Spiritbox : "Tsunami Sea"

I really liked their 2021 album "Eternal Blue". It scored a 9.5, so that is a lot to measure up against but the singles leading up to this highly anticipated album were pretty good. We hear many of the same elements employed on the opening track. While they are operating within the bounce of the post-djent metal core, there are enough interesting elements, like the more robotic vocal effect used on the verses of "Black Rainbow". However, I think it's the band's pop leaning that helps separate them from their peers as Courtney is better at vocal hooks than the singer for Jinger or Infected Rain who works in similar sonic circles.  This is where a song like "Perfect Soul" finds them shining. You also hear the strength of their hooks on "Keep Sweet"  which is even poppier perhaps. 

Unlike most pop acts, there are no additional songwriters much less a team of one. The most pop moment on the album comes much later on "Crystal Roses", though there are more rock dynamics in play. She toys with auto-tune as an effect rather than relying on it. The title track leans into melody almost to the point of being a prog power ballad. But it's still heavier than the new Dream Theater. Their drummer really fills the spaces with interesting playing that they build off of. "A Haven With Two Faces" finds the harsher vocals return after they have lured you into a false sense of security, as this song spills over from the more serene vibes of the previous one. 

"No Loss No Love" breaks from any notion of formulas this album has conceived and is where the album takes a more experimental slant and more electronic elements begin to creep in. "Ride the Wave" finds this taking them back in a pop direction, but to the band's credit, like their pop tendencies or not, they do not have a team of songwriters and producers coming up with their hooks for them, it's all Spiritbox. I am pretty picky when it comes to pop, so to my ears this is well done. With 'Ride the Wave" it does climax in a heavy explosion. It ends with "Deep End" which also touches on a more melancholic pop that shifts into anthemic rock, Since this album has more hard work invested in it's writing than their previous album I am going to give it a 10 and see how it grows on me. I think they have found their place in the landscape of the music biz here, and we will see them get bigger than they already are. 

 

pst107