One of the most hyped new bands around, The Darkness are destined to be one of rock's biggest names - if all is to be believed.

The opening track, Black Shuck, starts off somewhere in the 1980s (around Def Leppard's Photograph era) before sliding back into the 1970s with a style very reminiscent of Queen (a la Tie Your Mother Down). This is the birth of a camp heavy metal all over again which, in the Noughties, is a refreshing change. I Believe In A Thing Called Love is almost Spinal Tap with its falsetto vocals, and there are elements of Sweet and even the influential Frank Zappa. The Darkness's debut may not be all that original, but it is good, nonetheless.

Updated: 10:27 Thursday, July 10, 2003