Spiritbox Eternal Blue Review: Track-By-Track Breakdown
The debut album by Spiritbox is finally here! It is not every day that a debut record has this kind of hype behind it. “Eternal Blue” is one of the highest profile releases of the year, and for good reason. The band have released banger after banger leading up to the record’s release. It is no wonder why the band is already being considered one of the biggest band’s of this generation. The hype leading up to the album was certainly real, but did the record live up to the monumental amount of hype? I will be breaking down the highly anticipated album track-by-track in this Spiritbox Eternal Blue Review. Listen along by using the Spotify album link below and let’s jump on in!
FFO: Wage War, Iwrestledabearonce, Crown The Empire, Memphis May Fire
Listen to: Circle With Me, Holy Roller, Hurt You, Sun Killer, The Summit
Spiritbox is:
Courtney LaPlante – vocals
Mike Stringer – guitar
Bill Crook – bass
Their Socials:
Eternal Blue: Track-By-Track Review
Sun Killer
I am so glad Spiritbox saved the intro track for the album release. “Sun Killer” is one of the best tracks on the album and best album introductions I have heard in a hot minute. Sun Killer is a hauntingly brutal track that perfectly sets the tone for the album.
Frontwoman Courtney LaPlante shows off her somber singing voice throughout the first half of the track while backed up by crushing chugs of the guitar. This continues until a creepy yet exhilarating build up begins. Courtney repeatedly chants “sun killer sing me to sleep” while layered with a chilling robotic voice. The build up pays of beautifully, with one of the best breakdowns on the album hitting full force. The track ends on a powerful note, but it is not the end of the headbanging. Spiritbox are about to devastate your ears with one of the best three track runs in the genre.
Hurt You
The heaviness and dark vibes continue with “Hurt You”. Substituting the more progressive sound of opener “Sun Killer” with nu-metal riffs worthy of a Korn record, the track keeps the energy going strong. The riffs in the verse are the star of “Hurt You”, which just shows how talented of a band Spiritbox is. Courtney is an incredible vocalist, but the band are not a one-woman show. The bouncy and dark riffs found in the track are guaranteed to go off in a live setting. No one will be staying still during this one.
The chorus is one of the catchiest ones on the record, and it is juxtaposed so well with the heavy verses. The chorus isn’t catchy in a poppy manner, but in a haunting way that matches the tone of the song. Add in a bouncy nu-metal breakdown, and you have a perfect final single to display the many sounds of Spiritbox. No wonder I was so blown away upon my initial reaction to the track.
Yellowjacket (feat. Sam Carter)
Did I mention that the album starts with one of the best three song runs in the genre? If you went through the album blind, I can imagine it would be hard to even notice a change in the tracks. The three songs just run and run, blending into one heavy onslaught to kick off the album with. “Yellowjacket” fits in perfectly with Sun Killer. The distortion in the screamed verses make the track nearly seem like a direct sequel. Add in a feature from metalcore legend Sam Carter and you have yourself another great addition to a great album.
The Summit
“The Summit” breaks the dark and heavy trend set by the previous three tracks. The song is melodic in nature and reminds me off the slower and groovier Periphery tracks. The verses are slow and crooning and the chorus is one of the best on the entire record. The song writing is strong here – as expected from Spiritbox – and I believe this track easily could have been a single. When a non-single has a chorus this fantastic, you know the album is something special.
Secret Garden
Spiritbox keeps the catchy and progressive sound going strong with “Secret Garden”. An instant fan-favorite, the track is far more emotional than most tracks on the record. The emotional diversity contained within the album helps keep the record fresh. The placement of “Secret Garden” on the tracklist impresses me as well. Half way through the album and it is obvious that the record works well as a cohesive unit. It’s worth nothing that the progressive riffage within the verses is incredibly sexy. I’ve always labeled Spiritbox as a progressive band, and tracks like “Secret Garden” sure help my case. Perhaps their isn’t a genre that perfectly captures the band’s sound. We will discuss this further at the end of the review, but for now it’s time to bring back out the big guns.
Silk In The Strings
One of the biggest surprises on the record, “Silk In The Strings” is an absolute monster of a track. I judged a book by it’s cover, and I expected a soft song here. This isn’t the case however, and this track may be the heaviest on the entire album. The groovy low-tuned instrumentation – with equally groovy twang mixed in – sets the track apart from the previous heavy songs on the record. Mix in Courtney absolutely flexing her low growls all while experimenting with a non-traditional flow, and you’ve got one of the best heavy tracks I’ve heard this year. I’m really impressed with the flow from this track, and it keeps me interested throughout the whole track. The brutal onslaught doesn’t end here though. “Holy Roller” is up next.
Holy Roller
This demonic track needs no introduction. While everyone was on lockdown in 2020, Spiritbox brought the moshpits straight to the bedroom. I highly doubt anyone was able to stay still the first time they heard “Holy Roller”. With a creepy music video to match, the band made a disturbingly loud entry into the mainstream metal scene. The whole metal scene had their eyes and ears on Spiritbox at this time, and the band knew it. The best part is – and I know many fans disagree – the track still holds up. Some fans felt that the track was “too old” to be featured on “Eternal Blue”, but I think it fits in too well to exclude. Hearing “Silk In The Strings” and “Holy Roller” back to back is an experience I won’t forget any time soon.
Eternal Blue
Spiritbox wisely slows things down again with “Eternal Blue”. I’m a huge fan of wonderful and beautiful title tracks, and this one is sure to be a memorable one. The track name perfectly matches the song’s sound, setting a blue tone with a floaty sound. Just when I was thinking “The Summit” was my new favorite soft Spiritbox track, “Eternal Blue” comes around and makes me second guess myself. Throw in a beautiful and tasteful breakdown – similar to the sexy progressive style of Sleep Token – and “Eternal Blue” becomes one hell of a dynamic track that stands out in the bunch. Spiritbox is very efficient at adding slight surprises that turn a good song great.
We Live In A Strange World
I previously mentioned floaty progressive tracks. Well we have another here with “We Live In A Strange World”. I am a huge fans of songs in this style – especially right now – so this is a welcome addition to the record. Potentially the most experimental track on the record, the track features pop/trap beats in the first verse. The electronica elements backing up Courtney’s soft voice makes for a pleasant introduction to the track. The chorus comes in quick here, switching up the formula a bit. There is nothing conventional about this track. The second verse is quite different – but directly related – to the first one. I really admire this track because it’s pretty difficult to predict where the band is going with it. This late into the tracklist it is great to see a track so unconventional. The bridge also marks a drastic change in tone and sound, swapping the softer voice from the verses with powerful and soaring belts. The final chorus adds backing vocals from Courtney and is just sounds great. Spiritbox heavily experimented with “We Live In A Strange World” and it pays off.
Halcyon
Perfectly balanced, as all things should be. “Halcyon” is a great mix from everything you could expect from Spiritbox. The track features softer verses and a catchy chorus, similar to the previous tracks “The Summit” and “Secret Garden”. However, Halcyon actually has more in common with title track “Eternal Blue”. The track leads the listener to believe we have another safe melodic track, however the band have a couple of tricks up their sleeves with this one. After the second chorus, Courtney lets her screams soar. Backed up by some incredible drum work, the song gets heavier and more exciting. This isn’t a breakdown though, this segment is just a little heavy surprise to make sure the listener is still paying attention.
This isn’t the only surprise contained within “Halcyon” though. Right when it seems that the song is ending, a progressive heavy breakdown kicks in. While it may seem out of place, I previously mentioned that I love surprises, and this still holds true. I welcome this “out of place” moment. Is anything really out of place when it comes to a band like Spiritbox? The band clearly don’t want to be tied down to one sound or style. Honestly, for a debut this is wildly diverse, experimental, and brave. In almost a comedic fashion to track suddenly ends and bleeds into the star-of-the-album “Circle With Me”.
Circle With Me
Did I say “Circle With Me” is the star of the album? Well I mean it. Not that the non-singles disappointed me, in fact it is the opposite. I am happy with the full record, and I am pleasantly surprised by how huge so many of the non-singles are. Despite these compliments, I still believe that “Circle With Me” is Spiritbox’s Magnum Opus. The track has it all. It starts with a quiet – yet huge – rendition of the chorus before breaking out into a heavy and bouncy intro-breakdown. The verse is absolutely stunning and really fits the tone of the whole record. It is one of those verses that you wish never ended.
Fortunately the chorus is one of the best – well maybe even the best! – on the whole record. “Circle With Me” seriously never stops being incredible. Start-to-finish this track delivers. Right when you think the song is just a radio single – outside of the heavy intro of course – one of the best breakdowns of 2021 kicks in. Courtney screams out “I have the power of a dying sun!” and with such a powerful belting voice that I can’t help but believe her. The breakdown hits hard instrumentally, vocally, and lyrically, cementing it’s place in breakdown Valhalla. I consider “Circle With Me” the band’s best song for one main reason. It is likely the song I would universally recommend to anyone. Metalhead, hard rocker, or casual, I think anyone could dig this track. I look forward to the day Spiritbox even surpasses this track.
Constance
Our “Eternal Blue” journey is coming to an end. Unfortunately the album isn’t eternal itself. The album closes out with another fan-favorite single “Constance”. The track is haunting and melancholy in nature. Courtney croons and delivers her most haunting performance on the record. Add in some dark sounding chugs after the chorus, and the tone is easily set for this track. While the song isn’t my favorite on the record, I think it is a great way to close out the album. It just sounds like closure to me. The band says goodbye to “Eternal Blue” with one last dark breakdown with Courtney crooning along. Perhaps a fitting way to end such a personal record that conquers themes such as depression and mental health. Until next time Spiritbox!
Closing Thoughts
There were high expectations for Spiritbox’s debut record, and I believe they soared high above them all. “Eternal Blue” is easily one of the strongest debut records the metal scene has ever seen (at least in a long time!). The song writing is perfectly matched by a flawless delivery from all members of the band. This is a key recipe for becoming a big band in any pond. With “Eternal Blue”, the band proves they aren’t just the biggest fish in a small pond, but perhaps the biggest shark in the ocean. The band have transcended passed all expectations held from any genre they could possibly every be labeled as. I mentioned earlier that I consider Spiritbox more of a progressive metal band than metalcore, but really the band don’t quite fit that label either.
Whatever Spiritbox ends up being remembered as sonically, the band will always be remembered for breaking through the boundaries of these genres and charting alongside the likes of Lil Nas X. “Eternal Blue” is the breakthrough record the metal scene needed right now regardless of labeling. Spiritbox didn’t just live up to the hype, they both created and crushed it. The sky is the limit for the band, and I can’t wait to see what they do next. The band definitely deserves their spot as one of the biggest bands of the 20’s.
Final Verdict: 10/10 Shells
Metal Shell Reacts To Spiritbox | Eternal Blue Album Full Album
Want to see what I thought about “Eternal Blue” in real-time? Please check out the video below to see how this album blew me away!
Eternal Blue CD and Vinyl
If you enjoy physical albums as much as I do, follow the link below and pick yourself up a copy of Eternal Blue! Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I will never recommend a product or service I don’t have 100% faith in. Additionally, you can find a link to the MP3 purchase if you prefer to support music that way. Happy listening!
Need More Spiritbox In Your Life?
Need more Spiritbox in your life? I recommend you check out the new Crown The Empire track “In Another Life”. The return-to-form heavy track features Courtney LaPlante and she absolutely kills her feature. You can read through my article on the song – as well as view my reaction to the track – by clicking on the link below.
Additionally, Spiritbox are one of the 10 bands I believe will take over the metal scene this generation. Check out the rest of the bands that made the list down below. You won’t regret it!
I curated a “The Next Generation of Metal” playlist to help people discover some of the hottest new bands in the scene. You can check out the playlist below. I hope you find a new favorite band!
What did you think about this Spiritbox Eternal Blue album review? Let me know down in the comments.
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