Sworn Enemy
Pumpehuset, Copenhagen - 2026
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
Second and final support band for Biohazard on their Divided We Fall tour was Queens based hardcore band Sworn Enemy, at least here in Copenhagen. Striking 13 had given it a good effort, but in the end they struck out, so would Sworn Enemy make friends or enemies of the local crowd?
From the start, it was noticeable that Sworn Enemy was a more welcome guest as there were far more in the room to watch them, and when the music came on the response was wilder. The band didn’t have more stage time than their tour mates before them, so they went straight to the point and they weren’t about to hold back! We were also not to be in doubt as to who was playing this time - the right backdrop was up, there were no confusing shirts worn, and if this wasn’t enough, they let their self-titled song Sworn Enemy open the set.
Sworn Enemy had pretty much the same stage setup as Striking 13, but they had more people on it, playing with no less than three guitarists, although I’m entirely sure why the latter was. They were three because both Jeff Cummings and Matt Garzilli were of course there, but they were also joined by Ian Cimaglia from Extinction A.D., again for some unknown reason. Apart from that, Taykwuan Jackson had been replaced by someone else behind the drums, but that someone remains a mystery. A polite and friendly mystery, as noticed as we had a short chat after the show, but still a mystery.
Anyway, the point I was getting to was that even though they had more people on the same amount of square metres, they were quite a bit more active and alive in their performance! I was standing on the side of Cummings and bassist Mike Pucciarelli, and I can tell you they were giving it their all! Not only that, but they were highly observant of the crowd, and especially Cummings often greeted, fist bumped, and handed out plectres to the fans in front of him.
Overall, Sworn Enemy had a good grip on Copenhagen, and when they asked for a circle pit, they didn’t just receive blank stares in reply, they received a circle pit! A big one, with runners throwing their shirts off and gliding past the people around it by the sweat of their efforts! The front row was headbanging away, when not screaming along to the band.
Sal Lococo asked who had seen the band before and who were new to the experience, and it seemed like it landed somewhere close to 50/50, but everyone acted like this was the time of their life, and understandably so. Sworn Enemy delivered a killer concert that left none unmoved, and to top it off, it was Cummings’ birthday and everyone got together for a loud sing along in his honour.
Sworn Enemy left Copenhagen decimated after their attack, no enemies in sight, all turned to friends and followers. On our last encounter I had liked their gig but had also rightly predicted that it wasn’t anything I’d remember. Not so this night, this was a show that will stay with me for a long time, and I’m looking forward to rocking out with them again in the future.
Setlist:
Sworn Enemy
Destroyer
Prepare For Payback
All I Have
As Real As It Gets
These Tears
I.D.S.
We Hate (incl. Pantera - Domination snippet)
From the start, it was noticeable that Sworn Enemy was a more welcome guest as there were far more in the room to watch them, and when the music came on the response was wilder. The band didn’t have more stage time than their tour mates before them, so they went straight to the point and they weren’t about to hold back! We were also not to be in doubt as to who was playing this time - the right backdrop was up, there were no confusing shirts worn, and if this wasn’t enough, they let their self-titled song Sworn Enemy open the set.
Sworn Enemy had pretty much the same stage setup as Striking 13, but they had more people on it, playing with no less than three guitarists, although I’m entirely sure why the latter was. They were three because both Jeff Cummings and Matt Garzilli were of course there, but they were also joined by Ian Cimaglia from Extinction A.D., again for some unknown reason. Apart from that, Taykwuan Jackson had been replaced by someone else behind the drums, but that someone remains a mystery. A polite and friendly mystery, as noticed as we had a short chat after the show, but still a mystery.
Anyway, the point I was getting to was that even though they had more people on the same amount of square metres, they were quite a bit more active and alive in their performance! I was standing on the side of Cummings and bassist Mike Pucciarelli, and I can tell you they were giving it their all! Not only that, but they were highly observant of the crowd, and especially Cummings often greeted, fist bumped, and handed out plectres to the fans in front of him.
Overall, Sworn Enemy had a good grip on Copenhagen, and when they asked for a circle pit, they didn’t just receive blank stares in reply, they received a circle pit! A big one, with runners throwing their shirts off and gliding past the people around it by the sweat of their efforts! The front row was headbanging away, when not screaming along to the band.
Sal Lococo asked who had seen the band before and who were new to the experience, and it seemed like it landed somewhere close to 50/50, but everyone acted like this was the time of their life, and understandably so. Sworn Enemy delivered a killer concert that left none unmoved, and to top it off, it was Cummings’ birthday and everyone got together for a loud sing along in his honour.
Sworn Enemy left Copenhagen decimated after their attack, no enemies in sight, all turned to friends and followers. On our last encounter I had liked their gig but had also rightly predicted that it wasn’t anything I’d remember. Not so this night, this was a show that will stay with me for a long time, and I’m looking forward to rocking out with them again in the future.
Setlist:
Sworn Enemy
Destroyer
Prepare For Payback
All I Have
As Real As It Gets
These Tears
I.D.S.
We Hate (incl. Pantera - Domination snippet)
Sworn Enemy
