Silver Spoons And Broken Bones - Stone Gods

For those who loved the Darkness, and for those who humoured their tongue in cheek glam, this album unanimously proves that there was indeed a lot of talent behind Justin Hawkins and his screeching falsetto. Richie Edwards, former Darkness bassist, heads this new project, formed by guitarist Dan Hawkins.

Richie is an interesting choice for front man, because as the Darkness's bassist he seemed to be a quick fix after former bassist Poullain left, and didn't seem to have the same flair as the brothers. Yet here he is, and a good choice he's turned out to be. His rough energetic vocalsgo well with Dan Hawkins' solid AC/DC-esque riffs, and his gravelly tones also work with the bands more poignant songs, such as the aacoustic"Magdalen Street.

The song that stand out for me is the first track, and title track of the first EP, "Burn the Witch." A song that incorporates an aggressive riff with often humeruslyrics, and an almost Metallica-esque finale. The chorus is a simple yet effective statement - "We're gonna burn the witch!" This song is defiantly a good benchmark for things to come.
"Don't Drink the Water" is another great rocker, and a parody of the British tourists, and shows that Dan Hawkins hasn't lost his comedic skill with lyrics that he used so well in The Darkness.

A very nice man pointing out the exits
A pretty young girl handing out the wotsits
Saved like a fucker for my summer holiday
And I can't wait to get away

For the début album of a band formally 3/4 of The Darkness, this, I believe, is a great achievement, and shows, that with Justin gone, these guys can seriously rock. With influences of AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Thunder and a twist of metal, this album will sate the thirst of anyone looking for modern rock bands, easily comparable with Airbourne and The Answer, the other great rock bands of this decade. They already have a regular spot at the Download Festival.

The Darkness may have come to a sticky end, but without the media hype and excessive lifestyle, the Stone Gods are sure to remain a mainstay of the rock genre, and maybe one day their hard work will pay off.