SPIRITBOX - Eternal Blue
Pictured: Bill Crook, Courtney LaPlante + Michael Stringer - SPIRITBOX
Photo by: Lyndsey Byrnes @lyndseybyrnes
A Debut that Sets an Eternal Legacy
Written by: Rod Whitfield - Independent
Covid be damned, we have been treated to an absolute feast of fabulous new music in the mid-latter stages of 2021. Most notably, for this review anyway, two bands that often get lumped into the same category, the Ukraine’s awesome JINJER, and now America’s SPIRITBOX, both releasing within a few weeks of each other. Their individual sounds aren’t a million miles apart – they could certainly tour together comfortably, if they haven’t already – and they both feature female lead vocalists who change up seamlessly between soaring, ear-pleasing cleans and flesh-ripping dirties. But, at the same time, they are absolutely distinct from each other, in myriad ways.
Pictured: Bill Cook, Coutney LaPlante + Michael Stringer - SPIRITBOX
Photo by: Travis Shinn @travis_shinn
The Review
Indeed, there is something about SPIRITBOX’S music, something indefinable. Coming from the background that the two key members (husband and wife team Courtney La Plante and Mike Stringer) did, the far more extreme, more avant-garde metal act iwrestledabearonce, the sound and output of SPIRITBOX is somewhat of a surprise. While their sound fits comfortably within the broader ‘heavy music’ spectrum, listening to their music somehow feels like sliding into an expensive feather bed adorned with silken sheets (albeit with the occasional neck-snapping jolt). Their music washes over you like a gently flowing tide. As much as heavy music can anyway.
Having released two excellent previous EPs, anticipation was high for their debut long-player, and with Eternal Blue, they have let no one down.
Even though the album is awash with immersive soundscapes, it’s not to say there aren’t many moments of crunchy, powerhouse heaviness. Yellowjacket (which features Sam Carter of ARCHITECTS fame on a blistering guest vocal spot) is just about the heaviest thing they’ve ever done, although it has an electronic element to it as well, long-released single Holy Roller will never not be an absolute beast of a track and Silk in the Strings rocks like the absolute blazes.
Elsewhere, The Summit, Constance (which closes the album in evocative and emotional style) and dramatic opener Sun Killer soothe and swoon with their beautiful ambience, although each possess subtle power as well.
And songs like Hurt You, Halcyon and the fabulous title track skilfully bridge the gap between the two extremes.
So, ultimately, it is an album of sweet and extremely welcome variation, dynamics and light and shade. This is a band that has announced from the very outset of its career that it will not be caged by convention or category, will not be painted into a stylistic box. And they have very quickly become one of the more interesting modern heavy bands for it.
It would be remiss of any reviewer to not mention the vocals, and vocal presence, of the wondrous Courtney La Plante. Such a varied sound requires a vocalist of immense technical skill, range and facility as well as great feel and passion, and La Plante’s stunning voice ticks all the boxes. And then some. Alongside Tatiana from the aforementioned JINJER, she is quickly emerging as one of the best vocalists in heavy music (and no, that doesn’t just mean one of the best ‘female’ vocalists in heavy music).
The Verdict
The wait for this band’s debut has felt like a long one, but now it’s here, expectations have been met and shattered. Eternal Blue is unquestionably one of the best albums of 2021, and time is likely to prove it a modern classic that transcends years and eras. Grab it now.
9/10
Eternal Blue is OUT NOW via Rise Records and BMG Australia
More from SPIRITBOX…
Pictured: Bill Cook, Coutney LaPlante + Michael Stringer - SPIRITBOX
Photo by: Travis Shinn @travis_shinn