Spiritbox - Tsunami sea review

Hayes Rose
Mar 17, 2025
9 min read

Spiritbox’s long awaited album, Tsunami Sea, blessed our ears on March 7th, marking a bold new chapter for the Canadian metal powerhouse. With 11 tracks (oh boy!). this album follows up their groundbreaking 2021 debut, Eternal Blue, which introduced the world to their signature blend of atmospheric metalcore, unreal breakdowns, and ethereal melodies (courtney, i love you).

despite the pandemic and other showbiz things delaying the release, Fans have been patiently waiting for Tsunami Sea and Spiritbox has been keeping the excitement alive with a string of fantastic singles over the past few months, including one of my favourite ‘soft spine’ and the intense ‘perfect soul.’ Led by vocalist Courtney LaPlante, who continues to shatter expectations with her dynamic range and unapologetic presence, Spiritbox proves once again that they’re not just a band to watch, they’re here to redefine the boundaries of heavy music.

LaPlante’s fierce defiance against critics who still question her role as a woman in metal only fuels the fire, cementing her as one of the most empowering voices in modern metal.

FATA MORGANA

Fata Morgana opens with an explosive, hard hitting intro that instantly sets the tone for what’s to come, sparking an excitement that carries through the entire album. The track then transitions into Courtney LaPlante’s commanding vocals, effortlessly shifting between guttural screams and hauntingly clean choruses. The heavy guitar riffs hit like a freight train, with a distorted, glitch like quality that adds a unique flavor to the track. The bass work is noticeable, filling out the sound and giving it an almost industrial vibe, creating a sense of looming tension. This sonic heaviness is expertly balanced by LaPlante’s beautifully melodic clean vocals in the chorus, offering a moment of relief before diving back into the chaos. The chorus itself

“Fate is a mirage, hold me up till the morning, await in phenomenon, let it go without warning”

captures a sense of fleeting uncertainty, a theme that feels both personal and universal. It’s a powerful opener that sets the stage for an album that’s equal parts brutal and ethereal.

BLACK RAINBOW

Black Rainbow intro is like the begining of what feels like an anxiety attack for me (niche? i guess?) like your ears have been hijacked with distorted, glitchy voices taking control of your senses. The atmosphere is heavy, tense, and mechanical... perfectly setting the stage for the chaos that’s about to unfold. Then, the chorus cuts through, offering a brief moment of clarity. It’s as if a voice is breaking through the system, trying to free you from the digital prison you’ve been trapped in. The words “Dissolve, displace, rejoice, repeat” are a call to break the cycle, to move beyond the confines of a world that holds you back.

The song leaves you questioning the meaning behind the "black rainbow"—what does it represent? Is it a metaphor for escape, for transcending the limits of a broken system or is it something more elusive? for these guys its actually about their hometown! yup. an island in victoria, british columbia. they sat down with apple music to talk about this further stating

"I wanted to call this song ‘Black Rainbow’ because the director that made Beyond the Black Rainbow is from our island. it’s basically about someone dropped into something where they become completely disoriented. Which is how I feel sometimes " - courtney & Mike for Apple Music

.for me? Black Rainbow opens your eyes to the idea of breaking free from constraints, but leaves you wondering if we’re ever really free, or if we're just part of an ongoing loop.

KEEP SWEET

Keep Sweet stands out as a deeply personal and impactful track on Tsunami Sea, with Courtney LaPlante’s clean vocals once again stealing the spotlight. Her ability to seamlessly move between genres and styles is something that deserves more recognition. she truly can do it all.

In this track, her voice carries a vulnerability that is both haunting and empowering, and it highlights the song's core message about the societal pressures women face to be "sweet" and submissive. (REVOLUTION)

The chorus feels like a direct message to someone who has hurt you, with lyrics that suggest a willingness to do anything just to stay safe and “sweet” for the sake of others. It’s a sentiment that speaks to a larger issue, one that Courtney herself has faced as a woman, a theme that resonates deeply for anyone who has been in similar situations. As a victim of these societal pressures, Courtney has become a vital voice in the metal scene, giving women a much needed platform to speak out against these constraints.

The timing of the release (during International Women’s Day weekend) is nothing short of a statement, underscoring the power and relevance of the message.

Keep Sweet is more than just a song... it's a reminder that we need these kinds of voices in the metal scene. Courtney has carved out a space where women’s voices and struggles can be heard and felt, and this track is a perfect example of that. It’s the kind of song you need to listen to with the lyrics in front of you, taking in every word, because it’s a message that demands attention.

soft spine

Soft Spine (being their first single) serves as a blistering introduction to Spiritbox's second album, Tsunami Sea, delivering a raw and unfiltered expression of frustration towards the music industry's darker aspects. Courtney LaPlante's vocals are particularly noteworthy, showcasing her ability to seamlessly transition between guttural screams and melodic clean singing, a testament to her versatility and range as a vocalist. (and yes, i will talk about this alot! she is just that talented)

The track's composition is a masterclass in heaviness, with relentless guitar riffs and a powerful rhythm section that drive the song forward. The breakdowns are intense and mosh pit ready, while the chorus introduces a melodic element that adds depth to the composition. This blend of aggression and melody highlights the band's dynamic range and their ability to craft songs that are both heavy and emotionally resonant.

Lyrically, "Soft Spine" is a direct confrontation with the industry's superficiality (love that) and exploitation (really love that). LaPlante articulates a fantasy of wielding influence to impact the financial interests of those she deems unethical, reflecting a desire for empowerment in an environment that often marginalizes authenticity. This sentiment is encapsulated in the line,

"I can’t beat anybody up or kick anyone’s ass, but the narrator in the song can, and they’re not scared to do it." - COURTNEY FOR APPLE MUSIC

In summary, "Soft Spine" is a potent blend of ferocity and melody, serving as a testament to Spiritbox's growth and their commitment to addressing pertinent social issues. It sets a high bar for the rest of Tsunami Sea, promising an album that is both sonically diverse and thematically compelling.

tsunami sea

Tsunami Sea is a track that hits hard, but in a completely different way compared to the rest of the album. While the song’s mood might feel like a ‘break’ in the sense that it’s not as aggressive as the other tracks, the lyrics tell a story that’s anything but peaceful. Listening to it while navigating my own personal cyclone (literally and figuratively) Tsunami Sea takes on a whole new meaning. It’s a metaphor for the kind of emotional turmoil that comes from heartbreak and feeling like you’re drowning in your own feelings.

The song’s themes are incredibly relatable, especially with gut punching lines like “You hold your breath for someone I'll never be” and “I'll turn my tears into a tsunami sea.” The buildup of tears, emotions, and unspoken words manifests as this giant, dangerous force, and it becomes clear that, while you’re in it, you don’t know how to escape the mess. It’s that feeling of holding on to something that isn’t right for you, yet feeling stuck in it, only for it to drag you down further. “Could lay here for hours,” is another lyric that’s honestly just too real. You get stuck in this emotional deadlock, unable to move, yet feeling everything crashing around you.

“You only love the ideation of me” I hear you loud and clear, Courtney.

This is the kind of heartbreak that makes you want to text every ex and old friend and just say, “Yeah, this is what you did to me.” But in all that pain,

there’s beauty in the way Spiritbox expresses it. raw, vulnerable, and utterly captivating. The song is beautifully tragic, and despite the intense emotions it evokes, it’s quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Spiritbox once again proves they can write songs that aren’t just powerful sonically, but deeply personal and relatable. This track may be bittersweet, but it’s definitely another no-skip hit on this fantastic album.

a haven with two faces

A Haven With Two Faces perfectly encapsulates these emotions of home, isolation and identity, offering a hauntingly beautiful reflection on the duality of their home island, Victoria, British Columbia.

The song opens with an eerie yet delicate guitar riff, setting a melancholic tone before Courtney LaPlante’s clean vocals take center stage. The chorus delivers a powerful emotional pull:

"I hope you still have a hideaway for me Under the mountain, floating on the sea. Swear I saw an island there, washed away by a temporary stream. I hope it still flows back to me."

Lyrically, the track is a longing call to something once familiar but now distant... a place, a person, or even a past version of oneself. Unlike some of the heavier tracks on the album, “A Haven With Two Faces” leans into a more mellow, atmospheric approach (for spiritbox) proving that Spiritbox’s ability to convey deep emotion isn’t confined to aggressive breakdowns. The haunting guitar melodies at the start and end create a full-circle moment, reinforcing the song’s theme of searching for something lost.

By the final moments, it feels like a last plea to reconnect with whatever has faded away, a sentiment that resonates universally. A Haven With Two Faces is a stunning, introspective piece that stands out as one of the most emotionally impactful songs on Tsunami Sea.

no loss, no love

As one of the lead singles, No Loss, No Love is a powerful display of Spiritbox’s ability to channel raw emotion into their music. From the opening moments, the track sets an intense, almost chaotic tone, instantly pulling the listener in with an electrifying build up.

The energy in this song is undeniable. it feels like an explosive release of anger, a cathartic purge of emotion wrapped in the band’s signature mix of heavy riffs and gorgeous melodies. Courtney LaPlante’s vocals fluctuate between visceral screams and eerie, spoken like passages, further amplifying the song’s unsettling yet captivating atmosphere. The final lyrics, “Under the surface, I see now, it’s showing its teeth,” cut deep, just before the song is swallowed in an abrupt ending, like being consumed by the very struggle the lyrics explore.

to me...Lyrically... “No Loss, No Love” is complex and open to interpretation. At first, it’s difficult to grasp, but that’s what makes it so compelling. Spiritbox masterfully crafts metaphors that require reflection, and as the meaning starts to unravel, it becomes clear: this song embodies the moment of acceptance in the midst of struggle. It mirrors the final stage of grief, once you acknowledge the pain, it no longer holds power over you.

This track is a punch in the gut in the best way possible—heavy, emotionally charged, and thought-provoking. It’s a testament to Spiritbox’s ability to push sonic and lyrical boundaries, making “No Loss, No Love” one of the most impactful moments on Tsunami Sea.

crystal roses

Crystal Roses is Spiritbox like you've never heard them before. A stark contrast to the heavier moments of Tsunami Sea, this track feels like a dreamlike descent into the unknown. Courtney LaPlante herself describes it as a “gentler version” of No Loss, No Love, with a hypnotic drum loop that puts you in a trance. And that’s exactly what this song does... it floats, it beckons, it disorients.

Sonically, Crystal Roses plays with formant-shifting vocals that blur gender identity, blending ethereal melodies with a pulsing electronic undercurrent. It’s part metal, part pop, part something you'd hear at a late night rave. The experimentation might not be for everyone, but there's no denying it achieves what it set out to do, push boundaries.

Spiritbox continues to evolve, and whether you love or question this track, one thing’s for sure: they refuse to be predictable.

ride the waves

From the moment Ride the Wave begins, there’s a moment of hesitation. another soft intro? Another deceptive calm before the storm? Spiritbox is keeping us on edge with Tsunami Sea, and this track is no exception. Courtney LaPlante’s delicate vocals glide over subdued guitars and drums, luring listeners into a false sense of security. But then, the chorus arrives. The build-up is haunting, beautiful, and electrifying. The echoes, the layering, the sheer emotional release, it all feels incredible.

Lyrically, Ride the Wave delivers some of the album’s most gut punching lines, with “If the sentence is right, why does my body disappear?” hitting especially hard. And then there’s the Jimmy Eat World influence, which LaPlante herself credits as a driving force behind the chorus. The harmonies, featuring bassist Josh Gilbert, aren’t just background, they’re integral to the song’s depth and impact. And it works. Perfectly.

Spiritbox keeps us guessing, keeps us feeling, and most importantly, keeps us riding the wave.

deep end

You know when a song just feels like the perfect album closer? That’s Deep End. It effortlessly ties together all the sonic elements explored throughout Tsunami Sea, blending them into one stunning finale. The track carries an almost old school punk energy, if punk was fused with Spiritbox’s signature ethereal heaviness. Just me? Maybe. But it works.

The build up to the breakdown is mesmerizing, layered with Courtney LaPlante’s unreal vocals. She deserves every ounce of recognition for her sheer talent, and this song is proof of why Spiritbox continues to rise. Having only recently dived into their music, I truly wish I had sooner. They are a phenomenal band with extraordinary creativity, and Deep End showcases that beautifully.

Final verdict? 9.5/10 only because they keep throwing curveballs at me! But honestly? I love it.

Spiritbox’s album 'tsunami sea' purchase here,

and they’re hitting the road to celebrate. If this record is any indication, this is only the beginning of their next massive era. purchase tickets here