Listen to The Darkness’ punk-inspired new single ‘I Hate Myself’ 

The Darkness have shared a new self-deprecating, punk-tinged single called ‘I Hate Myself’ – check it out below.

• READ MORE: In praise of The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins’ genius YouTube channel

Released today (December 10), the track comes is the latest to be shared from forthcoming album ‘Dreams On Toast’. The record – which will be their eighth studio LP and the follow-up to 2021’s ‘Motorheart’ – was announced back in September with the Queen-inspired lead single ‘The Longest Kiss’.

Now, in the second preview of the new LP, Justin Hawkins and co. have taken on a more explosive approach and paid homage to the punk and glam heyday.

Titled ‘I Hate Myself’, the track sees the frontman take on a tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating approach, as he explores the struggle of a relationship breaking down.

“There goes a girl I was incredibly cruel to / I thought that she was in my way / The girl I adore / She don’t wanna know me any more,” he sings in the adrenaline-filled opening verse, before exploding into the chorus: “I hate myself, I hate myself, I do / I hate myself so you don’t have to.”

Discussing the new single, Hawkins said: “At last, a joyous, raucous celebration of self-loathing. I think without regrets we stand to learn less from our experiences – to deny them and compartmentalise them is to deny ourselves an opportunity to grow.

“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.”

You can check out the track in full above, and fans attending their upcoming in-store performances this week can expect to hear it played live for some for the first time. The shows include both matinee and evening performances in London tonight (December 10), Nottingham (11) and Liverpool (12). Visit here for any remaining tickets.

As well as announcing the new album and lead single in September, The Darkness also unveiled news of a 2025 UK tour, marking their biggest headline shows in the UK in years.

Seventeen dates were confirmed for next spring, starting with an opening night at Regent’s Theatre in Ipswich on March 7. From there, shows are lined up at Oxford, Hull, Liverpool, York, Edinburgh, Manchester and more throughout the remainder of the month.

The tour wraps up on March 29, when Hawkins and Co. will play at the OVO Arena Wembley in London. Support comes from Ash, who first supported The Darkness on their legendary ‘Permission To Land Tour’ over 20 years ago.

Visit here for tickets, and pre-order the ‘Dreams On Toast’ album here ahead of its release in March 2025.

The Darkness’ 2025 UK tour dates are:

MARCH

7 – Ipswich, Regent’s Theatre

8 – Oxford, New Theatre

9 – Swansea, Arena

11 –Guildford, G Live

12 –Hull, Connexin Arena

14 – Liverpool, Guild Of Students

15 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall

17 – York, Barbican

18 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall

20 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall

21 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall

22 – Manchester, O2 Apollo

24 – Bristol, Beacon Theatre

25 – Portsmouth, Guildhall

27 – Leicester, De Montford Hall

28 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange

29 – London, OVO Arena Wembley

In other news about The Darkness, earlier this year the band’s hit track ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ shot to Number One after Taylor Swift was filmed enthusiastically singing it to boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Shortly after, Justin Hawkins shared his admiration for The Cure and the band’s new material, despite Robert Smith previously saying he isn’t a fan of The Darkness.