7/10

As one of the original names that brought forward the indie-rock explosion of the early 2000s, The Hives have always maintained this iconic quality on the scene. While their number of hit records were largely concentrated in those initial years, their reputation as a live act kept them afloat as one of the best in the world, keeping them extremely busy while their material became less and less frequent. But now after eleven years without anything new to shout about, they return with their long-awaited sixth studio album 'The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons', a record that shows they haven't lost their edge yet.

Throughout their tenure, the sound of The Hives has always been about unbridled energy and raucous riffs, something that they haven't forgotten about for 'The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons'. While it may not have that same rambunctious nature they have shown on previous outings, this new effort shows that they are still brimming with fresh and exciting ideas. Not really breaking away from their core sound, they return in their middle-age with a wonderful fun and enjoyable romp here.

Fans of the band will no doubt be delighted that the drought for new music is over, but even the casual crowd will probably find something to rock out to on this one. 'The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons' is the beginning of a renewed outfit at its centre, something that we can easily see them building upon in the years ahead as well.