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