There probably were a lot of tired faces at work the day after, but this concert was a party not to be missed. Smash Into Pieces took the stage on the 5th of November at Hole 44 in Berlin and made it a Sunday to remember.
Following a pre-show setlist including the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, Owl City and Blink-182, Cyan Kicks opened the evening at 8pm. The female-fronted band from Helsinki warmed up the crowd ready for the main event. The room was hyped by singer Susanna Alexandra’s stunning vocals and engagement with the fans. Holding her microphone out to the crowd, they helped her sing the notes she couldn’t quite hit, due to sickness. Rewarded with hugs afterwards, the night was off to a wholesome start. A highlight included bassist Leevi Erkkilä leaping out of nowhere, still holding his bass, without missing a single note! Taking a picture with the crowd, Cyan Kicks closed their set and the crew started to rebuild the stage for the main act.
Half an hour later, after everyone had refilled their beer, Smash Into Pieces took to the stage. Hailing from Sweden, the band created tension using two huge screens at the back of the stage and the thunderous voice of their very own APOC, short for “The Apocalypse DJ”, dressed in all black with a giant cape and a mask with glowing LEDs. APOC, integral to the band’s rhythmic notes and storytelling, plays the drums and keyboard. It’s refreshing to see an emphasis on the drummer or keyboardist who, in other bands, is mostly hidden behind everyone else.
As the band opened with the 2023 single ‘Flow’, the crowd went wild. And that is how the evening continued. The heavy bass blended perfectly with electronic notes and fans were singing along – very loudly. Thankfully, singer Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye’s voice was strong enough to still be heard. He not only showed off his strong vocals during the heavy parts but also let out some stunning higher notes, creating quite the impression of sustaining some notes longer than others. While he didn’t speak with the audience often in-between songs, there was still crowd interaction as he and other band members threw T-shirts to lucky fans or fist-bumped them during songs. The Swedish band also got the crowd chanting along in which they happily engaged. Overall, Smash Into Pieces seemed to have fun on stage and enjoy the concert. At one point frontman Chris even recorded a video for his mom because he was enjoying it that much.
After a fast guitar solo from Per Bergquist and very heavy strobing, the first ballad of the evening was played, a cover of ‘Mad World’ by Tears for Fears. The screen at the back of the stage showed a slow-paced video to add depth to the melodic atmosphere. The show in general was well executed. The lights matched the videos, and the animations and lyrics on the screens paired well with the songs. The stage almost seemed overcrowded with the screens and many lights but it was definitely worth it.
Leading up to the last song of the evening, their hit ‘Six Feet Under’, frontman Sörbye held an empowering speech stating that everyone in the room had the power to change their lives and make the world a better place. Then the song started and set a perfect ending tone to the one hour long show. Shortly after the concert, both Cyan Kicks and Smash Into Pieces took to the merch tables to meet with fans, making the evening even more unforgettable. It was obvious Smash Into Pieces have a strong bond with their fans and are very appreciative of them.
European fans will have the chance to see the band live until the 16th of December. However, it’s no surprise many shows are already sold out or on low tickets.
