Swedish rockers The Hives will release the infectious, funky anthem that is “We Rule The World (T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S)” as a single on 25th February, 2008 (Polydor).

Recorded with hop-hop producer Pharrell Williams in Miami for ‘The Black and White Album’ it is an electrifying collaboration, a meeting of great minds and big ideas, taking The Hives into new sonic terrain.

The single will be released digitally and as a Limited 10″ Vinyl backed with exclusive remixes: Matt Helder from Arctic Monkeys shakes up “We Rule The World (T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S)” while Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs gets his magic fingers on previous single “Tick Tick Boom” with his Post Colonization Mix.

Competition:

The Hives are inviting submissions for the sleeve artwork for the new single from their fanbase. Anyone can enter the competition and the winning design will adorn the 10″ single sleeve and accompany the digital release when it hits stores in February 2008.

Competition details:
Entries must be submitted by 21st January 2008
Keep it (mostly) Black and White!
Submissions should work to a square format, be delivered at 300DPI, to: thehivescoverart@googlemail.com

For more information about the competition and for inspiration go to:

The Hives on Myspace
The Hives Official Website

The band uses violin and cello as the main instrument of their music. It sounds quite sad, as its title. “The Funeral Album” contains eleven songs that express the feeling; being alone and loosing someone. All the instruments are used unconventionally, and the use of samples are quite interesting. The idea at the beginning was quite simple; “Let the instruments cry”.

The Swedish and Turkish members Martin Bjelfvenstam, Anna Erneman and Taner Torun formed the band in 2006. Meeting accidentally when having a holiday in a Mediterranean town, the trio discovered that they had similar tastes of art and started playing together. After practicing for a while, this little project turned into a band. The debut ‘The Funeral Album‘ was released on the 8th March of 2007. All songs are dedicated to their friends, who once upon a time shared their life then lost the battle.

The album is a self release just for now. The band makes a whole preview of the songs on their Last Fm page, and the whole album is downloadable for free on their weblog, in the music/downloads session.