Spiritbox Delivers On Sophomore Record Endlessly And Impressively With ‘Tsunami Sea’

Canadian metalcore juggernauts Spiritbox have returned with their long-awaited sophomore album, with ‘Tsunami Sea’. This marks their first release since 2023’s ‘The Fear of Fear’ EP, and their first full-length since 2021’s ‘Eternal Blue’. This record dives into a feeling and brings you through an experience only specific to here. It also really plays into this band’s strengths, as well as experimenting a little bit. It really sets them apart from really any other band in the scene.

We are straight the fuck in with “Fata Morgana”, as the heavy starts right off the bat. I can already tell the production is already working to this band’s strong suits, and it sets a strong tone to this record. The chorus here is very pretty, and it really melds well with its straightforward heavy verses. I also appreciate this band will throw us for a loop by having moments like we have before the second chorus, as if it’s a moment to breathe and let the waves consume us. I forgot just how good this band is at slow down breakdowns, and it doesn’t happen often either but it hits hard when it does.

We flow into the next track beautifully with “Black Rainbow”, and the riffs don’t stop coming. This song has such vibes of their 2021 track, “Yellowjacket”. It gives off such futuristic vibes, like it could have a real Blade Runner type of energy to a song like this.  I appreciate us getting two heavy hitters to kick off the album, and it’s accompanied by a pretty solid breakdown here. Shoutout to how consistent guitarist Mike Stringer keeps it with his guitar work, throughout their entire discography and here is no exception.

We jump into the second single from the record and one of my personal favorites, with “Perfect Soul”. I appreciate the riffs changing it up to have more of a modern feel on a song like this. Vocalist Courtney LaPlante sounds strong as ever on a track like this, making it feel like this stuff comes easy with her singing. And shoutout to this band utilizing their bassist/backing vocalist Josh Gilbert. I’ve really missed his vocals ever since he departed As I Lay Dying, and his vocals in the chorus layered above Courtney’s are absolutely magical. It makes this song flow incredibly well, to where even the breakdown feels right at home on a track like this. Ending it on a softer note makes for just a really great addition to this record.

The riffs continue to be ever so consistent with the next track, in “Keep Sweet”. It’s got a great mix of both heavy and melodic on a song like this, and the production works in its favor being as punchy as it is. It’s got a great chorus, one of the more memorable ones from the record I’d say. The drums delivered by drummer Zev Rose really stand out beautifully here as well. I just love how melodic this track feels throughout, even during the heavy sections. And I appreciate the guitar solo that coincides with the final chorus, it just feels so seamless. It makes for one of the highlights off this record, easily.

We jump back to heavy with the first single from the record, in “Soft Spine”. I love how often this band jumps from melodic to ass beater territory, and this song is definitely in the latter. I appreciate how straightforward, fun, and bouncy this track is. It makes for a great live song, and the production once again improves a track such as this one. The fact we get such an insane solo that follows the breakdown by Stringer is absolutely wild. I was soft (no pun intended) on this song when it first released, but it fits marvelously on the album in its placement.

We’re followed on a more melodic note, with the title track of the record in “Tsunami Sea”. I love just how smooth Courtney sounds during these verses, and even the chorus. I appreciate just how specific their melodies during the chorus it feels to a song like this. Like it’s tough to compare it to anything else, and they’re great at setting themselves apart from everyone else like that. I also appreciate the variety we’ve been getting from this record so far, it’s not just one thing. The riffs during the bridge are great as well, I love how well incorporated they are in a song like this. It makes for another strong track off this record and one to stick with you.

It’s only right it ends with the waves flowing into the next song, with “A Haven With Two Faces”. I love the vocals right off the bat, it feels like classic Spiritbox to me in the best ways. The bass by Gilbert really stands out nicely here as well. This track is yet another prime example of mixing heavy and melodic ever so masterfully. The chorus is absolutely gorgeous, and this song is just one I personally hope we would get from an album like this. The guitar parts we get during the bridge are haunting as well, and add such depth. Courtney’s vocals are insane during here as well, as it leads into the breakdown feeling so earned and huge. This is a personal favorite track off this whole album, and a beautiful addition to their discography. The waves feel consistent to bookend this track as well.

We’re on the home stretch of this record, starting off with the third single in “No Loss, No Love”. We’re brought back fully into the heavy hitters, and the bass by Gilbert shines once again. Courtney’s little spoken word bits really make this song stand out, like it’s so out there for this band and uncommon too. It gives this song such personality, and really adds to the experience of the record as a whole. The lyrics really stand out here so hauntingly, specifically “I can feel something sinister under the surface. I know an island that breathes is a body that eats. And now it’s showing it’s teeth”. The breakdown feels reminiscent of someone like Alpha Wolf, but with their own spin on it. It’s just such a fascinating track overall, and I’m a bit surprised they picked this as a single.

We then jump to the most experimental track of the record, with “Crystal Roses”. I appreciate us getting the synths and beats right off the bat, and we immediately know this is out of this band’s comfort zone and that they aren’t afraid to experiment when they can. Courtney’s altered vocals remind me that of what Bring Me the Horizon does with their songs as of recently, and I can tell they take influence from them on a song like this. It’s got such pop vibes overall, from the production to the style and it’s another fascinating track on the back half of this record.

We once again start off with pop vibes on the next track, in “Ride the Wave”. I appreciate just how well complimented the chorus feels to its pop leaning verses. They just pull off this style so well, and it makes the chorus hit even harder. “Hold these words a little longer, illusion of my death is stronger” is a lyric that stuck with me as well. It’s such a hard line to have before the breakdown. This makes for a great penultimate track, and the waves coming back to ease its way into the last song just feels right.

We then close off the album with a song I felt should’ve been a single, with “Deep End”. Melodic riffs to end the album just feels so right, since we started off so heavy. I just appreciate how nostalgic the guitar parts on this track feel throughout, it feels familiar yet fresh. This captures the entire vibe of the album so well, and it’s got maybe the best chorus on the record in my opinion. Courtney’s vocals shine bright like a diamond throughout the record, and this song is a big standout. It really does end the album on such a high note, and the acoustic guitar with the waves following in just feels right to leave off with this record.

I’m very impressed with how well ‘Tsunami Sea’ came together overall, and it makes for a very worthy sophomore record from Spiritbox. It really showcases why they’re one of the faces of our scene in 2025, and that they’re incredibly dependable this early in their career already. I wouldn’t be surprised if this record pushes them further into bigger and better things, it’s what they deserve.