The Darkness have released the single “I Hate Myself” from their upcoming album Dreams on Toast, out March 28th.
The song title is a bit misleading, as the tune is positively upbeat — a “joyous, raucous celebration of self-loathing” as singer Justin Hawkins described it — full of punk-rock power chords and big hooks. Hawkins’ signature falsetto is in full flight during the chorus.
“I think without regrets we stand to learn less from our experiences — to deny them and compartmentalize them is to deny ourselves an opportunity to grow,” the singer said [via a press release]. “So, it’s time for us to sing this uplifting ode to remorse in the hope that we don’t make the same mistakes again and history does not repeat itself.”
The track follows the album’s lead single “The Longest Kiss,” another tight pop-rock nugget that sees The Darkness tapping into the glam rock and power pop of the ’70s — “the elite songs, the life-changing music of the ages” as Hawkins said upon the initial announcement of Dreams on Toast.
The Darkness — whose staple song “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” vaulted to No. 1 on the iTunes rock chart this year thanks to Taylor Swift — will be supporting the release of the new album with a March 2025 UK tour with Britpop vets Ash (get tickets here). The trek is highlighted by a finale at OVO Arena Wembley on March 29th in London.
Stream the visualizer for “I Hate Myself” below.