Spiritbox - Spiritbox

So I've finally gotten around to my first EP review and kicking us off is going to be the equally chaotic and heart-wrenching Spiritbox, the new project from former iwrestledabearonce members Courtney LaPlante and Mike Stringer. 

Now first of all I want to point out, i never got on with iwrestledabearonce. Simply, it was too much of an inaudible mess for me to really get into, which must seem rich coming from someone who spent his pre-teens listening to the likes of Cradle Of Filth.  But the husband/wife duo seem to have found their creative niche with this new venture, Spiritbox. 

Vocalist LaPlante's range and tone have taken a massive step up! The previous slur of growls has been replaced with a refined scream, lyrically audible and terror-instilling at once. But its the use of her singing that brings a beauty and balance to her performance here. Couple this with a thrust toward the darker, more chaotic, progressive styles of bands like Monuments and Currents, and the stylish workings of Stringer's guitars and we're gifted a visceral and intense piece of work. 

The final song of the EP, "The Beauty Of Suffering" is for me the ground work for Spiritbox. Not only is it the epitome of the dark, visceral nature of Spiritbox but it says all you need to know about the band, the direction and what we can expect to see in the future. A ferocious wave of malcontent, and I cannot wait!

I think there's a lot more to come from this project, and any future releases are sure to be received well. 

Spiritbox EP: 6/10 
Top pick: The Mara Effect PT3, The Beauty Of Suffering
Spiritbox's self-titled EP was released October 27th 2017:
www.facebook.com/Spiritboxofficial/