It's an old adage that there are really only two types of music - they being the good or bad variety.

So it doesn't take Mozart (widely acknowledged to know a thing or two about music) to realise that The Darkness fall, or rather plunge, headfirst into the latter camp.

But wait, it's all a big joke isn't it? These longhaired rockers are knowing players on a stage of shallow actors.

They realised long ago that nobody should take rock or pop seriously so they're going to pout and pose and look hard and play shameless twaddle like a bad incarnation of Whitesnake.

And what entertainment it is - for about one second and if you approach it the way you approached Spinal Tap.

Unfortunately for The Darkness, Spinal Tap were funnier.

So what you're basically left with is shockingly lame and cliched hard rock from a bunch of unfunny jokers that you've just forked out over a tenner for.

Give it six months and you'll be able to buy the CD for under a fiver - in which case it is moving into the realm of slightly overpriced coffee coaster.

JS