When it came to the massive and sudden rise in popularity for Spiritbox, I think there were two singles before Eternal Blue's album cycle that were integral to the band's success. Rule Of Nines is the first of the two singles that further solidified both their sound and their name as a forced to be reckoned with in the modern metalcore scene.
There's a subtle evolution in their sound compared to their self-titled EP that started to emerge, beginning with these two singles. Rule Of Nines is the darker yet slightly softer song of the two, even if it is still ruthlessly heavy at the end.
The song immediately kicks off with groovy drums and riffs, I love how bouncy the song feels from the get-go, and I also love the synthwork that gives the song this dark futuristic atmosphere, or dark magic-esque.
Courtney's clean vocal work on this song feels a bit more fancy than usual, especially on the verses. The slightly whispery vocals alongside the cadences and the slight dragging of words is slightly reminiscent of choir work, and whether intentional or not, definitely contributes to the ethereal feeling of it all.
The chorus is maybe not the most hooky but definitely sounds amazing. The riffwork underneath is a very familiar Mike Stringer sound, and the added leadwork halfway in is even more signature. With it altogether, it hones in just about perfectly on what we now know as the Spiritbox sound.
The post-chorus scream section comes at you out of nowhere, and makes for a really surprising but impactful moment. I love how the drumming underneath switches up to a much more dynamic groove during this, giving the moment so much more colour and ensuring no monotony.
There's nothing much different for the second verse and chorus until it hits the breakdown, and again there is just about no buildup for the optimal shock factor. I love the rhythm going on in this breakdown, with the start-and-stop cadence synced up with the lyrics. Courtney's lows, which I've now grown very familiar with, is an absolute beastly thing to hear, especially next to extremely low-tuned zeroes.
There's something about their lyricism in a lot of their songs that strikes me as intriguing, equally poetic and ritualistic. Lines about dreams, shrines and premonitions, use of esoteric words like detritus and schism, they all contribute to this aura of mystery and darkness that this song channels.
Rule Of Nines is no doubt a banger from Spiritbox, and despite being left as a non-album single, I think it is one of their more outstanding tracks in their discography. It did a great job of putting their newly refined sound out into the world, and to draw the attention of the modern metalcore scene to themselves.
Rating: 4/5