The Hives

The Hives
The Black and White Album
Interscope
While it was Veni Vidi Vicious that helped break The Hives into North America, it was the follow-up, Tyrannosaurus Hives, which led credence to the hype swirling around the band. While its eccentric stage presence lends an air of novelty to the proceedings, it’s the music that sets these Swedish lads apart and makes them a great example of a band that knows how to evolve and adapt to changing conditions, without getting stuck in a genre rut. The essence of earlier material is still evident (“Tick Tick Boom”), but the retro flourishes on tracks such as “Well All Right!” and “Puppet on a String” showcase a band that can still rock your face off.
Trevor Savory