Ghost Code

Smash Into Pieces has been one of my favourite bands in recent time. I got to see them live last year on the Manifest / Ghost Code tour, which was an unforgettable experience.

When Ghost Code came out, I checked it out instantly. The non-singles (there werent many, since SIP like to release all of their good singles before releasing the rest of the album) didn't latch onto me at first, but the more I listened to them, the more I truly understood those songs.

Every song is great from start to finish, and I love how they incorporate synths and other pop elements into their music. It reminds me of what Dayseeker did with Dark Sun, and both bands really show everyone they know what they're doing.

I didn't like The Tide at first, and it took a long time for me to really get into it, and now that I have, it's one of the best songs on the album. I love Flow, it brings me back to their older material and brings influences of modern metalcore into it. Once again, I heard inspirations of Neon Grave by Dayseeker (the lead single off Dark Sun).

APOC's drumming in these songs truly match what the band was going for. Benjamin and Per's guitar work sounded great, and the vocals from Chris really show off his amazing range, which he really doesn't need to, because he's so talented, but he does anyway, and its a pleasant surprise. They haven't had a bassist since Rise And Shine came out, and they probably have a ghost bassist playing on the tracks, but even the bass works really well with the melodies.

Trigger is an interesting song however, because the "boom boom" samples in the post-chorus are repetitive and can be a bit annoying, but the rest of the song is so catchy that it doesn't really bother me anymore. It's like your neighbor that you didn't expect at your front door but then you have dinner with them for hours and you become friends with them. That's exactly what it reminds me of.

Ghost Code is a modern attempt at electronic rock, definitely inspired by Linkin Park and other modern bands doing similar things, also potentially inspired by Linkin Park. The whole album has no misses, but the mix can be a little muddy at times, which is one of the reasons as to why I gave the album a 90.

Nonetheless, Smash Into Pieces means business, and I'm really intrigued to hear what their next album holds in store for me.