UK blackend post-hardcore band Svalbard stream their new full-length album »The Weight Of The Mask«, out now via Nuclear Blast Records!

Bristol, UK based blackend post-hardcore band Svalbard has released their new full-length album »The Weight Of The Mask« on October 6th, 2023 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Listen to »The Weight Of The Mask« on all streaming platforms!

Tracklist:
01. Faking It
02. Eternal Spirits
03. Defiance
04. November
05. Lights Out
06. How To Swim Down
07. Be My Tomb
08. Pillar In The Sand
09. To Wilt Beneath The Weight

Courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records:

On October 6th, Svalbard are proud to release their breathtaking new studio album, »The Weight Of The Mask«. Uncompromising and highly charged, the record spans themes intrinsic to humanity, such as emotional strength and depression, to unrequited love and vulnerability.

»The Weight Of The Mask« is Svalbard’s most devastatingly raw and beautiful work to-date, overflowing with mesmerising performances from Serena Cherry, Liam Phelan, Mark Lilley and Matt Francis, transcending boundaries across shoegaze, post-hardcore, black metal and more.

Photo by Georgia Penny

Serena Cherry stated: “It feels pretty surreal to be releasing our fourth album today, after spending 2 years writing and recording it. It’s so exciting for these songs to be out in the wild, we can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to this album!”

Order »The Weight Of The Mask« here:
svalbard.bfan.link/the-weight-of-the-mask

Listen to »The Weight Of The Mask« in full on YouTube!

»The Weight Of The Mask« was recorded at The Ranch Production House, UK. The record was produced and mixed by Lewis Johns, with mastering by Grant Berry. Engineering was handled by Lewis Johns, assisted by Matt Janke, with additional editing by Kel Pinchin and Sebastien Sendon.

Svalbard’s intention with their music is to make people feel less alone, and to be there for people in their darkest times. »The Weight Of The Mask« bravely lays out experiences of mental illness and depression, hoping to help destigmatise these topics.

Svalbard will be returning to the EU mainland for six headline show dates this month, which will be followed by a performance at the Cult Of Luna curated Beyond The Redshift event in London and a headline date at The Key Club in Leeds.

October Dates:
14 Oct – NL Nijmegen, Soulcrusher
15 Oct – DE Cologne, Helios 37*
16 Oct – DE Berlin, Urban Spree*
17 Oct – DE Dresden, Chemiefabrik*
18 Oct – DE Neunkirchen, Stummsche Reithalle*
19 Oct – FR Paris, Backstage By The Mill*
20 Oct – UK London, Beyond The Redshift – curated by Cult Of Luna
21 Oct – UK Leeds, The Key Club
* w/ Bones Of Minerva

Tickets: linktr.ee/svalbardhc

Formed in Bristol UK, Svalbard have released three studio albums, three EPs and several split releases. Their exceptional last studio album, 2020’s »When I Die, Will I Get Better?« was dubbed by Metal Hammer UK as “the most important British metal record of 2020”, with both Metal Hammer and Kerrang! lauding the record as a top 10 album of the year. A career milestone, it cemented Svalbard as a powerful and vital component of our global music scene.

Whilst refining their distinctive blend of euphoric black metal, post-rock and d-beat, Svalbard have incorporated a few more surprising influences along the way. From soft, mournful singing to progressive guitar leads, it showcases a sensitive dynamic that lends impact to their most crushing moments – of which there are undoubtedly many. There’s no poetry, no ambiguity – just direct, raw honesty as the quartet tackle some very uncomfortable subjects head on. This is heavy in the most evocative sense of the word. The blunt lyrics are equally as important as the music.

Svalbard are:
Serena Cherry – Vocals, Guitar
Liam Phelan – Vocals, Guitar
Mark Lilley – Drums
Matt Francis – Bass

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well