Nicholaus Almqvist is better known to music fans as Nicholaus Arson, lead guitarist and backup vocalist of the Swedish garage punks The Hives.

He formed the band in 1993 with his brother, lead singer Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist. The group were part of a wave of Scandinavian rock acts that came to global prominence in the ’90s, including the Hellacopters, Soundtrack of Our Lives, Refused and others.

The group released its seventh long-player two weeks ago. Its Sept. 16 show at the Commodore Ballroom is sold out.

Titled The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, the 13 new tunes were captured in the legendary Riksmixningsverket, a studio owned by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and at YEAR0001 in Stockholm. The album was co-produced by the band’s longtime producer Pelle Gunnerfeldt, Beastie Boys member Mike

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