Smash into Pieces
Smash into Pieces is a Swedish alternative rock band formed in 2008 in the city of Örebro.[1][2] The band blends modern rock with electronic, cinematic, and melodic elements, often incorporating superhero-themed narratives and a fictional AI character named APOC (the Apocalypse DJ) in their music and live shows.[3][4][5] Comprising lead vocalist Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye, guitarists Benjamin Jennebo and Per Bergquist (who also provides vocals), bassist Viktor Vidlund, and drummer Isak Snow, the group has built a reputation for high-energy performances and conceptual albums.[6][7][8] Since their debut, Smash into Pieces has released nine studio albums, including Unbreakable (2013), The Apocalypse DJ (2015), Rise and Shine (2017), Evolver (2018), Arcadia (2020), A New Horizon (2021), Disconnect (2022), Ghost Code (2024), and their most recent, ArmaHeaven (2025).[9][10][11][12] They gained significant visibility in 2023 by advancing to the final of Sweden's Melodifestivalen song contest with the track "Six Feet Under," highlighting their crossover appeal in the Nordic music scene.[1][13] The band has toured extensively across Europe and North America, supporting acts like Papa Roach and performing at major festivals, while maintaining an active presence through frequent single releases and merchandise.[14][6]History
Formation and early years (2008–2012)
Smash into Pieces was formed in 2008 in Örebro, Sweden, by vocalist Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye, lead guitarist Benjamin Jennebo, rhythm guitarist Per Bergquist, bassist Viktor Vidlund, and drummer Isak Snow.[15] Jennebo and Bergquist had previously played together in the band CLOSER, bringing experience from the local rock scene to the new project.[16] The group's early sound blended modern rock with melodic elements, reflecting their ambition to create arena-ready anthems.[17] During their independent phase, Smash into Pieces released their debut self-titled EP in 2009, showcasing demo tracks that highlighted their energetic style.[18] Later that year, they followed with the Fading EP, which included their breakout single "Fading."[11] Released on June 17, 2009, via Ninetone Records, "Fading" gained traction on Swedish radio and peaked at number 33 on the national singles chart, marking their first notable commercial success.[19] This period also saw the band competing on Sweden's Got Talent, reaching the semifinals before withdrawing to focus on music production.[17] By 2012, after extensive touring across Scandinavia as an unsigned act, Smash into Pieces signed a record deal with Gain Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Music Sweden. In early 2013, their rising profile earned them the "Band Revelation of the Year" award at the Bandit Rock Awards, recognizing their breakthrough potential. This achievement solidified their transition toward a major label debut.Breakthrough and initial success (2013–2016)
In 2013, Smash into Pieces achieved their commercial breakthrough with the release of their debut studio album, Unbreakable, on April 10. The album, produced under their new deal with Gain Music (a Sony subsidiary), featured a polished modern rock sound blending alternative and hard rock elements, marking a shift from their earlier independent releases. It peaked at number 7 on the Swedish albums chart, establishing the band as rising stars in the domestic scene.[20][21][22] Following the album's success, the band embarked on an extensive European tour in 2013–2014 to promote Unbreakable, including slots as opening act for major groups such as Amaranthe. This tour, which spanned multiple countries and included high-profile shows, helped build their international fanbase and honed their live performance energy, often described as arena-ready with anthemic choruses and high production values. Promotion efforts centered on music videos like "Colder," the album's lead single, released on April 3, 2013, which showcased dramatic visuals and emphasized the band's accessible, radio-friendly arena rock aesthetic to attract broader audiences.[23][24][25] The momentum continued into 2015 with the release of their second studio album, The Apocalypse DJ, on February 25, which reached number 2 on the Swedish rock chart. The album introduced more electronic influences and cinematic themes, reflecting the band's evolving production style. Around this time, drummer Isak Snow departed the lineup and was replaced by APOC (also known as The Apocalypse DJ), whose dual role as drummer and electronic performer added a distinctive, genre-blending dimension to their sound and stage presence.[26][27][8]Line-up changes and mid-career development (2017–2020)
In 2017, Smash into Pieces released their third studio album, Rise and Shine, on January 27 through Gain Music Entertainment, featuring a mix of alternative rock tracks that built on the band's cinematic style.[28] The album included singles like "Higher" and "Boomerang," which highlighted the group's evolving production techniques blending rock with electronic influences.[29] Later that year, founding bassist Viktor Vidlund departed the band after serving from 2008 to December 2017, prompting a reconfiguration of their lineup.[30] Rather than recruiting a replacement, Smash into Pieces proceeded as a four-piece unit consisting of vocalist Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye, guitarists Per Bergquist and Benjamin Jennebo, and drummer APOC, utilizing electronic augmentation and backing tracks to replicate bass elements in both recordings and live shows.[9] This shift allowed the band to maintain momentum without altering their core dynamic, emphasizing their affinity for synth-driven arrangements. The band's fourth album, Evolver, arrived on October 12, 2018, via Gain Music, representing a deliberate maturation in their sound with deeper integration of electronic rock components alongside pop-metal hooks.[31] Tracks such as "Like This!" and "The Game (Womanizer)" showcased this progression, drawing from electro influences to create a more layered, futuristic aesthetic that distinguished the release from prior works.[32] By 2020, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Smash into Pieces issued their fifth album, Arcadia, on August 28, which marked a commercial uptick with the band's cumulative Spotify streams exceeding 100 million by the release, reflecting heightened digital engagement during restricted live periods.[33][34] The album's narrative-driven concept, tied to accompanying music videos and a comic book, further solidified their multimedia approach, while limited virtual performances helped sustain fan interaction in the absence of traditional tours.[35] This era also saw initial steps toward international expansion, particularly in the United States, where streaming growth on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music introduced their electro-rock hybrid to broader audiences beyond Europe.[36][37]Recent albums and Melodifestivalen participation (2021–present)
In 2021, Smash into Pieces released their sixth studio album, A New Horizon, on August 27, marking the conclusion of their Arcadia concept album duology with a blend of alternative rock and electro elements.[38][39] The album featured 11 tracks and continued the band's narrative storytelling, emphasizing themes of resilience and futuristic conflict.[36] This was followed by their seventh album, Disconnect, released on September 9, 2022, which included 11 songs and explored disconnection in modern society through a mix of heavy riffs and melodic hooks.[40][41] The band gained significant visibility through their participation in Melodifestivalen, Sweden's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2023, they entered with the single "Six Feet Under," performed in Heat 4 on February 25, which advanced directly to the final and ultimately placed third overall with 112 points, combining jury and televote scores.[42] The track, addressing themes of depression and perseverance, resonated with audiences and boosted the band's profile in the Scandinavian music scene.[43] Building on this momentum, Smash into Pieces returned to Melodifestivalen in 2024 with "Heroes Are Calling," released as a single on March 2.[44] The song competed in Heat 1, qualifying for the final where it achieved third place, earning strong televote support across age groups.[45] Following the competition, "Heroes Are Calling" peaked at number 4 on the Swedish singles chart (Sverigetopplistan), reflecting its commercial success and radio airplay.[46] Later that year, on April 12, the band issued their album, Ghost Code, a 12-track release that extended their conceptual universe with introspective lyrics and dynamic production.[47][48] In November 2024, Emanuel Magnil was officially added as the band's live guitarist, having previously served as a touring stand-in and tour manager, enhancing their stage presence for upcoming shows.[49] The group maintained an active touring schedule, including European headline tours throughout 2024 and into 2025, such as performances at festivals and venues across Scandinavia and the continent.[50] In March 2025, they signed with Sound Talent Group for North American representation, paving the way for expanded touring opportunities in the region later that year.[51] On October 31, 2025, Smash into Pieces released their eighth studio album, ArmaHeaven, a 15-track project described by the band as their most ambitious to date, featuring an AI-themed narrative of digital warfare, human resistance, and existential reset in a dystopian future.[52][53] The album's storyline depicts an AI uprising that fractures into self-conflict, positioning humanity as collateral in a battle for supremacy, and represents a sonic evolution toward heavier, cinematic soundscapes.[54][55]Musical style and influences
Genre characteristics and evolution
Smash into Pieces is primarily recognized for their modern alternative rock sound, which blends elements of pop-metal, electro-rock, and arena rock to create a high-energy, melodic style suited for large-scale live performances.[56] Their music features aggressive yet melodic guitar riffs that drive the rhythm, complemented by electronic synths and DJ elements introduced prominently after 2015 with the addition of the masked performer Apocalypse DJ, adding layers of futuristic texture.[56] APOC serves as the band's fictional AI character, portrayed live by a masked performer. The band's production emphasizes slick, radio-friendly hooks with polished arrangements, while frontman Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye delivers soaring, versatile vocals ranging from high-pitched melodies to growls, enhancing the emotional intensity.[57] Lyrical themes often explore dystopian futures, resilience in the face of adversity, and speculative elements like artificial intelligence, reflecting a cinematic narrative approach.[58][59] The band's sonic evolution has been marked by a gradual integration of electronic and pop influences into their rock foundation, beginning with their early work. Their debut album Unbreakable (2013) showcased a raw alternative rock base with initial electro-rock flourishes, focusing on melodic pop-metal structures that established their accessible yet heavy sound.[56] By The Apocalypse DJ (2015), the incorporation of electronic elements became more evident through the titular DJ character's contributions, blending synth-driven beats with guitar-heavy aggression to heighten the arena-ready appeal.[56] Mid-career albums like Evolver (2018) and the concept duology Arcadia (2020) and A New Horizon (2021) shifted toward increased synth-pop and electro-pop directions, amplifying thematic storytelling around post-apocalyptic worlds while maintaining core rock melodies.[60][56] In their recent output, Smash into Pieces has further evolved by incorporating heavier production and deeper futuristic motifs, including AI-driven narratives, to create a more immersive, dystopian rock experience. Albums such as Ghost Code (2024) build on the electro-pop leanings of prior works with enhanced, "fatter" production that bolsters the blend of rock, metal, and electronica, resulting in tighter, more dynamic tracks.[61][62] Their latest release, ArmaHeaven (2025), continues this trajectory with anthemic hard rock elements, aggressive riffs, and electronic flourishes that emphasize resilience and speculative futures, solidifying their progression toward a heavier, more cinematic electro-rock hybrid.[4][57] This development has positioned their music for broader appeal, often drawing parallels to acts like Bring Me the Horizon through shared electronic-metal fusions and thematic depth.[63]Key influences
Smash into Pieces draw heavily from the Swedish rock and metal scene, particularly the melodic heaviness characteristic of bands like In Flames and Ghost, which inform their blend of aggressive riffs and anthemic choruses. Internationally, the band has been shaped by acts such as Linkin Park, whose electronic-rock fusion has influenced their incorporation of synths and programmed beats into hard rock structures, as noted in reviews of their work highlighting echoes of early 2000s nu-metal energy.[64][65] In their formative years, the band was inspired by 2000s nu-metal and post-grunge outfits like Papa Roach and Three Days Grace, elements evident in the raw emotional delivery and hook-driven songwriting of their debut releases. Vocalist Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye has specifically cited Jared Leto of Thirty Seconds to Mars and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park as pivotal early inspirations for infusing songs with deep emotional resonance.[66] His initial singing approach also drew from Miles Kennedy of Alter Bridge, aiming for a more dynamic and versatile vocal range.[59] Overall, the group has acknowledged broad American rock influences as foundational to their sound.[3] As their career progressed, Smash into Pieces shifted toward greater integration of electronic dance music (EDM) and synthwave aesthetics, drawing from artists like The Prodigy and Nine Inch Nails to create layered, atmospheric productions. This evolution aligns closely with keyboardist and DJ APOC's background in house and club music, where he has released solo singles blending original tracks with high-energy electronic elements.[67] Their participation in Melodifestivalen and exposure to Eurovision-style pop-rock entries have further refined this accessible yet edgy aesthetic, allowing them to merge heavy influences with broader melodic appeal for mainstream stages.Band members
Current members
The current members of Smash into Pieces as of 2025 are:- Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye – lead vocals (2008–present), recognized for his powerful and emotive vocal style that incorporates melodic ranges and high notes, alongside lyrics centered on themes of personal struggle and inner demons.[5][68]
- Benjamin Jennebo – lead guitar (2008–present), a founding member who contributes melodic solos and co-writes guitar riffs central to the band's sound.[69][70]
- Per Bergquist – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2008–present), another founder with experience from the prior band Closer, who helps shape song structures through his engineering and mixing roles.[71][72][73]
- APOC (The Apocalypse DJ) – drums, electronics (2015–present), the masked performer who incorporates live DJ sets and electronic production elements into the band's performances.[74][53][75]
- Emanuel Magnil – live guitarist (2024–present), who joined officially to support dual-guitar setups during tours, enhancing the band's live dynamics.[76]
Former members
Smash into Pieces' original lineup included two key founding members who later departed, contributing significantly to the band's early rock-oriented sound before its evolution toward incorporating electronic elements. Isak Snow served as the band's drummer from its formation in 2008 until 2015. As an original member, he provided the rhythmic foundation for their initial releases, including the debut album Unbreakable (2013) and The Apocalypse DJ (2015).[1][9] His departure coincided with the introduction of The Apocalypse DJ (APOC), enabling the band to expand into more programmed and electronic percussion styles that shaped their subsequent albums.[56] Viktor Vidlund was the bassist from 2008 to 2017, also a founding member alongside Snow, guitarist Benjamin Jennebo, and others. He played on the band's first three studio albums, helping define their alternative rock and metalcore influences during the formative years.[1][9] Following his amicable exit after the release of Rise and Shine (2017), the band opted not to replace him with a live bassist, instead adapting their sound through production techniques and backing tracks to maintain their evolving electronic-rock hybrid.[56]Discography
Extended plays
Smash into Pieces began their recording career with two independent extended plays released in 2009, which helped establish their presence in the Swedish rock scene and contributed to their early career buildup. The self-titled debut EP, Smash into Pieces, showcased the band's initial sound blending alternative rock and metal elements. Later that year, they followed up with Fading, an EP featuring tracks that highlighted vocalist Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye's melodic style and the group's energetic instrumentation. The title track from Fading was released as a single and achieved moderate success, peaking at number 33 on the Swedish singles chart.[77]| Title | Release year | Label | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smash into Pieces | 2009 | Independent | Debut self-titled EP; five tracks including demos like "Crash and Burn." |
| Fading | 2009 | Independent | Includes the single "Fading" (#33 Sweden); produced by the band. |
Studio albums
Smash into Pieces have released nine studio albums since their formation, showcasing their evolution from melodic alternative rock to more electronic-infused sounds, with releases primarily through Gain Records and Sony Music in the early years before transitioning to self-releases and renewed partnerships. These albums have been distributed in various formats, including CD, vinyl, and digital streaming.| Album | Release date | Label | Peak chart position (Sweden) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbreakable | April 10, 2013 | Gain Records / Sony Music | #7[56][22] |
| The Apocalypse DJ | February 25, 2015 | Gain Records / Sony Music | —[26] |
| Rise and Shine | January 27, 2017 | Gain Records / Sony Music | — |
| Evolver | October 12, 2018 | Gain Records / Sony Music | —[31] |
| Arcadia | August 28, 2020 | Self-released | —[33] |
| A New Horizon | August 27, 2021 | Self-released | —[78] |
| Disconnect | September 9, 2022 | Self-released | —[41] |
| Ghost Code | April 12, 2024 | Self-released | —[79] |
| ArmaHeaven | October 31, 2025 | Self-released | —[55] |
Singles as lead artist
Smash into Pieces has released over 50 singles as lead artist since their formation in 2008, with a focus on radio-friendly tracks blending alternative rock and electronic elements that gained traction from 2013 onward.[37][36] Their early singles laid the foundation for broader recognition, while later releases, particularly those tied to Melodifestivalen, achieved significant commercial success on the Swedish charts. Many of these singles were promoted through accompanying music videos that enhanced their visual storytelling and online presence.[14] The band's key singles include the following, highlighting notable releases with their years, associated albums or events where applicable, and peak positions on the Swedish Sverigetopplistan:| Title | Year | Album/Event Association | Peak Position (Sweden) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fading | 2009 | Fading EP | 33 |
| Colder | 2013 | Unbreakable | — |
| The Apocalypse DJ | 2015 | The Apocalypse DJ | — |
| Boomerang | 2017 | Rise and Shine | — |
| Arcadia | 2020 | Arcadia | — |
| Six Feet Under | 2023 | Melodifestivalen 2023 | 2 |
| Heroes Are Calling | 2024 | Melodifestivalen 2024 | 4 |
| Wildfire | 2024 | — | — |
| Maze of Fools | 2024 | — | — |
Singles as featured artist
Smash into Pieces have made occasional guest appearances on singles by other artists, primarily within the Swedish and Nordic rock and electronic scenes, showcasing vocalist Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye's contributions alongside band elements in select collaborations. These features, numbering fewer than five and dating from 2021 onward, highlight the band's expanding network in alternative rock and metal circles, often involving remixes or shared vocal duties on tracks by emerging acts.[37] The following table lists their known singles as featured artists:| Year | Title | Lead Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Godsent (Gaming Remix) | APOC | Electronic remix single featuring Smash into Pieces' vocals and instrumentation, released as part of a promotional tie-in for gaming content.[87] |
| 2023 | Into the Night | Off Lights | Single from the Back to Life EP, with Chris Adam providing guest vocals on this alternative rock track.[88] |
| 2024 | Outcome | Dead by April | Collaborative single from the album The Affliction, featuring Smash into Pieces alongside Samuel Ericsson; an official music video and acoustic version were released.[89][90] |
| 2024 | Coming Home | VS / U | Alternative rock single with Chris Adam on guest vocals, accompanied by a visualizer video.[91][92] |