Five years is a long time in music. Trends change quickly, genres grow and develop, bands rise and fall in popularity. Metal is no exception to this but, even so, the rapid ascent of Canadian alt-metallers Spiritbox over the last half decade has been nothing short of remarkable. Given that they've got just the two full length albums and a smattering of EPs and standalone singles to their name, it's nothing short of astonishing how quickly their star has risen. From relative obscurity, they're now forcing their way towards the top of festival lineups, all before they'd even headlined a tour in their own right. Cue the Tsunami Sea Tour, named for their most recent, and critically acclaimed, second album. Having blazed a trail across the States, they've finally brought a tour of their own to the UK and the EU. Not only is said tour much anticipated, and arguably long overdue, but it's also their chance to establish themselves as the next Avengers-level threat to trouble the existing status quo. As well as an opportunity to flex their own significant sonic muscle, they've brought a positively stacked undercard to Nottingham's biggest venue, on a Monday night no less, and the East Midlands has certainly got the memo.
Portland's DYING WISH kick things off with big meaty slabs of melodic hardcore. Fearsomely loud from second one, they waste no time in getting the crowd riled up. Ten years into their career and they're now old hands as an opening act. Their brief set is raucous, thunderously heavy and boasts cacophonous percussion, alongside rampaging guitar lines. Frontwoman Emma Boster isn't big on crowd interaction but she doesn't need to be. Her presence and the sheer intensity of the band's performance win over many in the crowd, including more than a few in Dying Wish merch. They don't let up for the duration and it proves to be a suitably punishing way to start the evening. JINJER need no introduction, especially to any present who attended their own headline tour earlier this year. You'd be forgiven for thinking they might dial it back a bit and not be quite as brilliant as they were on that occasion. You'd have been proven wrong. They're absolutely phenomenal right out of the gate. Somehow, they're heavier, louder, more efficient and more an absolute pleasure to behold. Tatiana Shmayluk, resplendent in green, is a powerhouse and the complete definition of a modern metal frontwoman. Even with a shorter set, Jinjer threaten to steal the limelight from the headliners. Their twisted, technical, djent-edged prog metal is an assault on the senses and Tatiana's vocals are powerful enough to strip paint. Even in their slower moments, such as the intro to Green Serpent, there's a feeling of unbridled power and, when the heavier moments explode, it's like a sledgehammer to the solar plexus. They really are that good on the night that you occasionally forget that they're not topping the bill. This is a colossal tour de force of a support set. Next time they're in these parts, they definitely won't be below anyone on the lineup.
By the time SPIRITBOX are due, there's a palpable sense of adrenaline and anticipation in the air. The crowd on the floor has swelled almost to bursting, so it's a bit of a peculiarity that there are so many empty seats throughout the arena. Perhaps it's the relative lack of material that the band have to draw from or maybe it's simply the day of the week, but you would expect a band with such a burgeoning live reputation to have sold the place out. Still, those who aren't in attendance will miss a hell of a performance and one that solidifies why Spiritbox are so highly regarded and seem destined to be huge. We begin with a curtain obscuring the stage and then the lights go down, a familiar silhouette appears and we're off and running. And what a way to open. A one two punch of the opening two tracks from the Tsunami Sea album, the chugging, menacing Fata Morgana and a frantic, and frankly brutal sounding Black Rainbow, played back to back, that hit the audience like a shockwave. It's a blistering start to proceedings. The band's USP is their ability to meld textures between crushingly heavy breakdowns and ethereal, almost dancey tempos, all whilst pouring out meaningful lyrics that range from the heartfelt and searching to raging and vitriolic. The fact that this can all happen within the same song, or even the same verse, speaks to the strength of their ambition. Throughout the set, the band will showcase this range, as well as the diversity of the sound and the influences from which it has been constructed. Tsunami Sea will be the crux of the setlist but there will also be tracks from debut album Eternal Blue, as well as earlier EPs. Following such a brutal opening salvo, the band change tack almost immediately and the first singalong of the night comes in the form of Perfect Soul, with its multi-layered percussion, clean vocals and haunting chorus.
It's clear that Spiritbox are rapidly adapting to bigger venues and exponentially larger crowds. There's a definite feeling of adoration, like the faithful have gathered for an unholy sermon. Given the content of some of the lyrics, that's not an unreasonable comparison. Grammy-nominated rager Soft Spine is a bonafide monster of a track, dripping with righteous anger and resentment. The big hitters keep on coming too. Circle With Me opens with the instantly recognisable call to 'Cut down the altar!', before becoming an aching ode to self-doubt and anxiety. Holy Roller is a modern metal classic that bemoans religious oppression and control. Ride the Wave somehow manages to make melancholy almost danceable. Some bands might make such songs sound awkward but Spiritbox are keenly aware of the importance of writing a good song and more than have the proficiency and guile to carry them off live. At the centre of it all, Courtney LaPlante is a restless ball of energy. Sultry and menacing in turn, her vocal firepower is something to behold. Soaring, effortless clean vocals give way to full-throated cavernous growls. On stage, she's a magnetic presence, ably assisted by the pristine skill of her bandmates. Guitarist, and Courtney's husband, Mike Stringer hammers out intricate licks that flit between gorgeous technicality and crushing riffing. Drummer Zev Rosenberg changes tempo on a sixpence and produces an endless series of luscious, looming fills that feel expansive and immersive. Josh Gilbert's tumultuous, thudding bass drives their sound forward. Courtney is a superstar with a clear emotional connection to both the songs and the band but also a strong link to the fans. Her words, her lyrics, mean something to people. They're a cathartic release and a powerful catalyst for innermost feelings. Here, under the bright lights, the confetti and the lasers of their stage show, it's a wholly transformative experience.
As modern as Spiritbox's sound is, there are hints within at the depth of their influences. The opening riff of Cellar Door calls to mind a hornet's nest being thrown down a staircase before its almighty cataclysm of a chorus, which is as close as the band get to outright death metal. There's a distinct whiff of nu-metal in the intro to The Void. Both Keep Sweet and Tsunami Sea owe much to the atmospherics of Deftones. However, whilst this tour is effectively a summary of Spiritbox's journey so far, there are glimpses of what the next chapter might bring. New single Mourning, released a few days prior, brings things to a close, under a shower of confetti. As well as a hefty riff, it packs lyrics that drip with sorrow and regret. Five years might be a long time, and this is still early days, but this has been a consummate, professional performance and, ultimately, the mark of a band who are more than comfortable in their own skin. Musically, they are fantastic. Vocally, they're exquisite. The sheer breadth of their sound and the emotions it conjures, is like nothing else in metal right now. We already know Spiritbox are going places but there seems to be no limit to the heights that they will likely conquer. They were more than just good tonight. This was an exceptional headline show. Just imagine how good they might be in 5 years time........
Spiritbox Setlist
Fata Morgana
Black Rainbow
Perfect Soul
Keep Sweet
Soft Spine
Cellar Door
Jaded
The Void
Tsunami Sea
Circle With Me
Holy Roller
Sew Me Up
No Love, No Loss
Crystal Roses
Ride the Wave
Mourning
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