Spiritbox Performs on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Brings Heavy Metal to Mainstream TV; VIDEO

Summary

• Spiritbox made their late-night TV debut with a heavy performance of Soft Spine on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
• The song is from their album Tsunami Sea, which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock chart.
• Their Fall 2025 tour kicks off November 12 with support from Periphery and Honey Revenge.

Spiritbox, one of the fastest-rising bands in the modern metal scene, made their late-night television debut this week on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Canadian group performed “Soft Spine”, one of their heaviest tracks to date, giving millions of viewers a taste of extreme metal on national broadcast television.

The performance aired Monday, July 7, and marked a major moment not just for the band, but for the genre. It’s not every day that a song filled with screaming vocals, downtuned guitars, and nu-metal breakdowns makes it onto prime-time TV in the United States.

Black-and-White and Loud All Over

Introduced by guest host Anthony Anderson, Spiritbox appeared in a pre-recorded black-and-white video. The visual style gave the performance a stark, almost cinematic feel, in contrast to the raw intensity of the music itself.

At the center of it all was Courtney LaPlante, the band’s vocalist, delivering one of her most aggressive live vocal takes yet. Her performance included both clean singing and full-on metal screams, holding nothing back. The rest of the band, including guitarist Mike Stringer, matched that intensity with tight, riff-heavy instrumentation.

The result was a powerful three-minute set that put metalcore, djent, and alternative metal into homes across the country. For many viewers unfamiliar with Spiritbox, it was likely their first encounter with the band’s genre-bending style.

You can watch the full performance below 👇

A Big Year for Spiritbox

The band is riding high off the success of their latest album, Tsunami Sea, which dropped in March 2025. The record debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart and landed at No. 26 on the Billboard 200. It’s their second full-length release and has earned praise from both fans and critics.

“Soft Spine” is one of the standout tracks on the album. With its blend of heavy riffs, electronic elements, and emotional lyrics, it shows off the band’s ability to cross musical boundaries without watering anything down.

This TV performance came just days before the announcement of a major U.S. tour this fall. The band will hit the road again starting November 12, with Periphery and Honey Revenge joining as support acts on most dates.

From Sold-Out Shows to Stadiums

Spiritbox’s rise hasn’t gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, they played sold-out tours across North America and Europe, building a reputation for their intense live shows.

They also opened for Linkin Park during a series of high-profile stadium concerts, including a performance at Wembley Stadium in London. That level of exposure helped cement their place as one of the most talked-about metal acts of the decade.

Now with their Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance, the band has officially crossed over into a new level of visibility.

A Sign of the Times?

While genres like pop and hip hop continue to dominate mainstream TV and radio, metal has often been left out of the spotlight. Spiritbox’s performance may not signal a full-on trend, but it does show that there’s room on network television for heavier sounds.

The fact that a song like “Soft Spine” could be played uncensored on a show like Kimmel’s is no small feat. There were no edits, no radio-friendly cuts, just the band doing what they do best.

Some fans online called the moment “historic.” Others just seemed surprised it happened at all. Comments ranged from “I can’t believe they let that air” to “This is exactly what metal needed.”

For the band, it’s likely business as usual. But for the genre, this kind of mainstream exposure could open the door for more acts to break through.

The Road Ahead

Spiritbox is showing no signs of slowing down. With their fall tour on the way, another album in the works (according to recent interviews), and a growing international fanbase, they’re in a prime spot to keep building momentum.

Their North American tour will run from November 12 to December 7, with stops in cities like Los Angeles, Austin, Minneapolis, Nashville, and Detroit.

They’ll close the run with a final show in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Get Spiritbox Tickets Here.

Spiritbox’s 2025 Tour Dates

• 09/19 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
• 11/12 – Ontario, CA @ Toyota Arena *
• 11/13 – Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl Concert Theater *
• 11/15 – Albuquerque, NM @ Revel Entertainment Center *
• 11/18 – Austin, TX @ H-E-B Center at Cedar Park *
• 11/19 – Oklahoma City, OK @ The Criterion *
• 11/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory *
• 11/22 – Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha *
• 11/23 – Kansas City, MO @ The Midland Theatre *
• 11/25 – Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle *
• 11/26 – Cincinnati, OH @ Andrew J. Brady Center *
• 11/28 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! *
• 11/29 – Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo RiverWorks *
• 11/30 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre *
• 12/02 – Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Special Event Center *
• 12/03 – Virginia Beach, VA @ The Dome *
• 12/05 – Lancaster, PA @ Freedom Hall *
• 12/06 – Kingston, RI @ Ryan Center *
• 12/07 – Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre *

* = w/ Periphery and Honey Revenge

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