LIVE REVIEW: Spiritbox @ Alexandra Palace, London

The rise of SPIRITBOX to metalcore superstars has been a sight to behold over the past few years, with the band now embarking on their biggest headline tour to date with their biggest ever show so far at London’s Alexandra Palace to open the run.

Stray From The Path live @ Alexandra Palace, London. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

They’ve brought friends with them, too; STRAY FROM THE PATH are opening tonight, coming off their underplay last night at The Underworld. Fortunately for them, they start almost an hour after doors so the legendarily slow queue has still managed to get a reasonable crowd in. Opening with a storming salvo of Needful Things into May You Live Forever, it’s a furious assault replete with snare bombs and snarled diatribes against the state of the world. They also don’t suffer from the often-lacking sound supports get landed with here, and they tear through a thirty minute set with barely disguised glee to be in a venue so huge.

Rating: 8/10Periphery live @ Alexandra Palace, London. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

PERIPHERY are even more of an outlier on the bill, but the djent outfit make themselves at home with a huge Wildfire to kick their set off, including saxophone breaks. Some of the intricacies are lost in the cavernous hall, particularly with an echoey drum mix, but it doesn’t detract too much from an otherwise solid set. It’s as tight as ever – as it should be, with music so complex – but it feels as if there’s a certain amount of charisma or personality lacking from the staging. The overly technical moments can feel indulgent, but they crack jokes between songs and ensure the crowd are kept mostly engaged throughout, particularly when they close with the brutalising Blood Eagle.

Rating: 7/10Spiritbox live @ Alexandra Palace, London. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

SPIRITBOX, in stark contrast, are hellbent on making tonight as memorable for everyone as possible. Whispers of a select few getting an advance play of upcoming album Tsunami Sea plus a band Q&A circulate, and the band are recording the entire show. Bursting onstage with an electrifying, balls-to-the-wall heavy rendition of unreleased track Fata Morgana, there’s no doubt SPIRITBOX belong in front of this capacity crowd. Giant video screens sit behind them, a backdrop of visualisers and effects-laden camera views of the band, along with a tiered drum riser with its own screens and walkways for the band to make use of. It’s a treat for the eyes, but the real delight is in just how good the quartet sound in this huge, historic venue.

They exude confidence, Courtney LaPlante having grown into one of the most magnetic frontpeople in metal with understated dances all while delivering a powerhouse vocal performance. Her voice is unsurprisingly brilliant, imperious roars and soaring melodies captivating the room. Both Zev Rose and Josh Gilbert have cemented their places in the band too, practically in lockstep as the rhythmic backbone of the band. Mike Stringer is clearly having a blast too, peeling off deceptively simple riffs and losing himself in the performance. An early Perfect Soul shows their knack for making gorgeous melody that fills the room, the crowd near drowning out the initial intro with enthusiastic cheers. Spiritbox live @ Alexandra Palace, London. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

An extended transition builds the tension and expectation before the band re-emerge to Circle With Me that detonate like a bomb, the crowd roaring its “cut down the altar” opening and “this could all be yours” before the final chorus. “Are you guys having fun?” Courtney beams afterwards to deafening cheers, admitting the seemingly ludicrous fact they didn’t think that arguably the biggest metalcore band in the world couldn’t sell out the show. When there’s an earth-shattering Soft Spine followed by tender The Mara Effect, Pt. 3 and No Loss, No Love into Holy Roller threatens the building’s foundations? It’s hard to believe there was ever any doubt at all.

It’s difficult to understate just how well SPIRITBOX have risen to the occasion; the staging is stunning (pyro during Hysteria’s outrageous breakdown, anyone?), they sound better than ever, and there’s a clear love for the fans that have propelled them to these heights, even allowing two long time fans onstage for a proposal. If there was ever any doubt remaining, SPIRITBOX have deserved every ounce of hype and their rapid ascent to dominance in the scene.

Rating: 10/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Serena Hill Photography here:


































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