The Hives : The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons

Do you remember the early 2000s indie music explosion? New York had become the epicenter of a music movement once again, this time with indifferent, arty kids revamping everything from Joy Division to Television to The Cars. The Strokes, Jonathan Fire Eater, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Juan McClean, LCD Soundsystem, and Interpol were at that epicenter, but the reverberation of that quake brought in bands like The Killers, Kings of Leon, The White Stripes, and Sweden’s The Hives.

If you’ve read Lizzy Goodman’s Meet Me In The Bathroom, then you’re privy to that scene’s sometimes genius, sometimes hacky indulgences(like most scenes tend to dabble in) and which bands were genuine while others acted like the spoiled rich kids they were. The Hives were outliers, actually releasing their breakthrough album Veni Vidi Vicious in 2000, before the “scene” was actually a scene. And while embraced in New York they were an island unto themselves. Their albums were always tight, caffeinated shots of punked-up rock n roll cabaret.

Though not as heralded as band like The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Interpol, The Hives had staying power and consistency; even if they stuck to the same blueprint every album, which was breakneck speed, catchy riffs, and a ringleader in Howlin’ Pelle Alqvist. The band’s last album was 2012s Lex Hives. 11 years later the The Hives return with The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons, an album that never relents in its mission to get you moving.

Singer Pelle Alqvist said this about The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons, “Rock’n’roll can’t grow up, it is a perpetual teenager and this album feels exactly like that.” Truer words were never spoken as the fuzzy riff of opener “Bogus Operandi” comes roaring through the speakers. Like a petulant teen, this song comes on a like a bulldozer on Adderall. It’s a welcome sound, one made from guitars, amps, and dudes in thei 40s that can still do the thing. “Trapdoor Solution” comes revving on like a muscle car on it’s last ride, but impresses its entire one minute runtime.

What you hear is what you get. There’s no ballads or d-tuned chuggers here. It’s speed, grit and attitude, like the best punk has to offer. “Rigor Mortis Radio” oozes 70s Motor City petrol flames and begs for head bobs and finger snaps. “Smoke and Mirrors”, “Crash Into The Weekend”, and ‘The Bomb” pogo like a sugared-up kid in leather with energy to burn with still some to spare. “What Did I Ever Do To You” veers into John Spencer Blues Explosion territory.

While The Hives haven’t really veered too far from their core sound – the one they firmly established 23 years ago with Vini Vidi Vicious – they have remained consistent in their aim to make breathless, punk-inspired rock and roll. The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons keeps that spirit alive and well.