Just two days after dropping their new album Armaheaven, Smash Into Pieces brought their signature cinematic rock show to a packed Trädgår’n in Gothenburg.
The band's typically polished production soon took an unpredictable turn – with mask malfunctions, Backstreet Boys singalongs, and a reminder of why live music never quite goes to plan. Of the three shows we’ve caught from the band this year, this one was easily the most unexpectedly entertaining.
Few bands work as tirelessly as Örebro-based Smash Into Pieces. The fact that they’ve played three local shows in West Sweden this year alone says a lot – first at Borås Kongress in February, then at Liseberg in June, and now rounding off the year at Trädgår’n in Gothenburg. Somehow, amidst their relentless touring both at home and abroad, the band also managed to release a brand-new album, Armaheaven, which dropped fittingly on 31 October – just in time for Halloween.
Third Time’s the Charm – Benjamin Jennebo Returns
When CrowdSnapper caught the band the previous two times, tour manager Emanuel Magnil filled in for Benjamin Jennebo on guitar. Jennebo had every reason to miss the Liseberg show, however, having fallen off the stage at Belgium’s Graspop Metal Meeting and injured both his ribs and knee. Now, at Trädgår’n, it was finally “third time’s the charm” – with Jennebo back in action, the band felt complete again, and we could finally capture him on stage through the lens.
A Mask Malfunction and a Spontaneous Jam
As with any live show, things can (and will) go wrong – and aside from stage accidents, technical issues are probably the most common culprit. Earlier this autumn, vocalist Chris Adam had battled a nasty case of hand, foot and mouth disease with high fever and a collapsed voice. This time, however, it was drummer Apoc who faced the night’s biggest hurdles.
Early in the show, something went awry with his signature mask, forcing a quick backstage fix. While the crew sorted things out, guitarists Benjamin and Per filled the gap with a spontaneous jam session – a playful moment that kept the energy flowing and gave us photographers in the pit a bit of unexpected downtime, but also a few extra chances to snap some additional shots.
Drum Trouble Turns into a Backstreet Moment
Later in the evening, the gremlins returned – this time targeting the drums. Another brief stoppage followed, but what could have been an awkward lull instead turned into one of the night’s most memorable moments.
Chris Adam and Benjamin sat down at the edge of the stage for what Chris dubbed a “deep talk” – a spontaneous, semi-serious chat with the audience that somehow transitioned into a singalong of I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys. Delivered in silky-smooth contrast to Chris’s usual raspy tone, it turned into a hilariously wholesome detour that had the entire crowd joining in.
Keeping Calm Through Chaos
Despite the stress of the recurring technical troubles, the band handled everything with humour and composure. “We’ll make it up to you!” Chris promised near the end – though truthfully, the unplanned moments only made the night feel more human and memorable.
Flames, Lasers and a Futurism
As always with Smash Into Pieces, the production was first-rate. The band’s futuristic aesthetic came alive through massive LED screens, laser beams, and even a tongue-in-cheek “commercial break” featuring Apoc. Just like at their Liseberg show, the band also went all in on pyrotechnics – bold, considering the indoor venue.
Crew members in the photo pit warned us to keep to the sides during opener Devil in My Head, where fiery blasts erupted in sync with the heavy riffs. All in all, no fewer than eight songs featured live flames – a spectacular visual statement that matched the band’s cinematic sound.
All Ages, All In
Continuing their mission to make rock accessible to everyone, the Gothenburg show – like the one in Borås earlier this year – was open to all ages. This time, though, there were fewer prams wedged into the crowd and more young fans dressed up as their hero Apoc. Fittingly for the season, his outfit doubles nicely for both a Halloween costume and a rock concert.
A Halloween-Timed Album Celebration
Given the timing, the concert also doubled as a mini release party for Armaheaven. Toward the end of the show, the band reminded the audience that everyone could take home a copy of the new album for free – complete with the chance to have it signed by the band afterwards. A generous gesture that summed up their fan-first attitude perfectly.
Highlights: From Polished Studio Sound to Raw Live Energy
The setlist spanned their broad discography, with four singles from Armaheaven featured – Wildfire, Hurricane, Broken Halo, and Devil in My Head.
The latter made for a fierce opener, while Broken Halo stood out as one of the evening’s most captivating performances. On record, it’s a sleek, polished pop-rock track – but live, its glossy production gave way to something punchier and more powerful, transforming it into a dynamic anthem that hit with renewed energy.
Setlist
We managed to take a look at the setlist before the show – you can find it attached below.
- Devil in My Head* 🔥
- Venom
- Wake Up
- Big Bang 🔥
- Let Me Be Your Superhero 🔥
- Glow in the Dark
- Heroes Are Calling 🔥
- Broken Halo*
- Trigger
- Boomerang
- Arcadia
- All Eyes on You
- Hurricane* 🔥
- Deadman
- Broken Parts
- Running Away from Home 🔥
- Wildfire*
- Forever Alone
Encore:
- Flow 🔥
- Six Feet Under 🔥
* = Songs from the new album, Armaheaven (2025).
🔥 = Songs with pyro.
Smash Into Pieces Are:
- Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye – vocals
- Benjamin Jennebo – lead guitar
- Per Bergquist – rhythm guitar
- APOC – drums
- Emanuel Magnil – live guitarist (not performing this show)
This show was shot with
Wider Shots
- Camera: Sony a7 III
- Lens: Tamron 28-75/f2.8
Long Range and Close-Ups
- Camera: Sony a7R II
- Lens: Tamron 70-180/f2.8
Concert Photo Gallery
