IT may no longer be as arresting as when The Hives first burst on to the scene but there are still few sounds that quite match Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist’s voice amid fast-paced garage rock.
He wouldn’t win X Factor but give him punky guitar-laden songs to shout through and before long the listener turns it up and shouts along too. It’s no different with Lex Hives, the Swedish five-piece’s latest LP – a self-funded and self-produced effort, some four-and-a-half years since their last release, the excellent Black And White Album (not counting a 2010 covers EP).
Come On (“come” and “on” being the only words sung, repeatedly) bristles brilliantly over a short sharp 68 seconds to get the listener on side from the off, and, while no track is as triumphantly catchy as some previous singles, this is still a good-time half-hour romp. Barring some guitar licks (I Want More) and a splendid bluesy interlude (Without The Money), they don’t drift far from their winning high-energy formula.
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