“We live in dark times. As power-drunk clowns cast a shadow of despair across the land, our people cower in tumbledown hovels. The children do not dance and the birds are silent. Hope is crushed! Where are the heroes that this world needs, the heroes that this world deserves?”

What to do following a Top 10 UK album the likes of Pinewood Smile? You save the world, of course. The Darkness have taken upon themselves the challenge of heroism in these dark times, and they are here now. Rather, they will be on October 4 when they release Easter is Cancelled, but you can buy it now. Pre-order options include a cassette, both black and yellow vinyl, jewel case standard CD and digipack deluxe CD with bonus tracks, and a fetching shirt featuring Justin Hawkins as the Easter Bunny. As with their previous album, this pre-order coincides with an upcoming UK tour and grants the pre-order-er first access to tickets.

The video announcement, t-shirt, press copy, etc. feature the tongue-in-cheek humour—and outright cheekiness—The Darkness have made their calling card, but that album cover is…well, it’s pretty metal, to say the least.

By Craig E. Bacon

Husband, Father, Philosopher, Music/Beer/Comics Enthusiast—Craig has written for The Prog Report and ProgRadar, and now serves as de facto progressive music editor for MusicTAP. Please direct interview requests & review submissions to [email protected]