Exciting yes but familiar? You bet.
The biggest sounding and dumbest of the 21st Century post-punk movement return with Tick Tick Boom, a big sounding, dumb explosion of power chords and noise. But hey, that's why we love them, right?
Anyone who is familiar with The Hives music (pretty much anyone who has heard any of their songs at least once) will be firmly footed on familiar ground with Tick Tick Boom. There are slight aspects of progression – multi-layered vocals and, if one strains their ears, a faint synth can be heard – but make no mistake, this sticks well within the blueprint of the music that The Hives have been generating for the past seven or so years.
Exhilarating it may be, but the familiarity of previous releases may just be enough to put some people off. But as it stands, note for note, this delivers. Just.