Last of Our Kind

Last of Our Kind was entirely written in Ireland, then produced by guitarist Dan Hawkins at his own recording studio at Leeders Farm, in Norfolk.{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-darkness-last-of-our-kind-album-due-in-june-barbarian-video-released/ |title=The Darkness: 'Last Of Our Kind' Album Due In June; 'Barbarian' Video Released |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=23 February 2015 |accessdate=23 February 2015 }} Around fifteen songs were in contention for the final track listing; ten appear on the standard release, with the Japanese and Best Buy releases containing two exclusive bonus tracks, while another – "Million Dollar Strong" – was played live during their warm-up tour of Ireland in March 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R-bxWJBQBg|title=The Darkness – Million Dollar Strong, Live at Dolans Warehouse, Limerick Ireland, 14 March 2015|last=Chromeboy2003|date=19 March 2015|publisher=|via=YouTube}}

Reflecting on the album in 2025, bass guitarist Frankie Poullain noted: "We managed [our 2011] comeback really badly, and Hot Cakes wasn’t our best album either. With Last of Our Kind there was just a feeling of defiance, a lot of emotion on that. We showed people who we are just by sticking in there."{{cite web|last1=Everley|first1=Dave|title=“It’s getting ridiculous. We’re the last men standing, unless some new wave of rock comes along…” The rise, fall and resurrection of The Darkness, the band on a mission to save rock|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/darkness-dreams-on-toast-album-interview|website=Louder Sound|access-date=1 April 2025|date=21 April 2025}}

The first song revealed from the album was Barbarian, which was released on 23 February at the same time as the album's official announcement.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6480279/the-darkness-barbarian-video-premiere-last-of-our-kind |title=Exclusive Premiere: The Darkness Return With 'Barbarian' Video |last=Leight |first=Elias |magazine=Billboard |date=23 February 2015 |accessdate=23 February 2015 }} "Barbarian" was released as the first promotional single on 8 March 2015. A PledgeMusic page was set up to promote the album before release.{{cite news |url=http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2015/02/23/the-darkness-barbarian-new-song-video-album-last-of-our-kind-pledge-music/#sthash.QC0GsgpY.dpbs |title=The Darkness Return with Viking-Themed Song 'Barbarian', New Album 'Last of Our Kind' (Audio) |publisher=Rock Cellar Magazine |date=23 February 2015 |accessdate=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223232144/http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2015/02/23/the-darkness-barbarian-new-song-video-album-last-of-our-kind-pledge-music/#sthash.QC0GsgpY.dpbs |archive-date=23 February 2015 |url-status=dead }} The release of Last of Our Kind was preceded by a tour of Ireland in March 2015.{{cite news |url=http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2015-02-23/the-darkness-unleash-barbarian |title=The Darkness Unleash Barbarian |work=Classic Rock |publisher=TeamRock |date=23 February 2015 |accessdate=23 February 2015 }} The second promotional single from the album, "Open Fire", premiered on 23 March, followed by an official chart release on 25 May 2015.{{cite news | url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-darkness-new-single-open-fire-available-for-streaming/ | title=THE DARKNESS: New Single 'Open Fire' Available For Streaming | work=Blabbermouth.net | date=23 March 2015 | accessdate=24 April 2015}} Following the departure of Emily Dolan Davies from the band, The Darkness performed live for the first time with current drummer Rufus Taylor, the son of Queen's Roger Taylor, at an album launch party, hosted for fans at London's Gibson Guitar Studio on April 23.{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-darkness/2015/gibson-guitar-studio-london-england-73f2b63d.html|title=The Darkness Setlist at Gibson Guitar Studio, London|website=setlist.fm}} A third single, "Last of Our Kind", was released on 29 July, accompanied by an in-studio promotional video, which features the band alongside a select number of fans.{{cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/videos/101883/the-darkness-last-of-our-kind-video-premiere---watch|title=Premiere: The Darkness' brand new video|website=www.gigwise.com}} The album was re-released on 20 November 2015, with alternative, Christmas-themed cover and four bonus tracks including the singles "Million Dollar Strong" and "I Am Santa".{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-darkness-to-release-deluxe-edition-of-last-of-our-kind-featuring-four-new-songs/|title=THE DARKNESS To Release Deluxe Edition Of 'Last Of Our Kind' Featuring Four New Songs|date=30 October 2015|publisher=}}

A special edition of the album was also released in November 2015, containing four bonus tracks.

Journalist J.C. Maçek III of Spectrum Culture wrote "This fourth album was produced by guitarist Dan Hawkins who proves to be a genius with this style of music, especially when evoking the most primal wails of his brother, vocalist Justin Hawkins."{{cite magazine|author=J.C. Maçek III|url=http://spectrumculture.com/2015/07/06/the-darkness-last-of-our-kind/|title=Last of Our Kind|magazine=Spectrum Culture|date=July 7, 2015}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 63/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/last-of-our-kind/the-darkness|title=Last of Our Kind by The Darkness|website=Metacritic|access-date=22 May 2017}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|title=Last of Our Kind|author=James Christopher Monger|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/last-of-our-kind-mw0002828353 |date=August 11, 2015|website=AllMusic}}

| rev2 = Classic Rock

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://teamrock.com/review/2015-05-11/the-darkness-last-of-our-kind|title=The Darkness: Last Of Our Kind|magazine=Classic Rock|last=Everley|first=Dave|date=11 May 2015|access-date=22 May 2017}}

| rev3 = Consequence of Sound

| rev3score = B–{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2015/06/album-review-the-darkness-last-of-our-kind/|title=

Album Review: The Darkness – Last of Our Kind|website=Consequence of Sound|last=Buchanan|first=David|date=4 June 2015|access-date=14 April 2025}}

| rev4 = Drowned in Sound

| rev4score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/18824/reviews/4149035|title=The Darkness - Last of Our Kind|website=Drowned in Sound|last=McDonald|first=Andy|date=1 June 2015|access-date=14 April 2025}}

| rev5 = Kerrang!

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Last of Our Kind |date=30 May 2015|magazine=Kerrang!}}

| rev6 = Mojo

| rev6score = {{rating|3|5}}There's nothing here to match their gonzo 2003 hit I Believe In A Thing Called Love.... But there's still laugh-out silliness. [Jul 2015, p.92]

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}Justin Hawkins' vocal histrionics can, at times grate, but for suckers of old-school guitar riffs and songs about the Viking invasion of East Anglia, there's much to enjoy. [Jul 2015, p.104]

| rev8 = Sputnikmusic

| rev8score = 3.5/5{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/74287/The-Darkness-Last-of-Our-Kind/|title=The Darkness - Last of Our Kind|website=Sputnikmusic|last=K.|first=Simon|date=16 July 2017|access-date=14 April 2025}}

| rev9 = Uncut

| rev9score = {{rating|3.5|5}}There are reasons to cheer aside from survival--cultish single "Open Fire," "Mighty Wings" and the Rush-like title track. [Jul 2015, p.73]

| rev10 = Under the Radar

| rev10score = 5.5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/the_darkness_last_of_our_kind/|title=The Darkness - Last of Our Kind|website=Under the Radar|last=Lucas|first=Dan|date=14 July 2017|access-date=14 April 2025}}

}}

Frontman Justin Hawkins has described the album as "brutal", adding that "It's definitely stripped back with the exception of some mandolins. But when you're doing medieval rock, you should have a mandolin on it ... It's medieval rock, but it still sounds like The Darkness. It's medi-urban, I suppose". Explaining the meaning of the lyrics more deeply, the singer has noted that they "describe the Viking invasion of East Anglia which culminated in the decapitation of Edmund the Martyr", describing the thematic basis as "classic Darkness".

All songs written and composed by Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins and Frankie Poullain; "Mudslide" and "Messenger" co-written by Emily Dolan Davies, "I Am Santa" co-written by Rufus Taylor.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Barbarian

| length1 = 3:34

| title2 = Open Fire

| length2 = 4:01

| title3 = Last of Our Kind

| length3 = 4:09

| title4 = Roaring Waters

| length4 = 4:38

| title5 = Wheels of the Machine

| length5 = 3:07

| title6 = Mighty Wings

| length6 = 5:46

| title7 = Mudslide

| length7 = 3:25

| title8 = Sarah O'Sarah

| length8 = 3:52

| title9 = Hammer & Tongs

| length9 = 4:02

| title10 = Conquerors

| length10 = 4:55

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Last of Our Kind — {{nobold|Deluxe edition}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/last-our-kind-deluxe-edition/1052291333|title=Last of Our Kind (Deluxe Edition) by The Darkness on Apple Music|website=iTunes |date=June 2015 |publisher=}}

| title11 = Messenger

| length11 = 3:50

| title12 = Always Had the Blues

| length12 = 5:11

| title13 = Million Dollar Strong

| length13 = 3:09

| title14 = I Am Santa

| length14 = 4:24

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Last of Our Kind — {{nobold|Japanese and Best Buy edition}}

| title11 = Messenger

| length11 = 3:50

| title12 = Always Had the Blues

| length12 = 5:11

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Last of Our Kind — {{nobold|Out-takes}}

| title13 = Million Dollar Strong

| length13 = 2:58

}}

{{div col|colwidth=28em}}

• Justin Hawkins – vocals, guitar
• Dan Hawkins – guitar, production
• Frankie Poullain – bass, vocals ("Conquerors")
• Emily Dolan Davies – drums
• Rufus Tiger Taylor – drums ("I Am Santa")
• Trevor Weston – monologue ("Barbarian")
• 236 The Darkness Fans – vocals ("Last of Our Kind")
• Phillis Darkling – art direction, design
• Nick Roche – artwork (front cover)
• Christian Furr – artwork (rear cover)
• Thom Lessner – artwork (illustrations)
• Kevin Smith – online design
• Simon Emmett – photography

{{div col end}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{The Darkness}}

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Category:2015 albums

Category:The Darkness (band) albums