The Darkness album online

The new Darkness album, "One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back", has been made available by the band online to coincide with the release.

The record can be heard legally at the band's myspace site, and was intentionally leaked by the group this weekend.

Singer Justin Hawkins recently vowed to trace anyone who leaked the new record, going to the lengths of buying a promo of it on eBay and threatening to expose the seller.

However, in a statement on their official website, the band mark their return in typically extravagant terms, announcing: "Everything you've heard is true.

"The exhaustion, the fear, the pressure, paranoia and pan pipes, the breakdowns and break-ups, the sackings, sitar solos and endless studio sessions," the posting reads.

"Now - experience the rebirth and redemption of The Darkness", it concludes, directing fans to www.myspace.com/thedarkness.

The Darkness tour the UK next year. The dates are as follows:

February 2006

04 Dublin The Point
05 Belfast Odyssey Arena
07+08 London Alexandra Place
11 Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
12 Glasgow SECC
13 Newcastle Metro Radio News Arena
18 Manchester MEN Arena
19 Birmingham NEC
20 Nottingham Arena
21 Brighton Centre

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