The Darkness Announce New Album, Share Lead Single ‘The Longest Kiss’

Dreams on Toast is the UK act’s eighth album and follows 2021s Motorheart.

UK glam rockers The Darkness have announced the upcoming release of their eighth studio album, Dreams on Toast. Arriving March 2025 via Cooking Vinyl (pre-order here), the album is their first since 2021s Motorheart, with frontman Justin Hawkins having this to say about the release:

“You know that thing when God’s breath tickles your soul and tells you to create? Yeah, makes me giggle too. But you can’t resist. God might not be the power she once was, but say what you like about her, she knows damn well that what the world needs now, is rock sweet rock. And who are we, mere mortals of extraordinary ability, to argue with the divine?

“So we knuckled down and thought really hard about the best of the best, the elite songs, the life-changing music of the ages. Then we popped out a dozen bangers before lunch. And these bangers we present to you here, wallowing in an aromatic aural ragu, served atop the charred remains of our envious contemporaries… ladies and gentlemen, I give you Dreams On Toast!”

The Darkness have also shared the album’s lead single, ‘The Longest Kiss’. A slice of 70s nostalgia with Hawkins in fine form, the tune is sure to appeal to fans both old and new. You can give ‘The Longest Kiss’ a whirl below.

READ MORE: The Ten Best Songs Showcasing the Evolution of The Darkness

Speaking about The Darkness’ new song, Hawkins says: “Misty Orchards! That’s not my porn name, that’s the kind of scenery that I love. I awakened to such a vista in the delightful Scottish highland town of Nairn on the morning that inspiration for ‘The Longest Kiss’ lyric struck.

“The music itself is a piano-led composition, the chorus of which my brother and I came up with after he’d taken a long time to empty his bladder during some impressive pub endurance. The verses were transposed from a song I’ve been working on for decades as part of a musical about the collapse of the Lowestoft fishing industry, called ‘The Collapse Of The Lowestoft Fishing Industry’. The musical isn’t finished yet. But ‘The Longest Kiss’ is. The results are astounding. We’re all very proud of this.”

It’s been a big 2024 for The Darkness, with the band recently in Australia celebrating the 20th anniversary of their hit debut album, Permission to Land.

The Darkness have also announced a run of UK shows throughout March 2025 to coincide with the release of Dreams on Toast.

Dreams on Toast arrives March 2025 via Cooking Vinyl. Pre-order your copy here.