The Darkness have announced details of the first single from their forthcoming fourth album, Last Of Our Kind. “Open Fire” is an explosion of rock which sounds like The Darkness if The Darkness were offered a million pounds to come up with the best song ever in 10 minutes and then 10 minutes later The Darkness are all just driving around in Ferraris – sweet. The track is released on the same day as the album, June 1st via Kobalt Label Services.. “Open Fire” can be heard below.

Last Of Our Kind is the first album to feature new drummer Emily Dolan Davies. She replaces original drummer Ed Graham who departed in mysterious circumstances. Having been drumming since 1999, Emily has played with everybody from the likes of Bono, Bryan Ferry and Tricky. Now she has shown herself to be equal to the ultimate music challenge.

Emily's ability is face-shatteringly evident in “Barbarian” – described by vocalist Justin Hawkins as having “not one but two dramatic monologues, a guitar solo that has been declared 'irresponsible', a riff that weakens lady-knees and a chorus that makes grown men shit directly into their pants." Justin goes on to point out that "The lyrics describe the Viking invasion of East Anglia which culminated in the decapitation of Edmund the Martyr. So yeah, classic Darkness.”

Last Of Our Kind is the meaty and impassioned follow-up to 2012’s Hot Cakes, which saw the band reunited having enjoyed a well-publicized and well-deserved hiatus. As distinguished guests of Def Leppard, The Darkness destroyed Download Festival in 2011, then waved goodbye to their loved ones and toured planet Earth for over 18 months. They rounded off 2013 with a celebratory tour marking the 10th Anniversary of their legendary number one debut album. Permission To Land featured the classics “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”, “Love Is Only A Feeling”, “Love On The Rocks With No Ice” and “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing”; it was the fastest selling debut album by a British band in America since that of The Spice Girls.

Last Of Our Kind will be released on limited edition colour vinyl, CD and downloadable computer files.

Last Of Our Kind tracklisting:

“Barbarian”
“Open Fire”
“Last Of Our Kind”
“Roaring Waters”
“Wheels Of The Machine”
“Mighty Wings”
“Mudslide”
“Sarah O’Sarah”
“Hammer & Tongs”
“Conquerors”

“Open Fire”:

“Barbarian” video: