Hear ye, hear ye! Sweden’s garage rock royalty, The Hives, have just dropped a brand-new surprise album: The Hives Forever Forever The Hives. After making their grand comeback in 2023 with The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons, we thought we’d have to wait another decade before hearing new material. But only two years later, here they are again, crowns on their heads, ermine cloaks on their shoulders. The big question is: Is this new record worth your time?
We have to confess that the album announcement didn’t get us super hyped at first. The title felt a bit clunky, and the royal imagery was maybe a little too much, even for a band that’s been poking fun at their own oversized egos for decades.
The early singles didn’t reassure us either. Enough is Enough started strong but quickly fell flat, Legalize Living sounded uninspired, and Paint a Picture had already been wearing on us during live shows. Honestly, it felt like this might just be a collection of B-sides packaged for commercial reasons.
A theatrical start and nothing but bangers
Right from the opening track, The Hives set the tone with a chaotic instrumental that suddenly morphs into Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, shredded on guitar. Over the top? For Sure. But also very on-brand and pretty fun.
From there, things really kick in. Enough is Enough doesn’t change our minds, but Hooray Hooray Hooray explodes with heavy drums and crazy energy, the kind of track that reminds you why you fell in love with this band in the first place. Next comes Bad Call, repetitive to the extreme but ridiculously catchy, perfect for shouting along to at a gig.
Then, sadly, Paint a Picture drags things down again. You know that one song you loathe from a band you love? Yep, that’s the one for us. But the mood shifts immediately with the furious O.C.D.O.D., which had us bouncing around the living room like it was a festival pit.
And here’s the surprise: Legalize Living, which left us cold as a single, suddenly works beautifully in the context of the album. It feels like a dusty road trip down Route 66 at sunset, cops in the rearview mirror. Melancholic, melodic, and refreshing. We actually wished The Hives would explore this side of themselves more often.
Big riffs and surprises
After a short breather with an interlude, Roll Out The Carpet keeps the tempo alive and Born a Rebel delivers some of the album’s most unrestrained guitar work. An instant banger. Later, Path of Most Resistance stands out with a rare low-pitched vocal beautifully delivered from Pelle Almqvist, before he jumps right back into his usual register.
Finally, the record closes with The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, a tongue-in-cheek anthem built to make fans chant their allegiance. Simple, effective, and yes, it works.
Verdict: The Hives Forever, Forever The Hives is not perfect, but seriously fun
So, is this record worth a listen? While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons, this new record is still a blast. The Hives keep their trademark wild energy intact while sprinkling in some refreshing new touches.
A few quirks worth noting: Pelle’s signature “Yeahs” are replaced by a barrage of “Ooh Oohs”. Welcome to Pelle’s Ooh Ooh Era. On the downside, if the guitars are totally unleashed, the bass is practically nonexistent throughout, which is a shame.
Still, despite our initial doubts, we had a blast with almost every track. The Hives Forever Forever The Hives might not reinvent the wheel, but it proves once again that no band is more fun right now. This album totally deserves cake!
PS: Need some sugar? Check out the wonderful cakes we baked for The Hives: our Randy Fitzsimmons Funeral Wreath and our Xmas Biscuits.
