So what happened to Rock and Roll in the past few years? It looks like a group of unlikely Swedes dug up the corpse, shot it full of amphetamines and sent 10,000 volts surging through its lifeless body to create a monster of a sound. And just who is responsible for this feat of miracle? Who else but The Hives. The result – Veni Vidi Vicious.
Over the past few years The Hives have become underground rock heroes and (especially in Europe) critics’ darlings. Thanks to the track “Hate to Say I Told You So,” the resolute feel good hit of this summer, The Hives have been launched onto the U.S. popular music scene.
Commonly lumped with groups such as The Vines and The Strokes by the Carson Daly generation, The Hives are now a driving force in a new wave of Rock sounds. While this categorization is appropriate when placed next to vomit-inducing bands such as Puddle of Mud or Nickelback, Sweden’s finest are fundamentally different from other garage rock bands. The Hives are smarter than The Strokes, louder than the White Stripes, and just better than The Vines.
This is the kind of band that genuinely wants to be your best friend, but still plans to get busy with your girl when you’re puking in the bathroom.
Armed with sharp, loud guitar riffs, thunderous bass playing, tight-as-hell drums, gang vocals, and a front man whose Jagger swagger will make you think it’s 1964 (on steroids and lots of gin and tonics, no less), The Hives bring back the past without being clich or patronizing by mixing Sixties garage rock mania like The Sonics and The Creation with the raw aggression of late Seventies punk, such as The Sex Pistols and The Ramones.
With almost every song barely reaching three minutes, Veni Vidi Vicious is a rush of an album that is over before you’re ready for it to be. The songs are fast, loud and out of control. While never wasting your time with too many chords, guitar solos, or superfluous lyrics, this album proves to be one that you’ll keep going back to over and over.
A word of caution though, do not listen to this album while driving. You will get a speeding ticket.
With the Hives signing with Warner Brothers here in the States and a Warner affiliate in U.K. for a rumored sum of Ï7.5 million (that’s about $10 million, folks), like it or not, it looks like The Hives are going to be around for awhile.
If you’re already a fan of The Hives, you might want to check out The Mooney Suzuki, The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs (hooray! Girls with guitars), The Stooges, The Bitter Pills (from Knoxville), and the Nuggets boxed sets.

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