‘Roll Out The Red Carpet’ from The Hives' recent record, ‘The Hives Forever, Forever the Hives’, sums up the band's ethos in just two minutes of rock 'n' roll energy that will be rattling around your head like a pinball.
The track opens with sharp riffs and vocals from frontman Pelle Almqvist, leading with lines like, “I wanna welcome everyone to the good, better, best / With a pace that leaves in the dust all of them.” The band's pure confidence shines through here; having been together for over 25 years, they know what they’re doing. The Hives have kept the formula they helped to found in the 00s fresh with pure charisma and a talent for knowing a good hook.
Even the group vocals on the chorus of ‘Roll Out The Red Carpet’ feel straight out of the early 00s, with the energy of a group 20 years younger. The Hives bring more than enough entertainment, even as the track concludes with Pelle talking to the audience wryly.
‘Roll Out The Red Carpet’ proves The Hives still have it, over 25 years since they first exploded onto the scene.
Brett Herlingshaw
Image: Dean Bradshaw