Motorheart

Motorheart is the seventh studio album by the British hard rock band The Darkness. It was released on 19 November 2021 through Cooking Vinyl.^[1]

Motorheart
Studio album by The Darkness
Released	19 November 2021 (2021-11-19)
Studio	Hawkland Studios, Sussex
Genre	Glam rock rock
Length	35:21
Label	Canary Dwarf Cooking Vinyl
Producer	Dan Hawkins Ian Holland Andy Shillito
The Darkness chronology
Easter Is Cancelled (2019) Motorheart (2021)

Background

On 4 June 2021, the band announced they were set to release the new album Motorheart in October. The album was eventually released on 19 November 2021. The album's cover was also unveiled in the announcement. The first single, "Motorheart", was released in August 2021. Along with the album release, the band announced an extensive list of UK tour dates to take place throughout November and December in support of the release of the album.^[2][3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	70/100^[4]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[5]
Classic Rock	^[6]
Exclaim!	8/10^[7]
Kerrang!	^[8]
PopMatters	8/10^[9]

The album received generally favourable reception,^[10] with a score of 70 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic from five critics' reviews.^[4]

Track listing

1. "Welcome Tae Glasgae" – 2:49
2. "It's Love, Jim" – 3:23
3. "Motorheart" – 4:59
4. "The Power and the Glory of Love" – 3:58
5. "Jussy's Girl" – 4:09
6. "Sticky Situations" – 4:18
7. "Nobody Can See Me Cry" – 3:16
8. "Eastbound" – 3:36
9. "Speed of the Nite Time" – 4:52

Deluxe edition bonus tracks

10. "You Don't Have to Be Crazy About Me... But It Helps" – 3:33
11. "It's a Love Thang (You Wouldn't Understand)" – 3:18
12. "So Long" – 3:08

Japanese edition bonus track

13. "The Age of Darkness" – 4:56

Personnel

The Darkness Justin Hawkins – vocals, lead guitar, synthesisers Dan Hawkins – guitar, backing vocals Frankie Poullain – bass, backing vocals Rufus Tiger Taylor – drums, backing vocals Additional personnel Diane Birch – synthesisers, keyboards and backing vocals on "Speed of the Nite Time" Olga Hübner – strings and string arrangements on "Sticky Situations" Ralf Hübner – strings on "Sticky Situations" Mimi Norfolk – backing vocals on "Jussy's Girl"

Production Dan Hawkins – producer, engineer, mixing Ian Holland – additional production and engineering Andy Shillito – additional production and engineering Chiara Mazzoni – artwork Simon Emmett – band photo Luke Insect – design

Charts

Chart performance for Motorheart

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[11]	96
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[12]	15
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[13]	99
UK Albums (OCC)^[14]	16
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)^[15]	1

References

1. "Album review: The Darkness – Motorheart". Kerrang!. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
2. Kielty, Martin (4 June 2021). "Darkness Announce New Album 'Motorheart'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
3. "The Darkness Announce 2022 North American Motorheart Tour". The Darkness. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
4. "Metacritic – Critic Reviews – The Darkness: Motorheart". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
5. Yeung, Neil Z. "The Darkness – Motorheart". AllMusic.
6. Johnston, Emma (19 November 2021). "The Darkness: still profoundly silly, still exactly what we need". Classic Rock. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
7. Pearson, Luke (16 November 2021). "The Darkness Rev Up Their Humorous Rock on Motorheart". Exclaim!. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
8. Beebee, Steve (15 November 2021). "The Darkness – Motorheart". Kerrang!. p. 55.
9. Rushbury, Ian (7 December 2021). "The Darkness Blow a Raspberry at Covid with Motorheart". PopMatters. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
10. Gallucci, Michael. "The Darkness, Motorheart: Album Review". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
11. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 29 November 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1656. Australian Recording Industry Association. 29 November 2021. p. 6.
12. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
13. "Swisscharts.com – The Darkness – Motorheart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
15. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2022.