see them at the BDO. Should be awesome live.

[brucezepwhostones]

The Darkness are amazing. I saw them at the mini-concert in Virgin Megastore in Times Square and it was unreal. Every song on Permission to Land is killer. One cool thing about the show- during love on the rocks, Justin got onto this guy's shoulders while the guy walked through the crowd and while justin was on his shoulders, he was playing an awesome solo. It was really entertaining.

[JAStewart]

I don't like them. I think they are way over-rated. If you want good glam rock go to: Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Ratt, Poison, Ugly Kid Joe & so on.

[rik]

they are ****ing fantastic live anyone whos into them has got to go and see them. i saw them at brixton academy and had a great night

[brycey]

i hated them at first, but they're "growing on me!"

[/lame]

well done on the reviews maveryck and crazylegsmc.

[Mephisdan]

Yeah i agree, totally love the album

[JAStewart]

When 3 Inches Of Blood supported them at whatever show it was, it should of been the other way around.

[Led Zeppp]

Originally Posted by JAStewart

I don't like them. I think they are way over-rated. If you want good glam rock go to: Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Ratt, Poison, Ugly Kid Joe & so on.

sorry? what? i can't hear you there in the past.

don't compare them to past bands...

they're a great new band and i really like the singers voice to be honest.

[sheenaisapunkrocker]

permission to land is the best album of 2003 the darkness are brilliant

[suttsy]

their best song isn't on the album, "how dare you call this love", but the best one on the album is "growing on me" or "friday night". For me, vocals are basically 60% of the reason why i really like bands or certain songs and i love the darkness...

[chimp_spanner]

Originally Posted by Led Zeppp

sorry? what? i can't hear you there in the past.

don't compare them to past bands...

they're a great new band and i really like the singers voice to be honest.

Yeah that always gets on my nerves - when people think that a band can't be good cos it's "been done before" by an older band. Why be so bitter at the fact that a NEW and young band is making good music, even if it has been done before?! And I mean if anything, it's a testament to bands of the past that the Darkness are making the kind of music they are and bringing it to a younger generation. Don't you think kids are gunna listen to the Darkness and say "hmm, what other bands are there like them that I can listen to?". Next thing you know they'll be out buying "Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Ratt, Poison, Ugly Kid Joe & so on". So I don't see a problem with a band like the Darkness. It's alllllll good!

[JAStewart]

Muse - Absolution is the best album of 2003.

[JAStewart]

With the Darkness getting all these little ****ty teenie boppers into them they will sell out and become more pop rather than this "glam rock" they seem to somehow go under.


Although I love glam rock/hair metal whatever I think that music needs to take new paths now, start "new" musical genres as such: Muse.

[JAStewart]

Also The Darkness are plagerists! They stole a couple of L.A Guns riffs, changed it a little, made a lot of money. That my friends is called Plagerism. Also "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" intro has a strange similarity to AC/DC - T.N.T except up two frets.

[chimp_spanner]

Originally Posted by JAStewart

Muse - Absolution is the best album of 2003.

Well yeah it does rock

Muse and Sikth are, I reckon, probably the two best british alt/rock acts out at the moment. Lets hope this is a sign of things to come from this little island!

[suttsy]

haha, the intros of i believe in a thing called love and tnt are pretty similar. I dont think they were trying to rip them off, there have been so many rock songs over the years, 2 different one are bound to be similar. I still like them.

[sadisticmonkey]

I believe the darkness is a fresh reminder of how music is supposed to be fun...

they are cheese metal at its finest... GOOD SHOW!