Undisputed icons of rock and roll The Hives are back, channelling the electrifying energy of the group’s greatest hits with their first new album in over 10 years. Following a period of semi-hiatus and the departure of original bassist Dr. Matt Destruction, the Swedish punk outfit has returned with their first album since 2012’s Lex Hives. The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons is the first studio record to feature The Johan And Only on bass and, most excitedly, is among their greatest album yet, making their return a triumphant affair.
Their colossal new album, “The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons“, reignites the band’s lore in arresting fashion, exploring the disappearance of the band’s mysterious sixth member Randy Fitzsimmons. Having gone missing some time ago, the band are without their best man, and things are not well in the manor. Maybe, just maybe, the release of new music will get Randy’s attention and bring him back from the void…
Opening with the lead single, “Bogus Operandi”, a riff heavy rocker driven by a relentless pulse and accented by a repeated backing vocal that sounds like it could have been sampled from an early Queen record. Very few things actually change between verse, chorus, and bridge in “Bogus Operandi”, making the shifts, as slight and subtle as they are, all the more noticeable. There is a raw power and an overall catchiness in the riff and the lead vocals that carry the song despite the minimalism behind it all. The following track, “Trapdoor Solution”, lasting just three seconds over a minute, feels like a complete throwback to the likes of Veni Vidi Vicious, a rare moment for The Hives in 2023, but refreshing none the less, no matter how fleeting it may seem.
Without a weak moment on the album, The Hives channel a collection of classic punk bands
The Fat Angel Sings 
This record had no right being this good. I’ve been playing it loads