The Band
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band formed in 1993.
Band Members
- Pelle Almqvist – vocals
- Niklas Almqvist – guitar
- Vigilante Carlstroem – guitar
- The Johan and Only – bass guitar
- Chris Dangerous – drums
The Album
The Hives Forever Forever the Hives is the seventh studio album by The Hives, released on August 29, 2025.
Mike D from the Beastie Boys was one of the producers on this album. The Beastie Boys are one of The Hives’ influences, along with AC/DC.
The Songs
1. (Introduction). It’s an intro, just like its name, yet it’s like the opening of a horror movie.
2. Enough Is Enough. Garage rock, punk at its finest. Raw energy from the first second. I love their unpolished sound. It’s one of the singles on this album. It contains a political critique that basically says f*** both sides.
3. Hooray Hooray Hooray. Rocker song. About someone who was born into a wealthy family, so their life isn’t as hard, but then they lose it all.
4. Bad Call. I love the main guitar riff; it’s dirty rock, like an AC/DC track. A simple riff, yet it’s hard AF. The cowbell also makes its presence here.
5. Paint a Picture. Very classic punk rock, good guitar solo. Another single.
6. O.C.D.O.D. It started super fast-paced, solid punk rock, unpolished, raw garage sound, and even some guitar out-of-tune screeching sounds.
7. Legalize Living. Bass is predominant here, and drumming, as well. It has a 60s rock style, especially the chorus, which is kind of psychedelic. It was a single too, and it is my favorite song on this album.
Talks about how governments are slowly making living itself illegal.
8. (Interlude). Instrumental. It gives me the impression of a Western movie soundtrack or Tarantino’s.
9. Roll Out the Red Carpet. Another great rock song, with a retro feel.
10. Born a Rebel. Funny guitar riff. It reminded me a bit of Abracadabra, the Steve Miller Band’s song.
11. They Can’t Hear the Music. Another good punk rock song. I like the way they ended this; instead of fading it out or finishing it straight, the melody was slowing down until it ended.
12. Path of Most Resistance. A track about non-conformity.
13. The Hives Forever Forever the Hives. The last track, also a single. It’s a celebratory song.
Final Thoughts
I’m happy that The Hives didn’t take that long after their previous work, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons (2023), to make another album.
There’s no rest in this record, pure energy, that’s what I love about The Hives, they make no compromise, just loud chaos.
P.S.: You can read my review of their previous record here: https://metalbere.com/the-boys-are-back-the-hives-the-death-of-randy-fitzsimmons-album-review/
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🎵 Album mentioned in this review:
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Tracklist
- (Introduction)
- Enough Is Enough
- Hooray Hooray Hooray
- Bad Call
- Paint a Picture
- O.C.D.O.D.
- Legalize Living
- (Interlude)
- Roll Out the Red Carpet
- Born a Rebel
- They Can’t Hear the Music
- Path of Most Resistance
- The Hives Forever Forever the Hives