THE HIVES release second single off ‘THE DEATH OF RANDY FITZSIMMONS’

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

The Hives release single “Countdown to Shutdown,” the second off their highly anticipated album The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons, which arrives August 11 via world-leading music distributor FUGA. “Countdown To Shutdown” is a fiery track with menacing guitar riffs and electric vocals from frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist. It follows “good old-fashioned rock stomper” (Vulture) “Bogus Operandi,” which earned widespread critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, The Needle Drop, SPIN, Loudwire, Stereogum and more. The band performed both songs live via a special for Howard Stern’s Sirius XM channel last week.

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE THE BAND’S FIRST LP IN OVER 10 YEARS HERE

The new single’s release is accompanied by a raucous video directed by SNASK (Viagra Boys), where The Hives peer in from outside the floor-to-ceiling glass doors of a stifling corporate office. As the suited-up executives perform the track, the band bursts in and hijacks the show, taking complete, explosive control.

Of the track, Howlin’ Pelle says, “The countdown to the financial collapse? The countdown to the weekend bender you’ve been waiting for? The countdown to your favourite sports competition? The Hives have you covered with Countdown To Shutdown. A versatile banger for all your summer rock needs. Approximately 37% more effective than the closest competitor and sure to help your Q2 and Q3 results. Buy now and watch the stock rise!”

Last month, the band arrived Stateside for a series of NYC and LA underplays that sold out in less than 60 seconds, as well as a set at Just Like Heaven festival. The shows earned effusive praise with Rolling Stone hailing the sets as “Incredible, frenetic,” Consequence proclaiming, “Chances are that if you have ever been to a Hives’ show, it was one of the best concerts you have ever attended” and BrooklynVegan pondering, “The Hives are still the best…Is there such a thing as a bad Hives show?” In the fall, they will return to North America for a 12-date tour that completely SOLD OUT in less than 30 minutes. The band is currently on a UK/European tour supporting Arctic Monkeys, which will be followed by a string of headline European dates.

The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons will be available digitally, on CD, and on vinyl. A special limited edition glow in the dark gatefold vinyl with poster will be available exclusively via the band’s own webstore.

The Hives are Chris Dangerous, Vigilante Carlstroem, Nicholaus Arson, Howlin’ Pelle, and The Johan And Only.

​​In the twenty-five years since The Hives exploded around the world, they have sold out stadiums and shared stages with everyone from AC/DC to The Rolling Stones. SPIN calls The Hives “the best live band on the planet” and Howlin’ Pelle “the greatest frontman in rock,” and the BBC dubbed the band “a force of nature.” Rolling Stone named Veni Vidi Vicious one of the Top 100 Albums of the decade and “Hate To Say I Told You So” earned a spot on Pitchfork’s Top 500 Songs of the 2000’s. They have sold millions of albums world-wide with multiple RIAA Gold-certifications. In the time since Lex Hives, the band has released 2019’s double A-side “I’m Alive”/“Good Samaritan” as well as a live album via Third Man Records, and embarked on a series of global tours. The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons marks a true renaissance.

The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons tracklist:
1. Bogus Operandi
2. Trapdoor Solution
3. Countdown To Shutdown
4. Rigor Mortis Radio
5. Stick Up
6. Smoke & Mirrors
7. Crash Into The Weekend
8. Two Kinds Of Trouble
9. The Way The Story Goes
10. The Bomb
11. What Did I Ever Do To You?
12. Step Out Of The Way

The Hives 2023 Tour Dates:

Jun 13 – LONDON, UK @ The Garage

Jun 14 – SOUTHAMPTON, UK @ The Ageas Bowl *

Jun 16 – LONDON, UK @ Emirates Stadium *

Jun 17 – LONDON, UK @ Emirates Stadium *

Jun 18 – LONDON, UK @ Emirates Stadium *

Jun 20 – DUBLIN, IE @ Marlay Park *

Jun 22 – NOTTINGHAM, UK @ Rescue Room w/ Rough Trade SOLD OUT

Jun 23 – PILTON, UK @ Glastonbury Festival

Jun 25 – GLASGOW, UK @ Bellahousten Park *

Jul 15 – MILANO, IT @ Ippodromo Del Galoppo Di San Siro

Jul 16 – ROMA, IT @ Ippodromo Capannelle *

Jul 18 – ATHENS, GR @ Water Square *

Jul 19 – ATHENS, GR @ Plateia Nerou *

Aug 4 – GÖTEBORG, SE @ Banana Pier

Aug 5 – MALMÖ, SE @ Mölleplatsen

Aug 18 – RÄTTVIK, SE @ Dalhalla

Aug 19 – RÄTTVIK, SE @ Dalhalla

Aug 25 – VÅNGEN, NO @ Vangen Festivalen

Aug 26 – TØNSBERG, NORWAY @ Foynhagen

Sept 2 – LISBON, PT @ Kalorama Festival

Oct 30 – BROOKLYN, NY @ Brooklyn Steel SOLD OUT

Oct 31 – WASHINGTON, DC @ Union Stage SOLD OUT

Nov 1 – CAMBRIDGE, MA @ The Sinclaire SOLD OUT

Nov 3 – TORONTO, ON @ Lee’s Palace SOLD OUT

Nov 4 – DETROIT, MI @ El Club SOLD OUT

Nov 5 – CHICAGO, IL @ Bottom Lounge SOLD OUT

Nov 8 – SEATTLE, WA @ Neumos SOLD OUT

Nov 9 – VANCOUVER, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre SOLD OUT

Nov 10 – PORTLAND, OR @ Mississippi Studios SOLD OUT

Nov 12 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club SOLD OUT

Nov 13 – SOLANA BEACH, CA @ Belly Up SOLD OUT

Nov 14 – LOS ANGELES, CA @ Belasco Theater SOLD OUT

* w/ Arctic Monkeys

The Hives on the web
Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify | Apple | Tidal

About The Rockpit 12851 Articles
The Rockpit is an online media publication reporting and promoting rock, metal and blues music from Australia and around the world.