THE HONEST TRUTH ABOUT SPIRITBOX + “Eternal Blue”

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

Join my Discord! discord.gg/dpKTrW9Q4R

[@Thumpdizzle]

I think one thing that clouded IWABO was the fact that the fans weren't into Krysta leaving, and Courtney coming in. Idk. I think both bands were great.

[@Mr-ks5kl]

Wrong!!! Blessed be put them in the map and Belcarra. They got more than 30 songs. Two EP's and one album they have 4 years since the Beauty of Suffering song 2018. They were replacement in IWABO so they were not the main writers.

[@guitargodxbox22]

@@Thumpdizzle I agree I loved both of them. They both brought their own style

[@Grimeyhoob]

They’re a pretty killer live band too. Spiritbox are a great band and I love the fact that they’re trying something new. Metal needs change and innovation, as much as we love our vintage thrash and death metal bands, we need fresh blood.

[@erichart2756]

@@Thumpdizzle I want to agree cause Krysta was amazing, but for me and not taking anybody else into consideration, it's all happening was such an amazing album I was afraid to get attached to the second album.

[@delusionalx2605]

“It’s 2021, girls screaming is tired” might be the worst twitch chat comment i’ve ever read lmao “yeah bro other girls have screamed before so now no more girls can scream anymore”

[@wolfstar675]

Yeah that dude's comment was really idiotic.

[@marginalhero4783]

Would the same guy also think guys screaming is tired? If so, maybe he just isn't into screaming. Probably more likely is a sexist attitude. There's way more music of guys screaming, and frankly, there's a lot of fantastic woman ripping their vocal chords for awesome music right now. In my opinion, there has never been a better time for female vocalists. Just so many good ones out there right now!

[@Annatar_Lord_of_Gifts]

There were a couple guys in that chat that seem like insufferable people. Guy with orange lettering name comes to mind

[@crestinglight]

Can't agree more! I do more soul rock, Amy Winehouse style vocals, but after hearing her and Tati, it inspired me to learn false chord scream! Now it's just another tool in my arsenal for more style and variation. This type of comment is common to hear, and it's obnoxious!

[@Djfmdotcom]

FACTS 💀💀💀🤣😂

[@wolfhawk1999]

I've been a fan since The Mara Effect. I'd say what got them big was three fold. 1. Fan interaction. They used to jump on live streams all the time and just talk to fans. They talked about their lives, made inside jokes (🍔) and so on. They've always responded when I send them messages and they have always been super grateful. In turn, fans will reach out to radio stations and influencers. Also, they tell their friends. 2. Awesome music, duh. 3. Reaction channels. The rabid fanbase (including me) HOUNDED reaction channels. Constantly. This got them a lot of free publicity. 4. They are super humble and nice. I remember a livestream where people started tipping (I think for the first time) and it opened a floodgate. Courtney literally cried, she couldn't believe it. Now the band tells fans NOT to tip them. Anyway, I think that's what has led to their success.

[@Vdrum1010]

People are really underestimating the power of reaction videos. Spiritbox, Jinjer, Devin Townsend, Gojira; these names have gotten bigger in part thanks to these reaction channels.

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

Great point on the reaction channels!

[@wolfhawk1999]

@@FinnMckentyPRMBA thanks Finn! I appreciate you reading the comments. Keep up the good work

[@djomla9999]

@@Vdrum1010 Lorna Shore - To The Hellfire was literally pure gold for reaction channels too

[@drew1753]

@@Vdrum1010 Yup, I got into Spiritbox and Jinjer because of reaction videos. I'd say Slaughter To Prevail also got more exposed because of the reaction to Demolisher.

[@dastardlygonzo]

Eternal Blue is an amazing album. I've listened to it straight-through multiple times for the past few days. It's very diverse and satisfying.

[@metalblakedowns]

I think another incredibly smart thing they did. I know Courtney mentioned this in an interview, someone asked her why they're only dropping Singles instead of an album (this was some point last year), she said "Why waste money making an album that nobody wants". Essentially, they didn't waste their money either. Invested only into one track at a time. I think this was huge, because it allowed people to discover them in an easier way. We're very much in a single based world now, around streaming, and I think this was why Blessed Be, and Rule of Nines were huge If they dropped an album with those 2 songs on there, before they were big, I think it would've been easier for people to overlook

[@ulver1187]

Yeah and on top of that they made sure every song had a music video or visuals, that's a smart move as well

[@ThisWildLife]

That studio vocal video is what got me and my group chat talking about them. Incredible band, very cool to watch their growth!

[@Trent2002W]

Same the rule of nines one sold me

[@harpy2602]

That was one of my big hooks too. I didnt think she was faking it in the slightest (I knew vaguely about IWABO so knew she had to be able to actually scream) but seeing her nail the studio take like that really got me. There are so many vocalists (metal or not) that can't nail a one-take/performance like that.

[@DevilSidious]

I LOVE YOU GUYS

[@apIthletIcc]

its time for singin and then some screamin and then some more singing and screamin

[@dexterj5615]

You kids are what is the death of metal music

[@danielclark-hughes692]

"Spiritbox, Daughtry, Carcass" Not often you'll see those 3 acts listed together

[@Djfmdotcom]

And yet, I'd go see it.

[@jasonlovesmusicreacting882]

@@Djfmdotcom lmaoooo same

[@matthewpunk2012]

Daughtry??? Ewww lol

[@Djfmdotcom]

@@matthewpunk2012 curiosity man, curiosity.

[@matthewpunk2012]

@@Djfmdotcom Eeeh, I guess

[@alexandrac7057]

I do think Holy Roller was their breakout moment. That being said they hit the ground running and hooked people. They are super accessible as a band, they in my opinion have some of the best merch right now, and their Patreon really keeps people hooked. They know some of their long term fans by name already and really seem to enjoy interacting. In a year (2020) where our ability to interact with other humans was very limited, parasocial relationships became something people clinged onto hard. Their music is just also really diverse and interesting. I am happy to see them succeed.

[@KytexEdits]

@HackShock In that case you will have to pass on a ton of bands. Not many modern metal bands that love trump. In fact I've seen just about zero in terms of prog metal or death metal. I literally can't think of a single avid trump supporter from the bands I listen to.

[@TheRealAb216]

@HackShock trump lost get over it

[@TheRealAb216]

@HackShock guy you wont listen to a band because the singer who is not even from the US is not a trumper. You need to talk to a mental health professional.

[@darthsmolin]

Spiritbox doesn't care about your feelings. 😂😂😂

[@TheRealAb216]

@HackShock the facts show you are the only one up in your feelings. You wont listen to a band because you are butt hurt that they dont love your daddy.

[@alexmacdougall5700]

This band did everything right from a marketing perspective. They did routine AMA's on KZbin where they were just fun and relatable. They released varied singles that could grab all sorts fans from different markets. And they were just consistent. Like fan or not they really haven't released a single bad song.

[@secondsolstice8695]

Yes and below all of that of course they had enormous talent supporting it from every perspective, just a really well-polished package. Hell, even the physical album is really well made with the art, the extra pages and the cool white cover. Impossible not to see them standing out

[@theirishpotato6588]

True

[@blendernoob64]

Spiritbox's sound is not really my thing, I'm much more of a hardcore guy than a super clean djent-core guy, but hearing any heavy band succeed this much, in this listening environment, and economy is really exciting!

[@randomalbum9879]

Have you listened to Belcarra and Bleach Bath? Those are some of the heaviest songs I've heard, her screaming is unparalleled, it sounds like she's actually wrestling a bear!

[@randomalbum9879]

Also the last few seconds of Rule Of Nines is hands down one of the heaviest things I've heard in my entire life! If they made an entire song with that intensity, my heart would explode inside of my chest

[@harpy2602]

@@randomalbum9879 Silk in the Strings is pretty damn heavy, and it's not the only song that is pure screams/growls. Theyve gone heavy for full songs already.

[@wallybong]

“heavy”

[@pagewagley4743]

Yeah dude, to me everyone just sounds like Architects and it is just bland. I'm also more of a hardcore guy, converge, cult leader, advent, architect not architects, etc.

[@Delta0001-y]

3:51 “I don’t think they really had a big breakout hit” Holy Roller: “Am I a joke to you!?!?”

[@Swollen_Goat]

That's how I found out about them for sure. I honestly didn't get super into them though until after that song came out and I went back and listened to Mara effect live and Blessed Be and was like fucking damn.

[@theirishpotato6588]

Plus they had an Instagram filter.

[@americanmetalhead7318]

@@Swollen_Goat that Mara Effect live performance is so underrated. It’s fucking amazing

[@19ThreeLions97]

imo they blew up after Rule Of Nines, that's when i found them as well. Blessed Be and Holy Roller had similar effect ofc

[@pewterschmidt23lord99]

@@19ThreeLions97 for me it goes all the way to bleach bath that song is fucking amazing

[@KeyOfGeebz]

Hmmmm, "growth-hack" - old composer learning new things - thanks Finn

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

It’s a software term for the people whose job is to find creative, novel ways to grow their userbase

[@Gemmyfire757]

Love your stuff!

[@KeyOfGeebz]

@@FinnMckentyPRMBA Ah, thank you Finn.

[@KeyOfGeebz]

@@Gemmyfire757 Thanks Kieth :)

[@kidneystonermusic]

Oh shit, ALOHA BROTHER, I just sent your tool videos to my dad the other night

[@heroicspatula]

Holy Roller was their metalcore hit, but it was Constance that put them over to more general audiences. A big part of that was all the youtube reaction videos of people crying and relating how much that song resonated with them.

[@ryannachtrab]

Consistently hammering the base principles of success is the secret. Too bad most people dont realize the magic you seek is in the work you're trying to avoid.

[@DGjello]

I remember meeting courtney when they toured around Australia 9 years ago, got a photo with her and all. Super nice and friendly. I wasn't really into them back then but now they have to be my favourite band.

[@Delta0001-y]

Andrew Baena’s “best bands” was the first time I was recommended The Mara Effect, have been obsessed ever since 🥰

[@deadSalesman_GD]

I think their first breakout song was actually Blessed Be. I remember a ton of hype around them after that song

[@melvinkerk8789]

True

[@Annatar_Lord_of_Gifts]

Been following the band since their early days. So happy to see them succeed this way. There was a great comment on one of their older videos that says *“Every time they release music, I feel like I’m supporting my friends band”.* - Totally agree.

[@ulver1187]

Hahha same, and I remember this comment now you said it, damn

[@lexidarling]

I’ve been a huge IWABO fan since 2008 and the second album they did with Courtney on vocals is one of my favorites of 2015, but I agree that Spiritbox is better with songwriting overall. It’s just the right mix of heavy and accessible, and the scene needs bands with accessible songs just as much as skronky mathgrind. People joke about bands “maturing” a lot, but I think Spiritbox is a great example of metalcore that is both mature and exciting. Their new album is dope, Yellowjacket and Sun Killer being my favorites. So glad they’re getting success, it’s well deserved IMO.

[@kaze7168]

To me it never felt like Courtney fit IWABO or rather IWABO didn't fit Courtney. It feels like with Spiritbox that she's more in her element. Great point on maturity Spiritbox is a "new" band but they have been in pretty big bands previously so they already have an idea what works and doesn't and are using that to their advantage.

[@ulver1187]

@@kaze7168 Yeah I agree, probably because she replaced that other girl who got pregnant, forgot her name. So they quit to really start a band that fits their vision.

[@underrottensky]

@@ulver1187 Krysta. now she sings in band Empyrean Lights.

[@Glaamdring]

I'd be interested to know how their fanbase breaks down demographic-wise. I wouldn't be surprised if-because of their image and the fact that they have a young, attractive, hip-looking, female lead singer-they were bringing in a lot of young, new metal fans, people who maybe never listened to metal prior to Spiritbox because they never identified with the genre image-wise (e.g. young girls that maybe never found the bro-fest that is metal to be of interest). I wouldn't be surprised if they were generating new metal fans almost as much as they have existing metal fans listening to their music.

[@drakenn342]

Which is all the more reason I support them. Metal as a genre is HUGE, and has a bunch of awesome shit. But it can be intimidating, and certain communities within metal can be unfriendly to the "uninitiated". Like, yeah I love me some slam, deathcore, tech death, and even ambient prog. But you bet your ass I started with Linkin Park and Disturbed. If you had exposed me to the heavier, more out there stuff I would have hated it.

[@SpaceTacoTV]

following their instagram stories they repost a lot of people's pics with their merch and maybe its just instagram but they definitely seem to skew female. I'd guess they're bringing in a lot of women into the scene

[@NuggetsXInfinite]

I'm not a huge fan of djent, and progressive metal can be a bit too unstructured for me, but I really like this album

[@darkphoenix2]

As someone who does like proggy stuff, I find this album a little simpler and radio friendly in comparison to their older songs. But I like it too.

[@xRhychux]

Well its barely djent for a couple songs or prog metal so I understand you liking eternal blue

[@NuggetsXInfinite]

@@xRhychux Ok they use elements of djent and progressive metal but are mostly metalcore... Lmao

[@AvB.83]

Agreed. "Holy Roller" had me hocked, but that "one take performance" video, that was it. Really good songs, that don't really blow me away, but just very, very likeable. And watching this, especially the live bit, reminds me of Cristina Scabbia, that is a person that will go on stage, smile at the audience, and literally everyone will smile back, there is just no other option. Just looked up the Billboard 200, and it's crazy just HOW different that is from the local album charts where I live. Iron Maiden on 5, We butter the bread with butter on 8, Rivers of Nihil on 15, with a bit of Metallica, Sabbath, Billy Idol in between...

[@ItsBabaEro]

I would say Rule of Nines was their breakthrough song. I also think that the reaction channels were another reason for their success

[@matthewpunk2012]

Holy Roller.

[@twinny_mi]

@@matthewpunk2012 Rule of Nines came first tho

[@twinny_mi]

@@r4dr4bbit46 holy rolly & rule of nines came before cwm lol

[@melvinkerk8789]

True

[@gabealvarado9]

Spiritbox has killed! I’ve shown friends and family that don’t listen to metal and they enjoy their songs. They are going to change the game.

[@guitargodxbox22]

Yes they are cool but. But change the game? I dont thinks so. They are talented but it's not much different than anything that came before. Nothing innovative whatsoever

[@underrottensky]

@@guitargodxbox22 they released their first album. need to look in next couple of years, what's new things they try to implement in their music.

[@guitargodxbox22]

@@underrottensky yes their FIRST ALBUM is nothing special that's all I was saying. I'm not being downtrodden by gatekeepers for saying my opinion. And yes they are mediocre

[@CameronForrester]

I fell out of metal for years, and Spiritbox pulled me back in, they felt refreshing to me.

[@mikecurley3070]

Courtney also did some great features to help get her name out there: Darko, Crown the Empire, Make Them Suffer, and especially The Acacia Strain are standout names in their respective genres and Courtney is funneling at least a little bit of their renown/word of mouth towards Spiritbox

[@TheKing-dm3br]

Circle with me was the first song I found from them and after listening to all their songs, I became a fan. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!

[@complexdevice]

The Mara Effect pt1-3 studio live session hooked me a long time ago. You can really tell how polished they are as a band. The brought all of that talent and honed skill to the table and gave us a great album. It also probably helps to have an identity as a band prior to going into the writing and recording process.

[@lippi2171]

I read "Mass Effect" for like 5 times in a row and it didn't make sense at all 😭😭

[@corybernazzoli82]

“Didn’t work for anyone else” and Our Last Night took that personally 🤣🤣🤣

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

They did it before I Prevail

[@brandonmitchell1056]

6:48 Mike isn't even in the band at this point, however Courtney is wearing the shirt of his old band Fall in Archea during the intro.

[@MisterButterfingers]

This was a fantastic watch, I found these guys on accident with the video for the song "Belcarra" and have been following them ever since. They've been steadily getting better over the years.

[@DrDipsh1t]

Perennial is another song they did that's very real and heartfelt. Between hearing that and Constance, I realized they had something to bring to the table that was different from most others in the genre. Not to mention they're not afraid to experiment with different sounds for tracks, leaning into poppy kinda sounds, then going with more ambient background sounds, heavier tracks, and then the more mellow tracks. It's a good blend that's overall very refreshing in an era filled with octane-core or "Architects"-core now. I also really like the mixing of the tracks as well from a production aspect.

[@11deanski33]

I'm glad your streaming seems to be going well. Always pumping out great content. Thanks Finn.

[@Davier9999]

I love Iwrestledabearonce and there's something HUGE that you missed. Courtney and Mike have been building the Spiritbox even before they released their first song. They used to do lives in Instagram kinda regularly and by the time they released their first song they already had a small, but dedicated fanbase. It really helped to lure the iwabo fans they had (like myself) and push the band on the early stages. Again that charisma thing you talked about is very true, we've tried doing something similar with my band and failed miserably hahaha

[@christiansmith1389]

Last time a metalcore band charted that high, I believe, was Issues with their self-titled LP. IIRC, it charted at #9.

[@JhamEntertainment]

“Djent Billie Eilish” is the best way I’ve heard Courtney described 👊🏻😂 Also, her cleans remind me of Amy Lee which is quite the compliment. Many of my subs have said the same thing.

[@matthewpunk2012]

Courtney >>> Amy

[@JhamEntertainment]

@@matthewpunk2012 Amy can't scream or write anything other than Octanecore so I agree haha

[@darthsmolin]

Not sure I agree. Amy Lee tends to oversing. Definitely not as tasteful as Courtney, but that probably has more to do with artistic maturity. Amy probably sings her hits better now than she did in Evanescence's peak because she's grown as a singer and a person.

[@krisalvarez7647]

Djenty Eilish.

[@N_Lucas]

Completely agree, they learnt their lessons over time, kept grinding out consistent work and now are professionals before the band formed, this accelerated their rise because they know what works and how to deliver that. When you have talent and industry knowledge you can go far, I’m sure they will continue to rise in the future

[@gmitchell5000]

I discovered them on KZbin with Courtney’s live studio vocals for Rule of Nines. I typically only find new bands through Spotify algorithms or curated playlists nowadays

[@jeffnorris211]

They popped up in a Jinjer KZbin list I was lifting weights to. Been hooked since.

[@Tikitackfouls]

@@jeffnorris211 djentcore good for the gainz

[@robbierende]

Solid points Finn!! Spiritbox is such a profoundly important band for 2020s metalcore, and it’s cool to see you do posi vids on djentcore bands even though it’s not your thing. 👽🤘

[@polygon.fiction6514]

Also, early on, they had more progressive/spacier music that brought in a lot of people with broader tastes before they transitioned into the more accessible sound they have now, and that uniqueness is still present in their current music.

[@Matt_Nor]

11:29 "She's like the djent Billie Eilish"... You got me there, haha A very accurate description. Billie and Courtney are simply queens in their place and naturally charismatic and don't need to prove anything because they've already established a more than good enough rep. They're both so grounded and give credit where credit is due. Just two very attractive personalities. There's more to them than meets the eye.

[@AnkorOfficial]

We just discovered your channel with this video, and it's AWESOME how you analyzed every aspect of the band, not only their music (obviously amazing). We hope to have the honor to receive a video like this someday. Keep up the great work and congrats for the 100k subscribers!

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

Thanks! You guys are really good!

[@LabGoats]

Courtney's low key personality works because she's genuine and skilled. 'Genuine and skilled' is always preferred over a big personality, imo. I think most music fanatics are burned out on the over the top big personalities. Or maybe that's just me...

[@volpe_sol]

Great point!! Shit today is waaaay too gimmicky, try hard and over-produced, almost like a musical version of an "Instagram filter" kind of thing applied especially in this new era of Metal and the hundreds of bands coming out and sounding the exact fucking same. Spiritbox feels very organic and not try hard at all, relying completely on what they do best and their raw talent and work ethic. Have you seen them live?! Her live vocals are insanely good!!

[@LabGoats]

@@volpe_sol Exactly. I haven't seen them live yet, but I will in February. Seen Courtney's one takes though. Serious skills.

[@dabertoldi]

The Rules of Nines one take is what got me into Spiritbox! And I love it, always come back to watch it

[@bradford2839]

Back when She was in IWABO, when they first start touring she used to perform in a giant Furby outfit. Twas pretty dope.

[@jonathanonfire]

That was something the vocalist before her did. Thankfully she tried to carry the torch.

[@bradford2839]

@@jonathanonfire Didn't know Krysta rocked it first, that's awesome that Courtney gave homage to it

[@brettrobertleasure]

courtney singing on scale the summit's 'land of nod' is beautiful, w/out the screams

[@DenyThisFlesh]

Super happy for them. They seem like awesome people and they make great music. I've been listening to the album constantly since it released. The funny thing about it is that I tend to gravitate more toward heavier stuff and Holy Roller was my introduction to the band, but on this album I love the chill, melodic songs even more than the heavy ones a lot of the time. They just do all of it so well.

[@Anonymous-wb3nz]

I LOVE her scream. It's incredible.

[@hugograndi1708]

What I would call this is, the "Gojira effect" which they just slowly built their fan base, based on their sole music. No band drama, no super hit song. No feuds with other bands. This band worked their asses off to sell out stadiums, while being consistent. Such as Gojira

[@Tikitackfouls]

Getting signed to Roadrunner really helped them get semi-mainstream

[@MilitantMe]

Think you nailed the analysis on this one. They just do everything right in a very simple and persistent way.

[@harpy2602]

I first heard Spiritbox when Nik Nocturnal reacted to their Holy Roller vid. I knew Nik mainly reacted to metal, so that + the juxtaposition of seeing Courtney in the thumbnail intrigued me. When the first drop hit and Nik said something like "damnnnn courtney, you cant hit that hard so soon" I said "oh DAMN, that's her singing?" and was instantly hooked. Went back and listened to Blessed Be and loved it, then sought out their Singles collection and self-titled EP on spotify. There wasn't a weak song, and even in their early days you could hear their potential, with the mix of prog, djent, and courtneys mix of clean/screams. They have only gotten better. Tighter production, really finding their groove, and their pure drive to succeed... They put SO much work in over the last ~3 years to get where they are now. and goddamn, Eternal Blue slaps

[@richardjones38]

Been a big Spiritbox fan since discovering them in 2019. I heard Perennial first, and didn't pay much attention to it until I heard another song, then went looking for whatever else they'd done. Their music is so consistently high quality, and Courtney and Mike come across as thoroughly nice folks. The harsher vocalled stuff like Holy Roller isn't really my cup of tea, but when they're as good at it as that, I'll listen. Constance has to be the best combination of a song and it's video I've ever seen. I'm so pleased they're getting the success they deserve. Can't wait to see them live - I had a ticket for March 2020 in Manchester, 4 days after the tour was cancelled!

[@how2alive79]

Eternal blue is the first rock album that I've enjoyed front to back in a very long time

[@Raspyist]

Hail Mary is a GOAT album. They peeked with that band and genre, this is more of a horizontal move to sound with a wider audience where they can flex some different muscles. And they’re sick so it’s working out.

[@BradNolanVideography]

Thanks for showing my Louder Than Life video in this. It was a great show and Courtney has an amazing live stage presence.

[@briancataldi]

Spiritbox is literally my favorite band the last 2 years hands down

[@derekcurrent6353]

Caught that Louder than Life performance, one of the best sets of the day IMO. What really got my attention is how humble and appreciative they were with the crowd. I heard a few of their songs beforehand, but now after seeing them live, I’ll do my best to support them as best I can. You always have to remember that starting from scratch is never a sure thing.

[@dannyrobert1382]

Their EP with the "effect of the mara" trio is not talked about enough. Amazing.

[@apIthletIcc]

their insane success comes from this not being the first band any of them were part of, plus the insane hard work they did thru 2020, with raw real ass music. which ill be honest me finding them turned into a form of therapy almost as it really helped me thru some dark shit last year. They honed a sound thats unique and their backstory is so cool to me, because they really are more than just music creators they also produce all their music themselves. Overall, theyre just such a well rounded and wise group of musicians that it was a huge surprise when i first heard Rule of Nines

[@mynameisfatmike6742]

That same rule of nines home studio video is where me and my discord buddies first discovered them too. Was insta-hooked after that. This new album is so freakin good

[@theherpetoculturenetwork]

They took their time with all of it which I think has a big part in all of it. For me a handful of albums that dropped this year over promised and under delivered but Eternal Blue was everything I was hoping it would be!

[@rayluna2864]

They are on the same label as my band Paloma and it was amazing to watch them grow how they did!

[@KILLMOORE]

Did u learn anything from how they grew or anything the label did to push them?

[@RyanJDowney_]

I appreciate the shoutout and I appreciate you!

[@percyhutchins5421]

I was a IWABO fan. N had to except this was the best IWABO I'll ever get again. I miss IWABO . Run it back 😞. We miss you.

[@dominicspizzirri4399]

For me I love them simply because it’s good music from casual people. No statement, no drama, no political thing…just a good band with awesome people. I love following them, and they usually always surprise me.

[@stan1418]

Well said......completely agree

[@mmmhmm6865]

Why do metal bands get bullied the second they get success I’m glad they’re a new successful metal band. We should all support metal bands resurrecting the genre

[@wolfstar675]

Because a lot of fans want metal to stay underground forever I guess.

[@Swollen_Goat]

I would assume it's because metal comes from punk heritage in a way and it's always been part of that stigma that success equals change to gain that popularity. BMTH is one of the easiest to bring up that people diss because of that success and change. I absolutely love when bands change in general and grow, and if that gains them success then hell yeah good for them.

[@iletthedevilin828]

That's how I feel every time Finn tries to discredit bands like erra or wage war for even remotely sounding like architects. Its cool if that isn't your thing but those bands keep getting bigger as they should and should be celebrated for that.

[@SteMCFC79]

A lot of metal fans like to pretend they're really underground when they listen to bands that thousands upon thousands of other people listen to.

[@cain1349]

because metal fans are obsessed with things needing to stay underground and completely to themselves-- as someone in the black metal scene, this mentality ruled the whole subgenre. the idea that once something is big it's immediately going to get ruined (or already is ruined if it got popular in the first place) is kinda fucked up because why wouldn't you wanna see an artist you love getting the attention and praise they deserve?

[@kristinLFG]

I was an IWABO fan since before Courtney took over as vocalist and I still love spiritbox significantly more. Yellowjackets is also one of my favourites on the album

[@kevintanis7368]

Awesome to get a full video on spiritbox !! I’d love to see a full video on ice nine kills after silver scream 2 comes out it’s crazy how big they have gotten another example of putting in the time and hard work and achieving success

[@megphillips7488]

Thanks for the reference bro, I'm going to check that band out now.

[@kevintanis7368]

@@megphillips7488 since this comment he actually made a full video on the punk rock mba channel it’s great !

[@thesupportingcast6972]

I love this band. I have been on them for a while, and YES I'm a female and I think she is amazing 👏 IDC about people's opinions. Spiritbox is my new kickboxing music. I love the mix of hard screaming and her voice.

[@marshalladams841]

Brilliant insights on this, Finn! I am big of fan of Spiritbox and of everything that you detail about them. Your points about the reasons for their success are very insightful and make this video a lesson that I need to watch multiple times and take notes.

[@insertbettername4051]

Totally agree! Especially in regards to their tight song writing. Even their most proggy stuff on the album has something to pique the interest of the more "casual" listener, case in point Secret Garden with the amazing ending. My favorite song on the album are Sun Killer and Eternal Blue by the way

[@cain1349]

i was a pretty big IWABO fan for a time and wondered what they were doing after their second album with courtney, come to find her one day in a black and white thumbnail for the mara effect part 1 and i was immediately obsessed. i'm so glad they've gotten as big as they have. IWABO was a fun band and i loved that gift of death album but it did feel all over the place--- by comparison, spiritbox's refinement serves them well in jumping from their softer side to the more aggressive sounds. one song i think encapsulates that perfectly is electric cross-- i really hope they do that one live some day

[@summeronio9751]

Finn woke up and chose violence.

[@glasseyesx]

facts

[@russellburns2414]

I think look and being genuine is so key! I think that's what makes Parkway Drive so awesome as well. Not only are they insanely talented....but if you play someone their song and then show them their photo, it literally makes no sense. They look like surfer models from Pac Sun. And it 100% works cuz that's who they are

[@Alex-uv9mh]

Spiritbox Kicks ass. This was a great breakdown of their success. On a completely unrelated note, I'm pretty sure the dude in the blue tanktop in the Louder Than Life clip was Jose Mangin. If Finn follows up his Nu Metal fashion video with a Butt Rock fashion, he'd check off the entire bingo card.

[@maxime_simard]

Spiritbox success is exactly what you always talk in your video. Doing single to gauge interest and adjust their sound and when they saw interest and find the sound they like and was resonning with people they hit the studio and record a full album. its not overnight success they've been doing this RnD for 2 years before releasing Eternal Blue.

[@Mrmayhembsc]

Been a fan since Jan 2019 when I saw them on a reaction channel. I watched them for a long time. Very much a hard work, vision, fan interaction and perfect marketing. They have also grown in a very natural way. Other thing is the very clever on how the did an ep and built up on singles with fantastic production values. This is before the went to write an album. What I love is you can see the growth in the songwriting and personal musicians. Other big factor is they act like humans online

[@ChachaChapati]

Liquid Metal did promote the hell out of Spiritbox going back to when Holy Roller caught on last summer, so that could also well be part of their rise.

[@Eidosgod]

The one take video sounds better to me than the official video one. I'm trying to learn to scream, so seeing her inflections up close really helps.

[@augursaudiocult]

Finn is literally the DJ Akademiks of the rock scene, I love it 🔥

[@brandonbell9957]

Bro I love your breakdown of these bands and how well you do it. Your videos are such a joy to watch

[@robowop9354]

Spiritbox is a very talented band. Great performance on liquid metal was huge too. Followed up by an amazing album in Eternal Blue. They are here to stay & I'm looking forward to it!

[@Matt-yj1lz]

Mike the guitarist old band before he joined iwrestledabearonce Fall in Archaea was fire. courtney did vocals on the song motives on their 2nd album before she started doing vocals for Iwrestledabearonce.

[@BruceBalensiefer]

Spiritbox have set the example I hope to follow in my own musical career and they make me proud to be a musician operating out of the great Pacific Northwest.

[@tlfocht]

I've been waiting for a Spiritbox video from you. Agree with all you said wholeheartedly and hope they keep making dope music.

[@raegandalbo9731]

Finn, thanks for introducing me to a lot of new music. (You helped get me into Mastodon and Saosin). I’m gonna listen to Eternal Blue after this! 🐛

[@trishanichole8440]

I ran into Spiritbox in a Spotify discover weekly playlist back with Perennial, and it became a favorite song immediately. As I got into them I became immediately obsessed with the sounds they make. I know a lot of people were worried when they signed with Rise but even with Eternal Blue their sound is still lovely and intense to me. It really boosted my interest in women fronted metal bands in a way I haven't really felt since early Flyleaf and mid 2000s Within Temptation. She's so good at how she uses the voice she has imo

[@trishanichole8440]

Also the IWABO lore gives me life every time I remember she did it. She evolved so far that I often forget.

[@scarseven7855]

I heard circle with me and instantly pre ordered the album, its so good. Fwiw im a 47 year old classic 80s metal lover.

[@Steve-nq8jc]

Good luck to them, my wife loves them not really my kinda thing. I will say Courtney is an incredible singer and from what I've seen the band look like they are really enjoying what they're doing. The difference to the Jinjer Pisces video is this vocal performance is actually live!

[@terrancepemberton4648]

When I first heard Circle With Me I was fucking addicted! Loved the band ever since

[@PseudoPulse]

I just recently got into Spiritbox like a month ago. I remember seeing the newer video where she has blue hair, immediately I said "oh here we go, another band with a blue haired girl" *cough *cough "Arch Enemy". I listened to it but didnt pay much attention. then youtube kept suggesting them over and over, so I watched the video for "Blessed Be"......very commercial but I loved the vibe between her vocals and the Djent'y type rhythms. I listened to more and now I am a fan. They are very diverse, a bit commercial at times, but thats ok. Two thumbs up. Thanks for the content bro \m/ \m/

[@SailorAzumi]

Thank you for this vid so much. I've been listening to them non-stop since I saw this video a couple weeks ago. I feel like Spiritbox has reinvigorated my love for heavy music and metalcore.

[@Ravelle17]

I got into Spiritbox when kmac2021 shared the music video for “The Mara Effect, Pt. 1” on his channel in April 2018. I’ve been hooked ever since because the songs (first and foremost), musicianship, personalities, visuals, and merchandise are all great. That’s really it!

[@trottingfoxinc]

I remember in an interview within the last year or two that Courtney mentioned how dead-end IWABO felt. I loved a lot of IWABO, but she was honestly right, and I have a feeling they definitely learned from past experiences. There's even hints of IWABO on Eternal Blue if you know what to listen for, so in my eyes, it's a win-win. Spiritbox is a dramatically more musically mature project than anything we've heard in metal in a while.

[@JaredtheRabbit]

I’m also from Vancouver Island- Duncan, to be more specific- and from what I’ve heard, I’m really enjoying their stuff.

[@BendyDH]

My only complaint with the new album is that they didn’t use the version of Holy Roller with Ryo from Cryatal Lake as the album version. My god his feature on the track is fucking sick

[@mehrank6880]

Ryo just kills it in any song he is featured. I think it will be in a deluxe edition if they want to add some songs later.

[@mattpetty448]

Last one I remembered is when Issues debut album topped at number 9 on the top 200

[@sollamander2206]

You mentioning Victoria, Vancouver Island and the long road to stardom reminded me of a current NHL player from there, Jamie Benn. Came up only playing for his local team, not in the top tier of Canadian hockey, but worked hard and plied his trade and ended up winning the art ross trophy for being top scorer and winning an Olympic gold medal after being a 5th round draft pick. (Also one of the few NHL players with a unique social media angle in a similarly boring field, there's a whole group of people on social media that ship the bromance between him and a teammate)

[@thedaddypatty5192]

I saw these guys live at Louder Than Life 2021 and they put on a great show!

[@MyExtraman]

I love you hot takes of the scene "mathcore" "midwestern backpack rock". I think this is what keeps me coming back lol. Also to add to your one take part. I have a friend that like nothing, nowhere's one takes but doesn't like the studio produced versions of his songs. I think this one take thing is very popular beyond just this genre.