The Darkness' bassist Frankie Poullain thinks their new LP 'Last of Our Kind' is their ''heaviest'' and ''best'' record.

The 48-year-old rocker admitted the album has ''surpassed'' their other albums in his eyes because there is so much energy and emotion in the music.

He said: ''The new album came out two weeks ago and apart from 'Permission To Land', it's surpassed that, It's our best record. It's a different thing it's very emotive. Sonically it is our heaviest album and probably most emotional. There is sadness in there and there is silliness as well.''

The star was speaking at Download Festival where they surprised guests on Sunday (14.06.15) by performing on The Maverick Stage, with Frankie saying the tented venue was ''bulging'', much to their delight.

The set included classics such as 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love', 'Growing On Me' and new track 'Open Fire', with the band - also featuring Justin and Dan Hawkins and Rufus Tiger Taylor - wowing the crowds with their outfits and staging.

Speaking to Mike James of 'The Mike James Rock Show', he added: ''Entering from the crowd, we've always wanted to do that. We had a Viking with shields waiting. Justin had a very 1970s-esque electric blue satin suit with very high-waisted trousers with flares as well.''