EP review: Spiritbox – The Fear of Fear

By DAN SOUTHALL

SPIRITBOX have gone past up-and-coming and Next Big Thing in the heavy music world to become a genuine wonder with the music they create, wildly switching from skull crushing heavy to dream-like pop with the wistful and demonic vocals of Courtney LaPlante driving all of the madness.

Starting out with their heaviest track yet, “Cellar Door” gives the fans of the heavy spectrum exactly what they want and shows the naysayers what they have been missing out on. The EP quickly changes direction on the next track, “Jaded”, with an electro-djent drive wisping throughout. The aggressive vocals are kept to a minimum on the first half,  before taking centre stage and disappearing just as quickly as it arrived. This is a formula Spiritbox have perfected and the reason they have made people stand up and take notice. Next level gateway noise.

The quieter pop moments continue into “Too Close/Too Late” – the most delicate track on display – and are explored again on “The Void”. After this the band unleash a continued assault on the aural senses, showing off the fact they aren’t a one trick pony and refuse to be categorised. Musical extremity comes in many forms and whatever this form is, it’s excellent and well supported by the short burst of energy that the EP format has, with no time for fucking about or filler.

If you have been avoiding this band for some strange cool cat reason, you are denying yourself a musical enjoyment that even your other half who doesn’t like the ‘yelly’ stuff you listen to will be able to agree is great. So long as Spiritbox, and Courtney LaPlante in particular, is in such rich musical form I hope they continue to release quick fire bangers like this.
Get The Fear Of Fear on CD or vinyl