The Hives - The Hives Forever Forever The Hives

Remarkably, The Hives have now existed for over 30 years, and during that time the Swedish rockers have never budged an inch from their mission: crafting razor-sharp, accessible garage punk that exudes fun, bouncy, classic rock energy. This seventh full-length, with its unwieldy title ‘The Hives Forever Forever The Hives’, is the band’s second in two years, and here their continued passion and songwriting élan is palpable. ‘Enough Is Enough’ features a particularly exhilarating vocal turn from frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, ‘O.C.D.O.D.’ has all the raw exuberance of early ‘80s hardcore, while ‘Born On A Rebel’ oozes every bit of the bravado and swagger its title suggests. ‘Legalize Living’ is a delight, an earnest ode to living life to the fullest: “See me ride into the sunset / See my banishing the sea / With explosions going off behind me”. It’s far from The Hives choosing to rip up their well-thumbed rulebook, but it’d take a cold, cold heart not to be energised by this latest collection of suitably raucous rock’n’roll bangers.