Album Review: Spiritbox - 'Eternal Blue'

Seemingly out the blue, Canadian metal trio Spiritbox exploded into the heavy psyche wielding an irresistible take on the post-metalcore trope.

The hype train has been real for the group, with husband and wife Mike Stringer and Courtney LaPlante joining forces with bassist Bill Crook back in 2018, following the -first Spiritbox release with a self-titled EP the year before. Swiftly, the group cemented their unique grip on the heavier genres while also dramatically commanding increased attention following the breakthrough single Holy Roller last year, signing with Rise Records, supporting After The Burial in Europe before COVID-19 stalled live shows and, as of this week, finally arriving at the release of their long-awaited debut album Eternal Blue.

From the outset of Eternal Blue, it's clear that Spiritbox are determined to stretch beyond the norm, with cinematic vulnerability greeting listeners on opening track Sun Killer, oscillating between crystalline sheen and brawling ferocity, largely driven by LaPlante's knockout vocals and some earth-shattering moments from touring and recording drummer Zev Rose. 

Eternal Blue cleverly elicits a range of elegance and grit, from ambient menace (Hurt You) to industrial djent-fueled mayhem (Yellowjacket, featuring Architects lead vocalist Sam Carter), pop-spiced calm (The Summit) razor-sharp anthems (Secret Garden), EDM tinges (We Live In A Strange World) and the Spiritbox version of a ballad that erupts into a deliciously ballistic breakdown for good measure (Halycon).

Lurking as the significant jewels in the Eternal Blue crown are undeniably in the form of Holy Roller and closing track Constance, with Holy Roller an absolute must-listen for LaPlante's vocals alone (and while you're at it, check out the one take live performance of the track for some legitimate vocal insanity courtesy of LaPlate herself). And playing the Jekyll to Holy Roller's Hyde is the stunning Constance, a track inspired by LaPlante's late grandmother and a stirring home run that perfectly balances the obvious talent Spiritbox exhibit in exhilarating fashion across the album. 

If you're a heavy fan, there's no introduction needed for Spiritbox. But for those still new to the story, Eternal Blue is a unique and blossoming showcase that settles once and for all whether the hype around a group like this is deserved or not. 

From lurching instrumentals to swirling warmth and austerity, there's a staggering weight behind everything the Spiritbox light touches. Ultimately offering a bewitching lesson in duality and impetuous beauty, Eternal Blue is a true and exciting journey that will keep you guessing right until the end, stealing and ultimately healing your heart under the guise of an alt metal album.  

Spiritbox may not have invented the progressive metal wheel, but rejuvenation is the name of the game on Eternal Blue, and if their debut album is anything to go on, just imagine what incredible things lie in wait down the track.