Veni Vidi Vicious - The Hives
Veni Vidi Vicious Image
  • Summary: One of the first Next Big Things of 2002, Sweden's The Hives follow last year's media darlings The Strokes and The White Stripes in bringing the rock back to alternative rock. The only catch is that the band has been around for over a decade, with this particular album actually dating back to 2000, when it gained a limited U.S. release on a tiny Epitaph imprint. However, the Swedes were able to benefit from the rush to capitalize on the neo-garage/punk-rock movement by scoring a major label deal in early 2002 and a rerelease of this, their second full-length. (They've got The Strokes beat on length, though, managing to release an even shorter album, at just 27 minutes.) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. The Hives explode where a hundred other punk bands are proud to rock.
  2. Veni Vidi Vicious literally explodes with frenetic guitar jangle and audacious hooks.
  3. Plenty of fuzzed, struttin', propulsive guitar work on this disc to assault your ears.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. AsiaZ
    10
    Despite being incredibly short and not exactly versatile, Veni Vidi Vicious is a powerhouse of an album that will stay with listeners for years to come. "Die Alright" is possibly the best punk rock song to hit the airwaves in the past five years. One can only imagine what lies in this band's future. Bravo. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. AlexJ
    10
    The Hives are possibly the greatest band playing right now. I can't say that they are better than old school greats such as The Ramones and The Sex Pistols, but I can say that they are at least equal. The pure energy of this record is amazing. Howlin' Pelle Almqvist's screaming is just plain awesome. Incredible.... Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Albertom
    10
    Simple: Best garage album of the decade.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 21 User Reviews

Recommended Products

    • Release Date: Nov 13, 2007
    The Black And White Album Image
    • Release Date: Jul 20, 2004
    Tyrannosaurus Hives Image
  1. Up The Bracket - The Libertines

    • Release Date: Mar 18, 2003
    Up The Bracket Image
  1. Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition] - Smashing Pumpkins
    Metascore: 96
  2. The SMiLE Sessions - The Beach Boys
    Metascore: 96
  3. Metascore: 95
  4. Metascore: 93
  5. Some Girls [Deluxe Edition] - The Rolling Stones
    Metascore: 93
  6. Metascore: 92
  7. Unto the Locust - Machine Head
    Metascore: 91
  8. Metascore: 90
  9. Rio [Live] - Keith Jarrett
    Metascore: 90
  10. Bitch Magnet - Bitch Magnet
    Metascore: 90
  11. Metascore: 90
  12. Metascore: 89
  13. Metascore: 89
  14. Bad as Me - Tom Waits
    Metascore: 88
  15. The Singles - Goldfrapp
    Metascore: 88
  16. Undun - The Roots
    Metascore: 88
  17. The Wonder Years - 9th Wonder
    Metascore: 87