A blessing to those with working ears and a subscription to filthy streaming services, The Hives are here. Not long after the release of The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons and the group is back for more. Rightly so. Pelle Almqvist remains such an endearingly confident frontman that it is hard not to feel anything but joy upon hearing the group is back, looking to prove themselves as the best thing to happen to music since the making of the guitar. Credit to them, they fully believe this and carry the confidence, the likeable swagger, into their music. Part of this likeability is found on Enough is Enough, a song that hits all the notes expected of The Hives in their tongue-in-cheek style. There is no doubt they are firm believers in themselves, but they are also aware of what such a message means.
This fine blur is lost on other artists, those who truly believe themselves to be the best in business but are yet to prove it. Their garage rock fundamentals carry them further and further. What comfort there is in the recognisable sound, there are plentiful differences in the nuance and meaning of their music. The Hives have maintained a solid post-punk energy in their music, and the moving parts of their sound mean they can coast through on a recognisable sound with a new message. It is the best of both worlds, and it means everything for Enough is Enough. Punchy, shouty, and short efforts are what The Hives do best, and Enough is Enough is more of that great sound. A blanket message which can be applied to any portion of life, from the workload to the political climate. Enough is, indeed, enough. Primal Scream and Dexys Midnight Runners tried a song of the same name a few years ago, but their well-meaning protest song was a forgettable snooze.
What they lacked was the longevity of a frenetic energy, which The Hives has in bucket loads. Almqvist has a burning, continuing spontaneity which somehow has not dried up over the last two decades. His spirited continuation as a frontman with a wider read on the world, a disgust which informs the heavy pangs of instrumental flair, is fantastic. That punchiness, that hearty character which Almqvist holds still, is enough for returning fans of The Hives. What may hook a new listener is the frenetic energy held in its instrumental scope. Roaring guitars, hammering drums, all the expectations of garage rock revival-like sounds, amplified by a read on the world which hits out at a fatigue of hand-wringing losers.
Fence sitting is no place for a self-respecting person. Enough is Enough hits out at those too weak to take a stance, too scared of the consequences of speaking from their heart. That much is clear from Enough is Enough, a song which roars through in convincing fashion, a piece of work that pulls at the heart and demands it take a stance. The Hives often trade in simple messages with larger themes to back them, and this is no different to their best works. Enough is Enough calls for action, any movement is a positive step forward. Instrumental thrills and lyrical spills are The Hives’ bread and butter, and it is no surprise this latest single checks all the boxes of an intense and satisfying new song.
