It is very likely that very few have heard of the group My Darkest Days, although that is likely to change from Monday 21st June 2010 when the Toronto based group released their debut single in the US (with a Canadian release announced for 29th June 2010) the controversially titled Porn Star Dancing.
The song was co-written and produced by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback fame. Like with other fellow Canadian rockers Default, Kroeger has undertaken producing and co-writing duties for the boys, hopefully propelling them to the level of rock stardom enjoyed by Kroeger and his cohorts.
Biography
The group was founded by lead singer and guitarist Matt Walst. Born and raised in Norwood Ontario, Walst discovered a penchant for music from an early age since his older brother Brad plays bass guitar for the highly successful Canadian rock group Three Days Grace. The young Walst would often contribute material for his older brother’s group, as well as backing vocals and guitar sets when the band toured.
Matt however had ambitions to form his own group, recruiting his childhood friends Brendan McMilan for Bass Guitar Duties as well as backing vocals, and Doug Oliver as the band’s drummer. The trio performed at an array of venues throughout Canada, gradually becoming established as formidable rock act.
In 2009 through a mutual friend in Toronto they were introduced to guitarist Sal Costa. His punk rock style hair and dress as well his talent with the guitar impressed the trio who felt an instant connection upon their meeting and subsequently signed him as their fourth member. The band’s notoriety grew through further touring as well as opening for an assortment of well known groups including Three Days Grace, Theory of a Dead man, Papa Roach and Default.
Porn Star Dancing
This is without a doubt an impressive debut single with a provocative and risqué video that matches its lyrics. It has all the sound and feel of a post grunge alternative rock track but without any of the angst, featuring some truly magnificent electric guitar and a powerhouse vocal performance from Walst.
Despite the song’s obvious theme the lyrics are not as gratuitous or lewd as the title suggests with content that is no more explicit than Motley Crue and in fact may seem tame compared to most. Lines such as “She wraps her hands around that pole, she licks her lips and off we go” are raunchy rather than crude, with tongues stuck firmly in their cheeks.
Featuring on the track as guest vocals are the band’s mentor Chad Kroeger and rapper Ludacris, as well as the legendary Zakk Wylde whose searing solo guitar spot midway through adds an old school sound to a very modern day song. These featuring artists do add class and a seasoned presence to this debut but the Norwood boys command a vocal and musical charismatic presence through both the speakers and the screen.
Guilty Pleasure and Promising Future
All in all an impressive debut single from yet another talented quartet of Canadian rockers. Porn Star Dancing is simply a bit of fun for all, and although may be considered a guilty pleasure for the boys, feedback from various forums indicate that this is just as popular with the girls.
The video certainly seemed to be a fun filled venture for the band, seen amidst a sea of bikini clad young ladies pole dancing, draping themselves over the band as well as each other, and generally gyrating and hip swinging to the track.
The quality of this track, however, is the yardstick by which future releases and their forthcoming album scheduled for release on21st September 2010 is to be measured, which if equalled or excelled, will propel My Darkest Days onto the path for a very promising future.
Ramon Youseph - An English Graduate with Honours, Ramon lives and works in Bristol, a city in the South West of England, where he juggles a full time job ...
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