'One Way Ticket To Hell… And Back' sees The Darkness at their most ambitious and imaginative, encompassing vast orchestras, Mellotrons, Moogs, sitars, flugelhorns, saxophones, bagpipes, Freddie's grand piano, walloping drums, monumental walls of guitars and a performance by the world’s greatest pan-pipe player recorded up a mountain in Peru. And all this without ever sacrificing the hook-heavy choruses and thunderous riffs that saw the band stride into the hearts of the world in the first place.
Likewise, the vocal performances are immense, incredible even. With Justin’s inimitable trademark hard rock histrionics and lyrical mix of honesty and humour, touching on broken hearts and betrayal, regret, virility and even Scottish folklore, but, more than anything, The Darkness’ favourite subject, love triumphant. It’s a massive record, with the album’s opener, title track and first single, “One Way Ticket” especially setting the tone of the whole proceedings.