Smash Into Pieces w/Dark Divine & Enemy Inside @ Thekla, Bristol - 05/05/26

Smash Into Pieces prove once again why they are becoming one of the most exciting live acts in modern rock.

I guess “hollow” is a word one could use the next day after a Smash Into Pieces gig. Why you may ask? Well, they are great at what they do and you are left with the absence of the joy and excitement from the night before! Swedish rockers Smash Into Pieces are in Bristol tonight, playing a sold-out gig at Thekla, with support from American metalcore outfit Dark Divine and German alt-symphonic metal act Enemy Inside.

The main room downstairs already has a decent turnout and Dark Divine are on first. This band from Florida have their second album, Undead Melody, scheduled for release on the 29^th of May but this is their first UK tour. Their visual aesthetic is a highly produced blend of cinematic horror, gothic glamour and modern metalcore. The band heavily references horror movies and spooky imagery to craft a dramatic, theatrical atmosphere that balances dread with beauty. Guitarist Robby Lynch is dressed in black, wearing black and white face paint while bassist Cory “Scissorhands” Piscitelli resembles a Nazgul wielding a bass guitar. From the moment they step on stage, the energy in the room shifts – heavy riffs and raw emotion all crash together in the best possible way. Stage space on Thekla is quite limited but the band pulls through, their stage presence is intense and honest, without feeling forced and every member is providing something memorable to the performance. Vocalist Anthony Martinez makes it very well known that he has never played on a boat before and is absolutely loving this venue – most excellent!

The crowd is feeding off every breakdown and chorus with the lighting and visuals adding to the atmosphere perfectly, creating a dark, immersive experience from start to finish. Anthony primes the crowd for ‘Better Start Digging’ and they finish their set with ‘Halloweentown’. What stands out the most is how connected the band feels to the audience. There is genuine interaction between the songs and it does not matter if you are already a fan or discovering them for the first time, Dark Divine deliver a live show that is emotional, theatrical and genuinely unforgettable. 

Next up are Enemy Inside, a five-piece alt-symphonic metal act from Germany (albeit without their bassist tonight) with three studio albums under their belt. Vocalist and frontwoman Nastassja Giulia commands the stage with incredible confidence, effortlessly moving between soaring clean vocals and aggressive intensity. Her connection with the crowd gives the show a personal edge – the crowd joining in along to ‘Sayonara’ while the rest of the band keeps the energy relentless with crushing riffs, tight musicianship and pounding rhythms that rock the boat. Songs like ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Release Me’ hit especially hard live, balancing melody and heaviness perfectly. Every breakdown lands hard, every chorus feels huge and the crowd respond to every moment.

Enemy Inside deliver a performance that feels both explosive and emotionally charged from beginning to end. Blending modern metalcore with catchy melodies and massive choruses, the band created a set that was impossible to ignore. What makes Enemy Inside stand out is how polished yet enthusiastic the performance feels. The production, lighting and stage presence all work together to create an intimate, immersive experience but it never loses the human element that makes a gig memorable. Once Enemy Inside exit the stage, there is the usual commotion of technicians and musicians, hurriedly removing and installing equipment. The drum kit for Smash Into Pieces is on an elevated platform already atop an elevated stage – the view from there will be quite amazing given the size of the venue! 

Once the lights dim, a dark figure steps onto the stage and climbs up onto the elevated drum kit platform. Now bathed in red light, this figure stands up and raises their arms into the air, the crowd release an almost anticipated barrage of “oooh”s and “aaah”s as a LED-lit mask comes alive – this is APOC, the masked drummer and central figure of Smash Into Pieces. APOC delivers a futuristic and cyberpunk inspired intro which ignites the show into life, the rest of the band joining him on stage for the opener ‘Man or Machine’ – quite the fitting opener given the theatrical introduction of the band. Vocalist Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye exudes incredible charisma and vocal power to the stage whilst lead guitarist Benjamin Jennebo and rhythm guitarist Per Bergquist deliver the killer riffs, thoroughly enjoying the night engaging with the crowd at both ends of the stage. Every song feels larger than life, backed by dramatic and synchronised lighting that perfectly matches the band’s futuristic aesthetic combined with APOC delivering a message before every song and this mysterious presence adds a unique visual element to the performance.

Smash Into Pieces deliver a show that feels less like a standard gig and more like a full-scale cinematic experience. Combining massive arena-ready hooks, electronic elements and explosive rock energy, the band has the crowd locked in from the very first note, jumping, singing, dancing along to each song. Tracks like ‘Six Feet Under’, ‘All Eyes on You’ and ‘Arcadia’ transform the venue into a singalong, with the audience shouting every word back at the band. There is genuine energy and emotion behind every moment, especially during the more anthemic choruses. Chris does however mention that he hates, and at the same time, loves venues like this – this might be due to the size of the venue and not being able to deploy the visual screens compared to the other venues on this tour. ‘Boomerang’ sees Enemy Inside’s Nastassja Giulia joining the band on stage as guest vocals and the crowd are treated to a dreamy combo of two powerful vocalists. We are also treated to an acoustic version of ‘Somebody Like You’ right after ‘Trigger’ took the energy to a whole new level.

The band close with their latest single, ‘Hollow’, released in February 2026 as their entry for Melodifestivalen 2026. Chris delivers a heart-warming speech, thanking everyone for supporting the band since the beginning and spanning almost 20 years. Musically, the band sound huge live. The balance between electronic textures, heavy guitars and soaring melodies is managed flawlessly, creating a sound that is both modern and powerful. Every transition feels seamless and the pacing of the set keeps the momentum high throughout the night. What truly makes this performance memorable is the atmosphere that Smash Into Pieces create. It is immersive, emotional and undeniably entertaining – the kind of show that stays with you long after the final song ends.