The Hives must be one of the most self-assured bands around – but not without good reason. Ever exuberant, all their tunes are short and sweet, speedy and sharp – just the way that rock’n’roll is meant to be.
These Swedish garage punks first came to public attention in the early 2000s and were soon lumped in with the garage rock revival of the time. Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist and his energetic gang of Vikings, however, have far outlived any of the competition by continuing to plough their particular furrow and steadfastly refusing to experiment or tinker with their sound. Mind you, it worked for the likes of the Ramones and the Dead Kennedys. So, why not?
Hence, anyone looking for power ballads or acoustic interludes should quietly move along. The Hives Forever, Forever The Hives is lively, adrenalin powered garage punk that has no wish to be clever or fashionable but nevertheless steers clear of daft cliché. From the lively blast of untamed energy that is “Enough is Enough”, to the mosh pit-friendly lunacy of “OCDOD” and the anthemic, football terrace chanted chorus of the title track, the Hives’ latest album is a glorious shot in the arm – and pretends to be nothing else. But then, there are certainly moments when this is exactly what your soul craves in these difficult times, and it isn’t an exaggeration to say that during the mental health crisis that seems to cast its shadow over large swathes of society, this stuff should be available on prescription from the NHS.
To be honest, the live arena is really the best place to soak up the full Hives experience. However, until they turn up to play in your part of the world, The Hives Forever, Forever The Hives will be more than enough to satisfy any cravings that anyone might possibly have for their fiery but melodic rock’n’roll.
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