Album Review // 2021-09-13

Spiritbox

Eternal Blue

Released: 2021-09-17

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I was blown away by Spiritbox when I first heard them, over two years ago. The energy, the ease in which the band seemed to be able to perform - there was a confidence about them, a feeling that they had found themselves, after being in other bands. I didn't know another band that did it quite like them. They were the right music for so many moods for me, and a great companion in my car to sing along with.

The band is named after the "spiritbox" device some people use to try to reach the dead (whether you believe this is possible or not). Apparently, Courtney isn't so comfortable with this actual practice. The band used to use actual spiritbox recordings in their music. As Courtney explains she has more respect for it, and it scares her these days, so she doesn't use actual ones anymore. I am okay with this. Though it was certainly different, it wasn't a draw for me, personally.

The name of this album is apparently influenced by a computer virus of the same name. I was surprised to hear this. "Eternal Blue" made me instantly think of depression. I thought it would be a cool way of describing it, since depression feels so eternal. A virus could be similar, in that it has an impact whether you welcome it or not.

It seems like this is the way emotions are released for Courtney, who doesn't like to shine a spotlight on struggles as they happen. I like when someone is able to channel the good and bad moments into their music.  I hope they feel a little lighter because of it.

She has been saying that the band wants to be fluid, and this album is just that!

Mood

I have always found that Spiritbox is a combination of sadness and excitement mixed into one. This made me wonder if there is a word to describe this, which, after researching, I found the word "elastasad" - which may or may not be a real word for feeling sad and excited at the same time.

This particular album sounds less this way. It makes me think of going to a party where I don't know anyone, and the host is locked up in her room. I am unable to communicate with her. The rest of the party is having a great time, but I am unable to connect.

The mood isn't confident, but distant; hard to reach. Kinda like smiling when inside you are crying.

Artwork

This artwork is in a colour I love: blue. It makes a lot of sense, considering the name of this album. Reminds me of water waves, paint or even the sky. I personally like the simplicity, and am drawn to paintings with mixed hues of the same colour.

Vocals

We all know that Courtney has an amazing scream! One that has the honour of being my ringtone on my cell (Belcarra). However, screaming took the back seat in this album. This shouldn't be a huge surprise, since they have been setting this up with their recent single releases. But I have to say that the screaming parts felt like they were fit into the last portion of many songs, as opposed to the natural flow found in their previous music. It was almost like they felt like they needed to fit some in. This is a detour from most of the other songs I previously heard by Spiritbox, though some will point to Perennial, and Trustfall, and other softer songs. There certainly were some more ballad-oriented songs - Trustfall being my least-liked out of their back catalogue.

On Eternal Blue, Courtney did a lot of fast-paced singing that really amped up the pop quality (and the inability to make out what she is saying). There's some drawn-out deeper singing that I imagine kept her feeling vulnerable. She hit some high notes in some songs, which was welcomed to me. 

They have definitely had catchy choruses all along, and this album is also that way. The way the words are sang makes them feel memorable. An example of a catchy vocal portion is the chorus for the opening song, Sun Killer. But for me the catchiness can only go so far - the music didn't keep me interested in this song. Other songs had what some might consider memorable, but they just irritated me. They felt too much like a "hot" song on the radio, that I don't want to hear.

Holy Roller was the first song in which I noticed very electronic-sounding speech as part of the vocals. This has continued in other songs on this album. Think autotune, at times. I can't say it is my favourite. It is more intense in many songs, and reminds me of someone about to go on stage and rip the pop scene.

Sam Carter (of Architects) is featured on the song Yellowjacket. I think his voice fits in with the song just fine. 

Music

So many songs sound so much more rock-oriented on this album. The guitar line in Hurt You, for example, is so incredibly boring in comparison to guitar lines in past songs. It just doesn't have the guitar and drums playing off each other in a groove anymore.

There are many electronic elements used throughout - maybe because this album is named after a computer virus? Definitely some upbeat vibes in the sound of the music. 

I remember hearing this band talk, around a year and half ago, about how Courtney's voice would need to be able to carry itself and the guitar wouldn't be helping as much in the new material they were working on. I will never understand why a guitarist with wicked capability to produce groovy riffs would choose to kick back. Micheal is the thing that has previously separated them from other bands for me. I have heard people praising the riffs in this new material, but backtrack and check out previous releases, and it dulls in comparison.

I heard an interview where Courtney talks about people not understanding the process of creating music. I agree that we often think in our head of what we hope a band will sound like, and we don't know what has gone on in their life. We don't know what led them to think musically the way they did. I give them that. And I say, I am glad that they did what made them happy.

Note: In regard to lyrics for this album, I did my best to hear what was being said. If I have made any mistakes here, I do apologize and I will make corrections once I am aware.

Sun Killer

I feel like this song is about someone who is in a state of dismay. It's almost like the most calming thing for this person is this lullaby. A lullaby by definition is a soothing song sang to someone to help them sleep. So, because this is actually full of negative thoughts, and is the lullaby, it speaks to the heavyhearted state this song is speaking of.

Tell me the waves won't rise, and monsters will fade with time
To temper the blaze with the twist of the knife.
A sun killer lullaby

Sun killer sing me to sleep

Hurt You

I think this is talking about how we hurt each other. We are selfish, we are narrow-minded. We hurt people, over and over. This is probably more specifically talking about loved ones.

We are failing in crisis mode
Mutually assured destruction
Love the proxy and burn the bones
So I smile in the snare of devotion

I hope you find what you're fighting for
I am happier when I hurt you
Your medicine is the coldest war
I am happier when I hurt you

Yellowjacket

I think this song's association with the yellowjacket is the fact that they are very aggressive and they can sting over and over. This song seems to be talking about unforgiveness and tension between two people, and feeling like you can't move forward because of some kind of history.

Where was the grace when I was asking for it
There is an absence in your thoughts but not ours
Fear, full of hate perforates me, like a yellowjacket
Where was the grace when I was begging, I was asking for it
Once you taste it and see what I saw, there is no turning back

The Summit

I think the song is about when you are too scared to do something. You get right close, and then you don't follow through. You keep thinking about it, but it is so hard to take the first steps.

How could I know when the ebb and flow would desert you
How can I crawl up to reach those heights and run
The venom is what keeps me alive, the venom is what keeps me alive
Up to the summit at night
Desperate to find the beating heart of mine that always makes me run

Secret Garden

When I first heard the title of this song, I couldn't help but think of a show with that title that I watched as a kid, but I quickly realized there is no association. 

It makes me think of a special place that reminds you of someone or some time in your life. Maybe you go there when you are feeling a certain way. It helps you feel connected. It grounds you. Or maybe it just gives you a break, some time alone.

And it's you
That I came for
Two hands are guarding my heart
I never climbed this far
And nobody waits for me, but I know
Nobody takes from me what I grow
Secret garden, disregard my heart
And nobody waits for me, but I know
Nobody takes from me, but I know

Silk In The Strings

Apparently, silk in the strings of a guitar is actually extra padding, extra protection. I am guessing this song is about some form of protection against another person that has been hurtful and made you doubt yourself.

You crush a delicate moth wing, I see the stain on your finger tips
as if the body was absent, as if the flame was a sycophant
now I carry you with me
wrapped in my thoughts like a spider web
I let you words get the best of me
An unconditional relevance

Holy Roller

I think this is speaking of someone who has been enthusiastic about their religion, maybe to the point where they have treated others distastefully. The holier than though attitude! I get the sense that there is hurt and a desire to sever all ties with the person or group of people.

Holy Roller sits in the garden we fled
Blood into wine, take my body instead

And when I die, you won't pray for me
That's when I learn to cut my ties
And when I die, you won't pray for me
That's when I learn to cut my ties

Eternal Blue

I am not sure what is going on here with these lyrics. And this song had great meaning, since it has the very name of the album.

It's one by one, cut the circulation, as the dust settles for you
Flood in the cuts will run, an eternal blue sun to illuminate old wounds
I wish my blood would slow down
And what's left of me, a cavity
At least this spaces is mine
Its where  you left me to die
I wish my blood would slow down
You can make my blood rush

We Live In A Strange World

I say a similar phrase quite regularly. When you really think about it, it really is a strange world!

I am coasting on nice dreams, lonely, folding on each other
Waiting for great things, but all they do is stop
to grace me with cold sleep, for I breath in
I feel another, erase me, to pace me, and hold on to the drop
Sunken in that we live in a a strange world, (repeat)
And let the bastards grind you down, collapse a vein so you don't drown
Sunken in that we live in a strange world

Halcyon

I am assuming that this song is speaking of not worrying about the past, and being stuck on the past, at the same time. Is there a period of time you look back on, and wish you knew how great things were at the time?

And I lay to waste my life, halcyon days and nights
So I could be one of them, I am one of them
Promises buried twice
Down where they won't survive
So I could be one of them, gripping to relevance

Circle With Me

What are we circling? I am really not sure here. Are we the pre,y and we are turning on others and they are becoming the prey? We are all victims, and unable to feel safe.

Visions are and deepest fake
Dirty gold, the colours change
Hands are frozen, feel no pain
I just want to hold the flame

Feel the weight of a martyr
It could all be yours if you echo birds of prey
Traitor cut down the altar
It could all be yours
Vultures circling the flame

Constance

In the time since I first heard this song, I found out more about it. Many people seemed to connect with the sadness and the subject matter. Apparently this was finalized just as Courtney suffered a loss of a person dear to her during the stringent rules of the pandemic. This made the goodbye very different. And at the same time, the director of her video was losing his grandmother, Constance, to dementia. Lots of emotion behind it.

It's hard to lose and wonder why

You pressure in increments
Like a slow-moving coup
Memories dissident
When I am holding you

If my sun won't set tonight
I'll look around, but it's so hard for me
Like a shadow passing by
Crashing into shapes and then fading with my innocence

Playlist Pick 

I will put Silk In The Strings on my playlist. And I know what you are thinking: "She just likes screaming!" I do like screaming, and the screaming in this one is very fast-paced. I just think it has that darker-sounding background, and the screaming over top, which is closer to the energy I like. It is the only song I can see myself wanting to listen to from this entire album.

I am all Spiritboxed out right now as far as this album goes (I have now heard it many a time). I am going to stick to my favourites from previous releases. Of course, it has me wondering is this the new Spiritbox, or what difference will future material bring?

I am sure this album will bring in some new fans for them, and keep some old ones happy. Still, there will be a few, like me, that don't quite get it. And this is all okay!