Easter Is Cancelled

Styling themselves as tight-pantsed heroes on a mission to save the world with the power of rock, Englands princes of outlandish nostalgia the Darkness approach maturity with their sixth set, Easter Is Cancelled. With such an outrageous title (and accompanying artwork that depicts frontman Justin Hawkins as a super-buff Jesus breaking himself off a cross), one might expect this to be a typical Darkness romp through farcical subject matter and glorious headbangers. However, Easter Is Cancelled is surprisingly -- by Darkness standards -- tame, focused, and earnest, setting aside blatant hedonism and sophomoric humor in favor of a little heart and soul using familiar touchstones like Queen, Thin Lizzy, and AC/DC as their sonic foundation. The Darkness are by no means old and boring here, theyve just made a concerted effort to offer more substance in their quest to offset real-life evils like pious hypocrites, lying politicians, and fascist bigots. Yearning cuts like How Can I Lose Your Love and the bittersweet In Another Life amplify lovelorn emotions, while the standout Heart Explodes gives a sly wink as it soars into beautiful power ballad territory. In addition to these warm-and-fuzzies, the Darkness are sure to maintain their hard-charging image with overblown epics such as Rock and Roll Deserves to Die and the wild title track, a towering anthem that condemns evil and corruption and pleads for peace and a future atop speedy, rollicking riffs. They hit the best balance between their usual tongue-in-cheek humor and well-executed delivery with the Spinal Tap-ish Heavy Metal Lover, which offers some of the albums most hilarious lyrics and a brutal breakdown, while on Choke On It, they take the heaviness one step further with a scorching chorus and the delicious lyrical pairing of hors doeuvre and Heimlich manoeuvre. While not as aggressive as 2017s underrated Pinewood Smile, Easter Is Cancelled has plenty to get the blood boiling and the devil horns flying, providing plaintive moments of satisfaction that pump a little heart into a heartless world. Even though they start out with proclamations that rock and roll deserves to die, by the time the brisk set is through, theyre heralding its triumphant resurrection with cries of long live rock and roll! Easter Is Cancelled is a soaring and melodic evolution for the Darkness, a fresh step into maturation that retains their campy, fun-loving spirit without all the sleaze and filth. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

ロジャー・テイラー(クイーン)の息子であるルーファス(ドラムス)の加入後では2枚目となる通算6作目は、初めてコンセプトを掲げた意欲の漲る一枚だ。ジャスティン・ホーキンス(ヴォーカル)が〈聖書のようなレコードだ。ロックンロールこそが神の声である〉と語っている通り、今作には〈邪悪な世の中に対して、音楽こそが救済の道標になるんだ〉という強い信念が渦巻いているかのよう。天空まで突き抜けるファルセット・ヴォイス、クイーンばりの重厚なコーラス・ワーク、大仰かつ緻密なアレンジも冴え渡り、明暗と静動のドラマを刻み付けた曲調は聴き応え十分。バラード調の"In Another Life"も良いけれど、ラストを盛大に締め括る"We Are The Guitar Men"は何とも感動的だ。
bounce (C)荒金良介