THE DARKNESS's New Drummer EMILY DOLAN DAVIES Has Already Left The Band

Drummer Emily Dolan Davies, who made her live debut with British rockers THE DARKNESS on March 6, has already left the band to pursue "new projects." The group says in a statement: "We part ways with fond farewells. Emily played a huge part in the recording of our new album 'Last Of Our Kind' and makes a final appearance in the video for our single 'Open Fire', which is coming to a screen near you soon… Good luck, Emily!"

Davies, who has previously worked with Bryan Ferry and Tricky, "revitalized" THE DARKNESS, according to singer Justin Hawkins. "She's a hard hitter," he previously told Classic Rock. "She's got the chops and the attitude that you need to be THE DARKNESS's drummer. She also makes us feel like dirty old men."

Regarding THE DARKNESS's split with founding member Ed Graham in late 2014, Hawkins said: "Ed has had some well-publicized health problems in the past. And for one reason or another, he wasn't capable of doing his job anymore. We're still friends with Ed. But now that we have Emily in the band, the worry is gone."

THE DARKNESS's fourth album, "Last Of Our Kind", will be released on June 1 in partnership with Kobalt Label Services. The CD was penned in Ireland and was produced by THE DARKNESS guitarist Dan Hawkins.

The follow-up to 2012's "Hot Cakes" was recorded at Leeders Farm Studio in Norfolk, owned by Dan Hawkins.

"The new album is brutal," Justin Hawkins told Classic Rock. "It's definitely stripped back — with the exception of some mandolins. But when you're doing medieval rock, you should have a mandolin on it. And while I wouldn't say that this is our 'Rainbow Rising', we're definitely exploring the myths of old. It's medieval rock, but it still sounds like THE DARKNESS. It's medi-urban, I suppose.…"

"Last of Our Kind" will be released on limited-edition color vinyl, compact disc and as a digital download.

"Last of Our Kind" track listing:

01. Barbarian
02. Open Fire
03. Last of Our Kind
04. Roaring Waters
05. Wheels of the Machine
06. Mighty Wings
07. Mudslide
08. Sarah O’Sarah
09. Hammer & Tongs
10. Conquerors

Justin Hawkins says that "Barbarian" contains "not one but two dramatic monologues, a guitar solo that has been declared 'irresponsible,' a riff that weakens lady knees and a chorus that makes grown men shit directly into their pants." Justin goes on to point out that "The lyrics describe the Viking invasion of East Anglia which culminated in the decapitation of Edmund the Martyr. So, yeah, classic DARKNESS."