STACK #250 August 2025

MUSIC FEATURE

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After three albums with an indie label, London’s Wolf Alice sign a major deal for their ambitious new record. CLEARING HOUSE

The Clearing

by Wolf Alice is out Aug 22 via Universal

“I f Fleetwood Mac wrote an album today in North London, you’d get somewhere close to this run of effortlessly grand tracks.”

HOT PRODUCER

So declared the press release announcing Wolf Alice’s bold new album, The Clearing . The band showed their love of Fleetwood Mac

The Clearing was produced by America’s Greg Kurstin, who co-wrote Adele’s Hello , and worked on her 25 and 30 albums. He has also worked with Kylie, Sia and Pink.

Wolf Alice’s last album, 2021’s Blue Weekend , was their first Top 10 hit in Australia, reaching number nine. It topped the UK charts. CHART FACT

Photo credit: Rachel Fleminger Hudson

by covering Dreams at the recent Glastonbury festival. Singer Ellie Rowsell reveals that the record’s powerful first single, Bloom Baby Bloom , was inspired by another legendary artist, Axl Rose, though she is “singing a song about being a woman”. The band believes the album is “both playful and serious, ironic and straight-talking”. Drummer Joel Amey says, “A lot of these songs are like a moment of peace where you know that maybe there’s more forest to go through.” Jeff Jenkins

Wolf Alice

Wolf Alice took their name from a short story, Wolf-Alice , by English writer Angela Carter. Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood , it’s about a feral child. The story was published in the 1979 book The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories . THE NAME GAME

Wolf Alice love Sydney band The Vines. Drummer Joel Amey says: “We all love Queens of the Stone Age, The Vines, and PJ Harvey – they are the bands that unite all of us.”

AUSSIE CONNECTION

SWEDE SUCCESS The Hives Forever Forever The Hives by The Hives is out Aug 29 via Inertia

B efore their 2023 album, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons , The Hives took to the streets, protesting the fact there hadn’t been a Hives album for more than a decade. On Hollywood Boulevard, singer Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist held up signs that said, “ The Hives Must Album Now! ” and “ Honk If You Want a New Hives Album ”. The Swedish band also issued merchandise with the message: “ The Hives! Make Records or Go Home! ” They heeded their own advice. The band’s new album, The Hives Forever Forever The Hives , is the fastest follow-up in their recording career, which goes all the way back to 1997. “We were up and running,” says guitarist Nicholaus Arson, “so we just kept running.” They made the record in Stockholm, at the studio Twenty-four years after their breakthrough album, Sweden’s greatest rockers are still Your New Favourite Band .

CHART FACT

The Hives

The Hives have had four Top 40 albums in Australia, starting with 2001’s Your

belonging to Benny from ABBA, working with Mike D from the Beastie Boys, who they met in Australia when they were both part of the Big Day Out in 2005. The Hives are continuing to proudly fly the rock flag, defying the doomsayers who declare that rock is dead. “I think

GOOD ADVICE While touring with The Rolling Stones, The Hives asked Mick Jagger if he had any advice. He replied, “Never buy your own yacht, always borrow a friend’s.”

New Favourite Band , which hit number 19.

they’ve been saying that since 1956,” Nicholaus laughs. “It’s like predicting the end of the world: people say, ‘It’s tomorrow, or the day after that.’ If you want to be on a side that’s wrong, that’s fine. “Rock ’n’ roll will last forever.” Jeff Jenkins

AC/DC was The Hives’ first influence. They also love Aussie punk band The Victims (featuring Dave Faulk ner), and singer Pelle Almqvist says The Saints’ second album, Eternally Yours , is a “perfect record”.

AUSSIE CONNECTION

52 AUGUST 2025

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