Swedish rockers, SPIDERS, are due to release their third album, “Sharp Objects,” on Valentine’s Day 2025 via Wild Kingdom Records. Always a bit of 70’s retro band, this album finds the band “weaving in influences from the early 80s’ new wave and garage rock scene” into their sound. The album has a raucous vibe but all within good tastes. For a garage rock/punk band, they are surprisingly polite with clean, well-harmonized vocals; melodic riffs; staccato piano flourishes; hooky choruses; and radio-friendly lyrics. And while I want to dismiss the band for being too mainstream, they are undeniably fun and catchy.

“Sharp Objects” clocks in with 11 tracks. They’re all sub-four minutes, so the total time is about 38 minutes. Songs range from cringy, “Valentines,” to rocking, “Too Hard for You.” Just when you want to write them off for being too middle-of-the-road, they throw out a savage lead guitar solo or reel you back in with a saccharine sweet, groovy affair like “Love Yourself To Death.”

My go to tracks include “Would You Miss Me”—a solid rock song without all the syrup; “Fun in the Sun” for its B-52 hints and a great solo; “Too Hard for You” which ironically is the heaviest track on the album—and also another great solo. “Schizoid” has some great drum work, but the overall song is spoiled with kitschy piano staccato. I’m undecided on “What’s Your Game (Miss Insane)” which features a catchy riff reminiscent of Billy Zoom (X), but the chorus goes on for a bit too long for my tastes. Could use a 30 second trim.

SPIDERS have always been quintessential Swedish rockers—a ton of talent, great production values, very formulaic. “Sharp Objects” isn’t the gritty, raw comeback album I was hoping for, but it also isn’t a throw away. If you like your rock well-sanitized and appreciate the 80’s garage scene, this might be the album for you.