The Criterion

Spiritbox is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in Victoria, British Columbia, in October 2017 by guitarist Mike Stringer and vocalist Courtney LaPlante. The band’s lineup includes LaPlante and Stringer, who are married, along with drummer Zev Rose and bassist Josh Gilbert. Their music combines elements of metalcore and progressive metal, with electronic influences and a vocal style inspired by R&B. LaPlante and Stringer previously played in Iwrestledabearonce before founding Spiritbox to pursue a different artistic direction. The band released their debut EP, Spiritbox, in 2017, followed by Singles Collection in 2019, with an expanded lineup. They initially built their fanbase through online promotion and released a series of popular music videos. Spiritbox debuted as a touring band in 2020 and gained further recognition with singles that charted on Billboard. Their debut album, Eternal Blue, was released in 2021 and entered the US Billboard 200 at number 13. The band’s releases are issued through their label, Pale Chord, in partnership with Rise Records.