Album Reviews

Massachusetts trio HEDGE are back with the follow-up to their 2024 debut album. Freeze Frame High Five packs five new songs alongside a Guided By Voices cover, and finds the band cranking out distorted riffs and catchy melodies while making no attempt to hide their love for Dinosaur Jr., Hüsker Dü and The Lemonheads.

Opener ‘Hey Dude’ is catchy in an understated kind of way. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly find yourself singing “hey dude, hey man, hey hey are you listening” hours later. The other songs follow suit and all clock in at under two minutes, making sure they never wear out their welcome.

Is this original? Well, no. But is this a sweet little gift-wrapped treat for everyone who misses the 90s? Hell yes.