Formed in Bristol in 2011, British band Svalbard were signed by legendary metal label Nuclear Blast in time for the release of this, their fourth album: The Weight of the Mask. It has been quite a journey for the four-piece band - often lazily pigeon-holed as post-hardcore but whose music clearly draws on post-metal, shoegaze, blackgaze and even elements of black metal. Svalbard are clearly comfortable working with Lewis Johns as he takes his place in the producer’s chair for the fourth consecutive album. With The Weight of the Mask, Svalbard have produced the most consistent and most personal album of their career.
Svalbard are no strangers to sharing their views on the societal landscape in which we find ourselves and while intimate, personal feelings have been evident in past releases, they have never been so vividly exposed as there are here. Serena Cherry has made no secret of the fact that she is so thoroughly deflated about the current political world that she could not bring herself to write about it this time around. Turning inwards for her inspiration for this album, has produced a raw, uncompromising and completely open examination of Cherry’s battle with depression.
Opener Faking It, sets the musical and lyrical tone from the first moments of the album: There is an incredulousness / That accompanies my depressed existence / It asks how on Earth am I getting through this / So how on Earth am I getting though this? The open wounds of Serena’s depression are shared throughout the album’s 44 minutes and while the lyrics of The Weight of the Mask are at times difficult to read, the music provides the necessary balance preventing the album from sinking beneath endless waves of introspective melancholia. Faking It deals with the need for many to wear a happy face when struggling with depression. “Basically, this song is questioning what causes us to mask our negative emotions, and exploring the detrimental effects of masking when you suffer with depression."
Most serious music fans will point to the fact that certain songs, albums or bands have had a profound influence on their lives or even, at times, been their saviours. The Weight of the Mask will without doubt speak to those who have suffered similar mental health concerns, let them know that they are not alone and more importantly that speaking about it is okay. Twenty years ago, mental health was almost a taboo subject and while there is some way to go for it to be fully understood and even accepted by some elements of the general populace, albums that speak with such dark beauty about something so difficult can only be of benefit.
While there is much darkness at the heart of The Weight of the Mask, there is also the chance to celebrate the lives of those that have gone before. Eternal Spirits is the bands tribute to those who have ever inspired others to pick up an instrument or as Serena Cherry states, “It is the musical equivalent of lighting a candle for someone who has passed away.” Dedicated to the memory of Alex Laiho and in particular Joey Jordison, the track travels and swirls across a range of genres including post-metalcore and blackgaze. Clean vocals allow the track to fully breathe and Eternal Spirits stands as a fitting compliment to the aforementioned musicians. The passion you gave forever lives on / We carry your torch held high / Now that you are gone.
Following more genre-defying variability on Defiance (a song dealing with confronting the low expectations can people place on each other - in which bassist Matt Francis pummels and drives the lyric), is November. Titled in reference to December by All About Eve and written as an anti-Christmas song (not for the festival itself but for everyone, “who finds that time of year hard, when every other Christmas song is talking about how magical this time of year is.”). With a luscious and steadily building introduction leading to spoken verses (inspired by For Your Demons by Danish death-doom band Saturnus) and ultimately chilling blastbeats, November is complete with an almost mantra type delivery of Head down, barriers up / Nothing can pierce through an armour this tough / Head down, barriers up / Nothing will ever come close to my heart.
Musically, The Weight of the Mask demonstrates Svalbard continuing to step up several levels with each album and Lights Out is another example of the band’s ever developing ability to show what they are all about within one song. Cogently inflammatory drumming from Mark Lilley collides with effervescent guitar work from Cherry and Liam Phelan (who doubles as the band’s violinist) during Lights Out, while still leaving space for waiflike shoegaze moments. Lyrically nothing is held back. I’m screaming for help whilst I’m muting myself sums up the entire album’s message and it is one of pain and anguish.
For all the moments of powerful blackened post-hardcore on The Weight of the Mask, How To Swim Down is the most achingly beautiful and emotive song the band have ever recorded – Phelan’s violin drenching the song in emotion. Can’t let you see / What my love for you / Has done to me / Don’t break the spell / I’ll never tell / Why we won’t drown / If we swim down. Tackling loving someone from a far unrequitedly, Cherry looks at the deepest thoughts such a love can bring and further examines true loneliness and lack of connection on Be My Tomb (a song inspired by the lyrics of Gary Moore’s Empty Rooms). Completing the trilogy of songs containing more illusory and trancelike sections, Pillars In The Sand display the importance of special places in our lives and those which we return time after time. How long have I known this place? / In year after year of Autumnal days / Where I walk through rain and haze / But I close my eyes / I know the way.
Closing track Wilt Beneath the Weight acknowledges the dark reality of our demons. A flower wilting beneath the weight of this sinking ship / It pulls me down / It pulls me down away from you / And the loneliness it makes me stupid. However, the other side to the song is the incredible but draining resilience depression can sometimes bring. “I will not let depression defeat me, no matter how difficult it gets," states Cherry. While The Weight of the Mask deals with complex and difficult subjects, it ends with a tone of defiance. Grit my teeth when they’ve just been broken / Soldier on in the face of fear / Too much is all it takes to be here.
As a band, Svalbard have never sounded better and the exposure that being on a label such as Nuclear Blast will bring is well deserved. At 44 minutes, the album is perfectly structured, as is the delicate equilibrium of lyrical darkness and musical light. Brutal yet exquisite, The Weight of the Mask (the cover of which is adorned with incredible artwork by Hester Aspland) is the album Svalbard have been building towards since their formation.
Keep on fighting….
The Weight of the Mask is out now on Nuclear Blast Records. You can visit the band's bandcamp website here: https://svalbard.bandcamp.com/
Written: 15th October 2023
Watch the videos for Faking It and How To Swim Down below.
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