Spiritbox - Tsunami Sea
Spiritbox has already made an impact on the metal scene for themselves with the way they blend metalcore with a wide variety of other genres. The Canadian metalcore group gained attention with their debut self-titled EP in 2017, followed by three more EP’s. Their 2020 album, Eternal Blue, marked their first full-length release. Spiritbox has continually pushed boundaries and experimented with their sound. They have released their second studio album, Tsnuami Sea.
Fata Morgana
The album starts off heavy, which comes as no surprise. From the first line, Courtney LaPlante showcases her diverse vocal range starting with ferocious screams to switching to an ethereal melody where her vocals almost fade to the background. The heavy, distorted guitars create a haunting backdrop, driving the song’s tension forward. The track focuses on our protagonist dealing with her own inner turmoil and the struggle of finding a sense of purpose. With the line “Fate is a mirage,” reflects on the idea of fate being a mirage reflects this sense of disillusionment—like there’s a belief in something greater or a destined outcome. The track builds this sense of tension before releasing into a rhythmic breakdown that will have you banging your head.
Black Rainbow
The track begins with vivid imagery of, opening with "Inside the midnight, you've been slithering," creating a dark, atmospheric setting. Creating the illusion of slithering through darkness explores the idea of deterioration. The robotic vocals featured in the track creates a mechanical feel to the track. The distorted, artificial voices convey the idea of the loss of humanity, like the protagonist of the song is trapped in a decaying reality. While the robotic vocals add an unsettling layer, the vocals are so overprocessed it’s difficult to distinguish what LaPlante is singing. The track remains rather ambiguous that these vocals are an overkill.
Perfect Soul
The track explores themes of release and longing. Lines like “Buried underneath melted snow,” and “Imitation of a perfect soul,” paint an image of inner conflict and self-reflection. The protagonist wrestles with the weight of judgement. The lyrics “I shine a light into a thousand eyes / All watching, waiting (bury me)” hit with a powerful, almost haunting imagery of exposure and judgment. LaPlante shines as a vocalist in this album, showing her versatility as a vocalist. One track she is belting out incredible screams and the next track she is singing delicate melodies.
Keep Sweet
There's a tension throughout the track, where the lyrics reflect an attempt to stay calm and collected in the face of overwhelming pressure. The track focuses on the protagonist’s internal struggles of trying to guard herself from the harshness of the world around her. The lines “Crooked teeth and hungry eyes / Cannot latch onto me when I walk alone,” suggests the protagonists feels her only hope of living a quiet life is to live alone. LaPlante is able to switch from delicate, vulnerable vocals to belting out incredible screams to convey the built-up frustration overflowing.
Soft Spine
A heavier, more aggressive track, the protagonist brings attention to the fake facades in the music industry and modern society. LaPlante delivering some of the most impassioned vocals on the album. The song's brutal heaviness is matched by its sharp lyrics, which attack hypocrisy and superficiality. Lines like “You all deserve each other / You steal the echo from their ghosts,” creates the image of a world where those in power exploit and betray without remorse. The track speaks to the betrayal and cancel culture prevalent in today’s society and highlights how easily loyalty can be broken.
Tsunami Sea
The track explores the struggles between self-identity and expectations from those surrounding them. Lines like “You hold your breath for someone I’ll never be,” reflects on the protagonist being shaped by someone else’s desires. The ocean imagery throughout the track captures the emotional turmoil the protagonist is facing and creating a comparison to drowning in their own internal turmoil. It’s a visual representation of the weight of these unmet expectations, where the internal struggle manifests as a tidal wave of emotion.
A Haven with Two Faces
The track explores themes of longing, loss, and the duality of safe spaces—represented by the "haven with two faces." These faces symbolize the tension between creation and destruction, with lyrics like “One is to create and one is to replace it” highlighting the fragility of sanctuary and the constant push and pull between what is built and what is lost. LaPlante’s vocals are haunting and evocative, perfectly capturing the emotional weight of these lyrics. Her voice moves from vulnerable and reflective in the softer moments to a more powerful and urgent tone as the song builds, mirroring the internal struggle to hold on to something that feels increasingly out of reach.
No Loss No Love
Spiritbox picks back up the intensity in this next track delves deep into emotional turmoil and isolation. The song opens with vivid imagery like “I feel as clear as the eye in the sky” and “Send me down in a spiral,” setting the tone for a sense of numbness and despair. The repeated line “Now I feel as clear as the eye that I follow” suggests a cold detachment, as though the protagonist is watching their own spiraling emotions from a distance, powerless to intervene.
Crystal Roses
The track opens with atmospheric, almost dreamlike imagery—“Destination is a meadow / A siren who sings in the dark”—creating an otherworldly vibe. The electronic influence throughout is subtle but undeniable. The airy synths and atmospheric effects that permeate the song give it a sense of detachment, like floating in a dream or drifting. The electronic elements aren’t overpowering. They enhance the mood of the song, allowing the vocals to shine while providing a haunting backdrop that complements the emotional depth of the track.
Ride The Wave
The song begins with an atmospheric, almost ethereal backdrop, but the multiple layers of sound quickly build up, overwhelming the vocals of LaPlante. This creates a bit of a struggle for LaPlante’s voice to fully cut through the melody. The production is successful in creating an immersive sound for the listeners, it comes at the cost of LaPlante’s delivery of the lyrics. There’s a constant struggle between wanting to break free and the realization that “my heart corrodes itself,” symbolizing how unchecked emotions can eat away at one's sense of self.
Deep End
Spiritbox ends the final track on the album on a softer note compared to the heavier opening. The song explores themes of emotional turmoil and feeling lost in one’s own mind. With lines like “Climbed the seawall / To discover that my world is small,” it sets the tone of isolation and struggle. The repeated “Would’ve lived for you / Would’ve died for you” expresses the depth of attachment and desperation, while water imagery like “I attach them to my body / A distraction in the current” highlights the feeling of being overwhelmed and adrift.
Courtney LaPlante’s vocals stand out throughout, and the album explores themes of emotional struggle and self-discovery. While some parts may feel a little overproduced, the album brings a powerful mix of intensity and vulnerability makes it engaging. Whether you’re a fan of the heavier side or the more atmospheric tracks, there’s something here for everyone. It’s definitely worth a listen for those looking for an album that shows versatility.