The self-proclaimed “best live band on the planet” (if you’ve caught one of their shows, you already know).
The Hives are renowned for their extravagantly immodest frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist’s hilarious banter, killer chant-along choruses, riffs for days, matchless sticksmanship and matching black-and-white stage outfits.
From the millisecond Enough Is Enough swaggers in, resplendent with Chris Dangerous’ pummelling beat, we’re nodding along with glee. Then Bad Call stomps in, pointing an accusatory finger at those among us who are prone to making poor choices.
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Paint A Picture features show-offy mid-song tempo changes, its ritenuto choruses bringing The Living End’s Uncle Harry to mind. True to its title, O.C.D.O.D revels in Pelle’s unhinged vocal performance and instrumentation that conjures a red cordial-fuelled toddler on a rampage.
Amidst wailing sirens, The Hives supply caveman-like “hoo-ha!”s during the riotous Legalize Living. “Do you like rock music? You do now!” Almqvist states at Roll Out The Red Carpet’s conclusion.
They’ve been rocking out for 30 years now, having formed in their early teens, which makes The Hives one of the early-2000s garage-rock revival’s most enduring bands.
When bassist Dr. Matt Destruction left The Hives due to health reasons in 2013, The Johan and Only stepped in. But the other four members are all OGs. And it’s fair to say the debonair Swedes found their sound and stuck to it, from album number two (2000’s Veni Vidi Vicious) onwards.
A time capsule explaining rock ’n’ roll to future generations simply must contain The Hives. All together now, “The Hives Forever! Forever The Hives!”
LABEL: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM
RELEASE: OUT NOW
