ALBUM REVIEW: ARMAHEAVEN – Smash Into Pieces
SMASH INTO PIECES are causing quite a stir. The Swedish metalcore mob have been on a steady rise over the first half of the decade, from opening the hugely successful EVANESCENCE and WITHIN TEMPTATION run in 2022 to coming close to representing their country at Eurovision on more than one occasion. They’re also incredibly prolific, with ARMAHEAVEN – self-released on October 31st – marking their ninth studio album in just twelve years.
It picks up where last year’s Ghost Code left off and continues the incredible universe the band have built; antagonist Ghostis has seized control of the world, but as his resistances fall, a new, AI-driven entity rises tall, resulting in a war for dominance that threatens to wipe out humanity once and for all.
It’s incredible at just what SMASH INTO PIECES have crafted over their career, and there’s plenty on ARMAHEAVEN which shows why they’re finally getting their flowers. Paradise, one of three tracks featuring guest singers, sees AMARANTHE‘s Eliza Ryd compliment SMASH… singer Chris Sörbye well on a slick, pacey track which builds well into synth-laden crescendos. Hurricane boasts a sizeable breakdown, and the industrial edge to Devil in My Head is aided by an infectious chorus.
Then there’s Flame, which features former Swedish Idol winner LIAMOO, laden with synths and cantering along nicely, and the soaring Man or Machine, which gives LINKIN PARK vibes. Special mention must go to the production throughout as well, which is very well balanced – you couldn’t get away with anything less given the band’s overall style, of course, but the clarity in which you can pick out each individual element must be applauded.
However, it doesn’t all hit. The use of autotune is unnecessary given how good vocalist Sörbye is, the worst offending track being Maze of Fools and Villain, while being a solid opening song, could have had more to it; you get the feeling the band were holding back. Wildfire is a damp squib of a song that leans too much on the poppier elements and drifts into IMAGINE DRAGONS territory, ending up devoid of personality, while A Sky Full of Stars includes a gospel-like refrain that makes little sense and undermines what should have been a touching, heartfelt ballad. Furthermore, even though only one song breaches three-and-a-half minutes in length, fifteen tracks is a lot for ANY album, and that means the second half begins to drag despite the continuing sparkles.
You cannot fault SMASH INTO PIECES‘ overall vision and storytelling – the universe they’ve built is impressive, and their desire to bring out regular chapters is to be admired. However, ARMAHEAVEN teeters on the edge of quantity over quality, and that’s a precarious position to be in; a trimming of the fat on the next album, coupled with a gap of more than two years before its release, could be just what the band need to reach the next level.
Rating: 6/10
ARMAHEAVEN is out now via self-release.
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