Pinewood Smile

The Darkness have never sounded more dated, or more like unsuccessful comedy rock, than on their depressing new album.

The fifth full-length release and the first Darkness outing for Cooking Vinyl, Pinewood Smile is also the inaugural studio jaunt for new drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor (son of Queen's Roger Taylor), who took over for Emily Dolan Davies after the release of 2015's excellent Last of Our Kind.

Putting it mildly, The Darkness are not like other bands. Should their pantomime act and output be filed under the ‘novelty’ label? Or are

The Darkness - Pinewood Smile review: It'll take more than a smile to convince fans with this one.