With Tsunami Sea, it’s evident that Spiritbox is a band that does not hold back. With a history of blending ethereal melodies and crushing heaviness, the Canadian metalcore outfit continue to challenge themselves, delivering an album that is fuelled by contrast. From the haunting, balladic title track to the unrelenting ferocity of ‘Soft Spine’, Tsunami Sea absorbs both peace and madness and propels metalcore to new heights while still maintaining intact the band's own sonic identity.
In essence, Tsunami Sea is a great album. Spiritbox has mastered the art of writing songs that bounce between moments of tranquility and pure brutality. The title track, ‘Tsunami Sea’, is one of the most intimate songs in the band’s discography, built on atmospheric soundscapes, ethereal vocals, and shimmering guitar lines that ebb and flow like sea currents. Courtney LaPlante's delivery is eerily vulnerable, highlighting her ability to convey raw emotion without resorting to screaming for which she is best known. Far from bursting into heaviness however, the track builds in ferocity over time, achieving a pseudo-post-rock grandeur.
In contrast, ‘Soft Spine’ is a relentless, vicious track with Spiritbox in full-on heavy mode. The opening riff is sharp and unpredictable and sets a sense of desperation from the beginning. LaPlante's snarling, venomous voice drives the track along, and breakdowns hit with full force. Even in all ferocity, however, the track is well constructed and has room for each instrument to breathe and shine.
A drawback to Tsunami Sea's tracklisting is that there are two songs that are ballad-like in nature, ‘Deep End’ and ‘Tsunami Sea’, which somewhat lessen their overall impact within the framework of the album. Having one softer, atmospheric track can be a powerful contrast to the rest of the album's heavier songs, but with two songs occupying this space, the contrast is not as effective. Both songs are breathtakingly constructed and include LaPlante's haunting vocal range, but their presence creates a feeling that Tsunami Sea's softer moments are not as deliberate within a metal album that is otherwise driven by ferocity.
Abrupt song transitions within an album can give an unpredictable ride that is both thrilling and sometimes jarring - unfortunately in Spiritbox’s case, Tsunami Sea leans towards jarring. For example, the transition between ‘A Haven With Two Faces’ and ‘No Loss No Love’, with the latter being all about dark, ominous atmosphere and the former beginning immediately with a ferocious, electronic-infused assault. Such blunt transitions are what contribute to making the album have a chaotic energy, developing a listening experience designed to give the listener whiplash. While this is what keeps the listener on their toes, there are instances where transitions are so abrupt that you’re not given a chance to fully settle into a given track before being catapulted into the next.
The rhythm section is a constant standout, however. Bassist Josh Gilbert is more featured than ever, providing a rich, propulsive push to the album's intricate arrangements. His basslines aren't obscured beneath walls of guitar but instead add a further dimension to the sound. Take ‘No Loss No Love’, for example. The bass is crucial to establishing the song's glitchy, electronic-heavy intro before sliding into a groove-based verse. Drummer Zev Rosenberg is equally impressive, with a performance that fluidly alternates between raw power and technical accuracy. Spiritbox songs frequently incorporate unexpected tempo changes and shifting rhythmic structures, and Rosenberg navigates them with ease. ‘Crystal Roses’ is a prime example, beginning with a smooth, almost drum & bass-esque rhythm before shifting to a thumping, direct four to the floor beat. He is able to accommodate the dynamic nature of the album and is largely responsible for Tsunami Sea never getting stuck in a groove, always shifting between moods and textures to maintain an immersive atmosphere.
Though there are slight production issues throughout the album, aspects such as the delicate synth layers in ‘Tsunami Sea’ and atmospheric guitar effects in ‘No Loss No Love’ are executed flawlessly. ‘Fata Morgana’ is the only track whose production is somewhat confused, with guitar, synth, and vocal layers fighting for space rather than complementing each other. With the rest of the album being so highly polished, this is a rare miss.
Tsunami Sea is a daring and engrossing album that confirms Spiritbox as a prominent modern metalcore band. Whilst there were undoubtedly places that the band could edit or improve, the albums strengths outshine its weaknesses. Overall, it’s a good listen that brings together the best aspects of some great metal genres.
Score: 6/10
Tsunami Sea will be released on March 7th 2025 via Pale Chord and Rise Records.
Words: Vee Richardson
Photos: Spiritbox
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