The Darkness' LET THEM EAT CAKES World Tour Launches in US Tonight

As the multi-platinum British rock group The Darkness prepare to return to the U.S. for their headlining "Let Them Eat Cakes" world tour, their third album HOT CAKES is making its mark on Best of 2012 album lists at iTunes, Amazon and Google. iTunes named HOT CAKES the Best Rock Comeback album of 2012 (www.itunes.com/itunesbestof2012) while Google Play and Amazon featured it in their Best Albums of 2012: Google Play, Amazon. Released on Wind-Up records in late August, HOT CAKES has received wide critical praise.

In more online news, the group's dynamic frontman JUSTIN HAWKINS is the featured artist on Amoeba Records' "What's In Your Bag" today. Watch the clip as JUSTIN walks the aisles of Amoeba Records Los Angeles flagship and picks his favorite movies, TV shows album covers and more HERE.

The group--JUSTIN HAWKINS (vocals/guitars), DAN HAWKINS (guitars/backing vocals), FRANKIE POULLAIN (bass) and Ed Graham (drums)--will kick-off the U.S. tour January 10 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and wrap-up February 2 in Aspen, CO before heading to 15 countries Worldwide (see full routing below).

The group's potent and energetic live shows are epic and not to be missed. The "Let Them Eat Cakes" world tour marks the band's first headlining run since the release of HOT CAKES, out now on Wind-up in North America and PIAS in the rest of the world. HOT CAKES was produced by the band's JUSTIN and DAN HAWKINS with long-time collaborator Nick Brine and mixed by Bob Ezrin. The resulting 11-song cycle delivers epic rock anthems and infectious pop choruses. Listen to a sampling of HOT CAKES here.

For more about THE DARKNESS, go to www.theactualdarkness.com, or find them on Facebook and Twitter.