The Hives – The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons review

The Hives are the ultimate throwback band, recalling a showmanship and hubris which died in rock towards the end of the 20th century, drowned in better therapy and the crush of self awareness. Sometimes it’s just worthwhile being in their spectacularly retro orbit though, if just for a few minutes.

Here’s singer Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist on the mindset they had leading up the release of the Swedes first new album in eleven years: “There’s no maturity or anything like that bullshit, because who the fuck wants mature rock’n’roll? That’s always where people go wrong, I feel. ‘It’s like rock’n’roll but adult,’ nobody wants that! That’s literally taking the good shit out of it.”

The quintet’s what-it-says-on-the-tin approach to making music will be seen as anachronistic by some, but there’s no denying The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons‘ crackling energy, embodied on the sixty four second burst of Trapdoor Solution and opener Bogus Operandi’s juggernaut riffs. But whilst they’ve consciously avoided evolution in most senses, Stick Up’s brass and What Did I Ever Do to You’s twisted synths are neat touches that your average dinosaur would be incapable of.

The Hives are stuck in a rut of their own choosing, but these self identified man adolescents are plainly still having as much fun now as they ever have. The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons is short, sharp and occasionally stupid, but who wants to grow up – and who wants to live forever?

You can read a full review here.