The Hives are at home in Fagersta, Sweden, writing songs for their third record.

"It's a bit stiffer than the last album," says singer Pelle Almqvist of the new material. "Kind of like Devo crossed with Motown."

The garage-punk band hopes to begin recording the follow-up to its 2000 breakthrough, Veni Vidi Vicious, later this spring. "The actual recording is pretty simple," says Almqvist. "Most of the songs are two to three minutes, and it takes two to three minutes to record them. Even if it's a hundred songs, it only takes a few weeks."

JENNY ELISCU
(April 2, 2003)