Swedish punk export The Hives, who have stormed the British singles chart this year, are spreading their infectious thrashy sound to the United States, their label, Burningheart Records, said Friday.
Along with retro-punk contemporaries The Strokes and the White Stripes, the Swedish rebels have swept onto the British alternative scene this spring with their apoplectic stage show and shiny white dancing shoes.
“An offer came from Warner Brothers and Sire, which we’ve accepted,” Mudda of Burningheart told Reuters. “It’s a distribution, promotion and marketing agreement and they’ll start touring the States in May.”
The Hives emerged from the small industrial town of Faersta in 1993, blasting out short raucous guitar numbers reminiscent of The Ramones.
The 1997 album “Barely Legal” won widespread acclaim, as did the 2000 album “Veni Vidi Viscious,” but it was not until the two were combined on the album “Your New Favorite Band” this year that they really nailed down the UK market.
“‘Your New Favorite Band’ has nearly gone platinum in the UK,” said Mudda.
The Hives will perform five sets in the UK and Ireland in May, he added, all of which are sold out.
