There’s something refreshing about a rock band that isn’t interested in playing it safe. Whether it’s the music, the visuals, or the subjects they choose to write about, HIVESONG have been building a reputation around doing things their own way. Their latest single, “Bad Believer,” is another example of that attitude, bringing a confrontational message into the duo’s growing catalogue of modern rock releases.
Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, HIVESONG is made up of Kuyper and Austen, two musicians with a shared love for the louder, more theatrical side of rock and roll. Their sound brings together elements of hard rock and alternative rock, with an appreciation for the big riffs, memorable hooks and larger-than-life personalities that have always made the genre exciting.
Since launching in 2025, the duo have wasted little time establishing their presence. Songs such as “The Funny Thing Is…” and “Electric Fever” have become particularly popular with listeners, accumulating over 73,000 and 50,000 Spotify streams, respectively. Meanwhile, “Love is Pain” and “Don’t Hide It” have both passed 21,000 streams, contributing to a growing audience of monthly listeners.
It’s an encouraging start for an independent act, especially one determined to maintain such a distinctive identity.
What makes HIVESONG interesting is that their music isn’t exclusively concerned with delivering a big rock chorus. There’s often a wider conversation taking place beneath the surface, whether that’s the impact of technology, the complications of human relationships or the ways people treat one another.
“Bad Believer” takes that last idea and pushes it further. The single explores what happens when people become so convinced of their own moral superiority that they begin using their beliefs to judge and control others. Rather than questioning faith itself, HIVESONG are interested in the hypocrisy that can emerge when compassion is replaced by condemnation.
It’s a subject the duo approach with plenty of attitude. The song carries a deliberately confrontational tone, using sarcasm and defiance to challenge those who believe their personal convictions should dictate somebody else’s life.
There’s also an interesting contrast between the seriousness of the subject and the band’s wider personality. HIVESONG have always embraced the theatrical side of rock, with striking imagery and a self-described Church of Rock & Roll identity. Yet beneath that presentation is a band willing to engage with subjects that extend well beyond the usual rock clichés.
That combination gives their growing catalogue an identity of its own. “Electric Fever” looks at modern society’s complicated relationship with technology, while “Bad Believer” turns its attention towards judgment and personal freedom. The subjects may differ, but both reflect the duo’s interest in challenging familiar behaviours and encouraging listeners to question what they see around them.
As HIVESONG continue developing their sound and reaching new listeners, their commitment to making rock music with personality remains central to the project.
With “Bad Believer,” they’re showing that a memorable rock song can do more than entertain. Sometimes, it can also start a conversation.
https://open.spotify.com/track/07qKaC9PTVpOpuGMHRqn7I?si=00c52ddd97634694
