The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons

In May 2023, the band announced their sixth studio album, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons , released on August 11, 2023. The record marked the band's return after over a decade without new original material, and was preceded by the single "Bogus Operandi". It was followed by promotional tracks such as "Countdown to Shutdown", "Rigor Mortis Radio", "Trapdoor Solution", and "The Bomb". According to a press release, the "macabre title" hints at the extended break the band took from recording, described as a "horror story". "Randy Fitzsimmons" refers to the fictional sixth member of the Hives who supposedly served as the band's manager and sole songwriter. The album is the first release to feature bassist The Johan and Only, following the departure of Dr. Matt Destruction in 2013. The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons received a score of 77 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic.