Live Review: Smash Into Pieces - Wolverhampton
24th November 2023
Support: Cyan Kicks
Words & Photos: Scott Clarke
Wooly hats adorned and with a full moon lighting up the clear sky this very wintery evening, the queues formed outside KK’s Steel Mill as quick as the condensation formed on the car windows. With that said, the evenings entertainment we are to be presented with promises to be even cooler as we have a Nordic treat in store as Swedish Industrial rockers Smash Into Pieces top the bill, supported by Cyan Kicks from Finland.
First things first and the customary visit to Phil for a much needed cup of tea (as a tea connoisseur I can vouch for the quality of the brew from KK’s, this place does much more than just good music, the consumables are top notch). As I take the time to defrost, the first thing that catches my eye is the queue for the merch. It’s as long as the queue was outside to get in, seems that most of the fans wanted to get their fix of t-shirts and paraphernalia ahead of the show starting. It is without a doubt the longest merch queue I have seen at one time here at KK’s. From the outset it seems that the people here tonight weren’t just here on a whim for a night out, they are big fans who are already familiar with the band.
As we approached starting time, the room was densely populated, it was a great turnout. The lights dimmed to black as a pounding bass line echoed like a heartbeat, Cyan Kicks logo proudly displayed on the video wall before the band took to the stage in a burst of energy. Kicking of with I Never Said 4ever from the album of the same name released earlier this year. It’s clear and consistent through the set that the band are all about fusing the heavy rock sound with more melodic tones that would find home a home on pop hits. Its a nice blend that is executed perfectly. Susanna Alexandra is a fantastic frontwoman, leading with style and bundles of energy, throwing herself passionately into the music and leaving it all on stage, clad in a spike covered leather jacket and surrounded by neon lights a plenty, the band have a definitive style that makes them stand out. Her vocal styles are on full display as she demonstrates her softer, quieter and more subtle vocals against being able to belt out a powerful long note when the need arises.
Can’t Get You Out Of My Bed was the next track up, an obvious nod to Kylie. The catchy chorus hooks, like with many of their songs are the kinds you can’t get out of your head for days at a time, deliberately and brilliantly crafted. Someone Like You brings a slight change of pace and a bit more of a melancholic ballad while still maintaining the powerful chorus.
Leevi Erkkilä on bass, Niila Perkkiö on guitar and Pietari Reijonen on the drum kit all not only provide a great, loud, impactful sound but they also provide great stage presence and are a joy to see as the 3 mobile members of the band interact and command the stage. This was their first show here and you wouldn’t tell, they seemed to belong up their in front of their audience and enjoyed every moment.
I thought the interaction with the crowd was a great thing, all night through every song it was there at some level, it adds to the atmosphere and the point of attending a live show, also there was appreciation for the crowd attending early to see the support, a gracious and skilled group of people. Further tracks cemented their abilities, Addicted, Invincible, Feathers, Gasoline and to round out the set, Hurricane.
The songs are high energy, catchy pieces, any one and all of which are easily single worthy and to say this is their first show on their first time in the UK, they knocked it out of the park. A seriously good, enjoyable solid performance of undeniably well crafted and catchy songs, they did themselves credit and I think gained a lot of new fans tonight, including myself, I ended up buying a t-shirt! In one way it’s a shame that this set was limited to 35 minutes as a support, because they have the amount of material and the quality to headline in their own right and I really hope they return again to play a full set of their excellent material.
Lights went down, smoke poured in and the digitized voices came through the sound system as the LED screens played an introduction and the Smash Into Pieces fans went mental. You have nothing greater than your dreams we are reminded as APOC rises to take his seat behind the drums, visions of his unique LED mask gives goosebumps and gets a huge pop from the crowd.
Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye’s vocals start things off “Burn away, this feeling in my bones like a never ending flow” as the two string wielding members come on in the darkness before the heavy hitting intro to Flow kicks things off with a bang and Chris himself emerges from the darkness as the first verse begins. The strobes and LED’s providing an apocalyptic feeling of high energy, high tempo power to match the impact of the opening track.
Another vocal overlay states Welcome to tonights manifestation, the time has come to Wake Up that leads us straight into the next track of the same name. The crowd clap out the beat during the verse as both guitarists put on quite a show. Their technical skill as well as their stage presence is incredible, both are jumping, spinning, charging around the stage from the back of it to the front at times leaning into the pit, getting ever closer to the fans. Their electrifying energy on stage only serve to add to the already high energy music creating an atmosphere that has the place jumping.
Straight into Glow in the Dark next as the full force assault continues with literal bangers like Big Bang, Let Me Be Your Superhero and Arcadia.
Using their signature blend of heavy metal and electronic influences, Smash Into Pieces took the stage by storm. The band's high-energy performance showcased their expertise in the genre, captivating the audience from the very first note. With their unique sound and powerful stage presence, Smash Into Pieces proved themselves as masters of industrial metal.
It was an incessant barrage of tracks one after the other with no time to catch our breath and the crowd rocked out every minute, singing along with every track. APOC did a brief emergence from behind the kit to toss out a shirt into the crowd. All Eyes on You leads seamlessly into Out of Here a fairly recent release. Following a bit of a drum solo we get Running Away From Home from the 2021 release A New Horizon.
With a unique gimmick, playing on the Industrial stylings and with their talisman drummer, APOC providing a mysterious character the fans love with the variations and changes in the LED face mask (Reminds me of a cross between Rorschach from Watchmen, for any comic book fans reading, and something from Tron), the band have something that few other bands do, marketability. KISS are a great example and more recently, Ghost. Groups that take the band to the next level and don’t just put out music but dominate merchandise and culture in general with their unique styles and appearances.
Higher is next on the bill, Broken Parts and Deadman. As the crowd are instructed to take their phones out and light them up while holding them in the air, a sea of waving LED lights fills the room for Vanguard. Sleepwalking, Forever Alone and a well executed cover of Mad World by Tears For Fears round out the set.
Coming back on stage with the chants of the crowd of we want more, we are treated to Chris joining up with Susanna from Cyan Kicks on the vocals for Boomerang and closing the evening with Six Feet Under.
The band's tight musical precision and flawless execution demonstrated their mastery of their craft. Whether it was the thundering drums, shredding guitars, or powerful, varied vocals that were made to seem effortless as Chris transferred between clean, higher and lower ranges as well as growls, every member of the band proved themselves as incredibly talented musicians.
The carefully choreographed lighting sequences enhanced the mood of each song, creating an atmosphere of intensity and excitement. From pulsating strobes to dramatic colour changes, the LED lights intensified the impact of Smash Into Pieces' performance, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. From a personal point of view, I would’ve liked to have had more front lights on the stage, not just as a photographer (although it would’ve helped) but I felt that the band had a lot of stage presence and energy and some of that wasn’t immediately clear due to the flashing strobes and sometimes near darkness. Especially the singer who I felt sometimes faded into the darkness a little too much. Just my opinion and I understand the band’s style and choices are to create the mood and atmosphere.
With their unique blend of heavy guitar riffs, electronic elements, and captivating visuals setting them apart from other bands in the genre, Smash Into Pieces are a fan favourite that don’t fail to deliver on a memorable experience.
All photo credits: Scott Clarke Photography
