Spiritbox vocalist Courtney LaPlante is continuing to speak out about gender representation within the metal music scene, drawing from her own experiences as a prominent female artist in a genre often seen as male-dominated.
In a recent discussion with Revolver Magazine, LaPlante addressed the disparity she observes. “I’m always fascinated by how I’m a minority in the metal scene, even though women make up at least half of the planet,” she said. Anticipating potential backlash, she added, “I don’t care what sound bites come out from this — people are gonna be offended by this for whatever bulls**t reason, no matter what I say.”
LaPlante emphasized that her comments stem from personal impact rather than a desire to claim victimhood. “But this is sh*t that actually affects me, it’s not some kind of victimhood mentality,” she continued. “I’m just talking about my experience, and for every person that might be angry about a woman speaking about her experience, there’s probably another who’s grateful for it. All I want to do is help people leave this insular, sexist world.”
Her outspoken stance is informed by years in the metal scene. LaPlante, alongside her husband, guitarist Mike Stringer, formed Spiritbox in 2017 after their departure from the band Iwrestledabearonce. The band has seen a significant rise, with their 2021 breakthrough album Eternal Blue and their sophomore record, Tsunami Sea, which was released on March 7, 2025. These releases have showcased the band’s evolving sound and ability to connect with a growing audience, proving that diverse voices can shape the evolution of metal.
LaPlante‘s impact extends beyond music, as she has voiced ambitions to become the first woman to win a “Best Metal Performance” Grammy Award. Such an achievement would mark a significant moment for gender representation in metal, potentially reshaping the genre’s landscape for future female artists.
Courtney LaPlante and rap superstar Megan Thee Stallion shared the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 13th for the first live performance of their collaborative track “TYG“.
Through her advocacy and Spiritbox‘s continued success, LaPlante has become a powerful voice for change, challenging established industry norms and sparking crucial discussions about equality in the contemporary metal scene. Her unique vocal style, combining melodic and aggressive elements, has also been noted for transforming expectations within the genre.
You can catch Spiritbox live:
- May 7: Temple Theatre, Tacoma, WA
- May 9: The Masonic, San Francisco, CA
- May 10: Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA
Ogorthul: Immersed in the bone-shattering world of death metal and beyond. I’m here to excavate the latest news, reviews, and interviews from the extreme metal scene for you.
