Reviews list for Spiritbox - Tsunami Sea (2025)

Spiritbox have returned with their second full length album following The Fear of Fear EP from 2023. The first thing that strikes me on the new record is how much heavier this is than Eternal Blue. The promotional singles for this record did not leave me with much hope. The promotion for Tsunami Sea was showing signs of this band continuing down the more accessible path with "Perfect Soul" being thee prime example. While not a bad song, it does sound eerily similar to some of Eternal Blue's weakest songs. 

So having been on vacation for the last week, I've had the chance to listen to this record freely for longer than most, and I was quite impressed with the result. This is by far the best project that Spiritbox have released since the 2017 EP. Even though the record does still implement many of the talking points that I've previously mentioned (most notably the "musical grab bag"), Spiritbox have claimed an identity and they are sticking to it throughout the entire album. The bands hybrid personality has become apart of their unique sound and that carries into the songwriting itself. This album has such a eclectic palette of song styles, song compositions and directions. And while some of them don't work (i.e. "Crystal Rose"), other songs like "Keep Sweet" and "A Haven With Two Faces" are very good.

Tsunami Sea is adding a few more electronic and industrial elements, which is new for the band and plays into that "grab bag" personality the band is presenting for themselves. In a way, this album can be seen as some kind of culmination of taking Iwrestleabearonce and making it accessible. On their own, none of these songs scream progressive or event avant-garde, but as a whole, Tsunami Sea does so much to change up from track-to-track that it gives off the passing impression of a progressive metal epic.

"But Saxy" I hear you moan, "what about the breakdowns? This is metalcore after all and you are a notorious hater of breakdowns." And while that may be true, it is only because modern metalcore bands do not know how to include breakdowns into a tune; insert a percussion buildup, a vocal break where the title of the song is shouted, band returns with a breakdown groove that is not connected to the chorus. And while Spiritbox do employ this mechanic here, it is breakdowns like on "A Haven With Two Faces" that make me think this band really are metalcore geniuses. The pure bliss that was felt as Courtney LaPlante sings "I watch as it floats backwards to me" and the seamless recurrence of the main band is the highlight of the album for me. 

Like I said off earlier, I think Tsunami Sea is the best Spiritbox record since the debut EP. The songwriting has improved tremendously, the album has a great variety of song styles, both in their aural presentation as well as the physical compositions. LaPlante's vocals are tremendous their range and delivery, and while the compression of the mix is a questionable choice, I feel like it adds to the groups dynamics during the records softer moments, as the heavier moments can sound tremendous at times. Like with all metalcore, the best waves are the ones that make you savor them.

Best Songs: Fata Morgana, Keep Sweet, A Haven With Two Faces, No Loss, No Love, Deep End