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The Weight of the Mask

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The Weight of the Mask
Studio album by
Svalbard
Released6 October 2023
RecordedFebruary 2023
StudioThe Ranch Production House (Southampton)
Length44:16
LabelNuclear Blast
ProducerLewis Johns
Svalbard chronology
When I Die, Will I Get Better?
(2020) 		The Weight of the Mask
(2023)
Singles from The Weight of the Mask
  1. "Eternal Spirits"
    Released: 27 February 2023
  2. "Faking It"
    Released: 12 July 2023
  3. "How to Swim Down"
    Released: 15 August 2023

The Weight of the Mask is the fourth studio album by British post-hardcore band Svalbard, released on 6 October 2023 through Nuclear Blast Records. It is the band's first album for the label, as well as their first with bassist Matt Francis.

Background and recording

In September 2020, Svalbard released their critically lauded[1] third album, When I Die, Will I Get Better?, with the band supporting its release with tours of Europe and the United Kingdom in 2021. In June 2022, the band signed to Nuclear Blast Records.[2] Signing with Nuclear Blast was a "dream come true" co-lead vocalist and lead guitarist Serena Cherry, as most of the bands she was inspired by (including Nightwish, her favourite band) had released albums through the label.[3][4] By September 2022, Svalbard had started writing new material for their fourth studio album.[5]

Cherry said that the writing process of The Weight of the Mask "wasn't a relaxed process" for Svalbard, due to the band's fears of not being "good enough" for Nuclear Blast and the pressure of living up to the acclaim of When I Die, Will I Get Better?; they ended up scrapping half of their material written for it.[6] The band worked on material together at their practice space in Bristol; although half of the band's members were split between there and London, they arranged to meet up on weekends instead of "[emailing] each other riffs".[6] Cherry has said: "[Svalbard] write collaboratively, and we all write in the room together, in the moment".[6] In February 2023,[7][8] the band recorded the album with long-time producer Lewis Johns at The Ranch Production House in Southampton.[3][9] Cherry said that "When you've worked with a producer for so many years, you feel so comfortable fully expressing yourself in the studio", and that that Johns provided her with "a safe space" to express her emotions, both musically and lyrically.[3]

Composition and lyrics

Musically, Kerrang! described The Weight of the Mask as "dancing on the lines that sit between metal, hardcore and blackgaze".[4] Cherry said that the album features more technical guitar parts, with some sections lacking the use of reverb effects (which has been prominent on the band's past output).[3] The album also introduces violins to Svalbard's sound, performed by the band's rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist Liam Phelan.[3][10] Cherry compared their use to My Dying Bride.[3] Svalbard had previously attempted to incorporate violins on When I Die, Will I Get Better?, but felt that they "didn't sound right" for the album.[11]

The Weight of the Mask was described by Bandcamp as "the first Svalbard album that’s thematically focused entirely inward";[6] its lyrics focus on themes of mental health, anxiety, depression and love, eschewing the social and political themes of their previous albums completely.[4][3][11][N 1] Cherry consciously avoided the use of metaphors in her lyrics, opting for a plainer and more direct approach: "I [wanted] it to be as though I'm there talking to them ... I think there's something really, really powerful in being completely honest and open and down to earth, about depression and the reality of depression, rather than dressing it up in a poetic manner. Hopefully, in being so direct about it, I can make others feel like they're not alone with what they're going through."[4]

"Faking It" is about the problems that forced positivity can have on those who suffer from depression, who "can feel guilted into putting on a happy mask".[12][13] "Eternal Spirits" was written as a tribute to deceased musicians within the metal community; the song was specifically dedicated to Joey Jordison, former drummer of Slipknot, who died in 2021.[14]

Release and promotion

On 27 February 2023, Svalbard released "Eternal Spirits" as the lead single from The Weight of the Mask.[14] After the single's release, Svalbard joined Cult of Luna for a tour of Europe from 17 March to 31 March 2023.[15] On 12 July 2023, Svalbard announced the release of The Weight of the Mask and released "Faking It" as the album's second single.[12] On 15 August 2023, "How to Swim Down" was released as the third single, coupled with an animated music video by Boy Tillkens.[10] The band embarked on a second tour of Europe between 14 October and 21 October 2023.[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[17]
Dork[18]
Kerrang!5/5[19]
Metal Hammer[20]
Outburn7/10[21]
Rock Hard7.5/10[22]

The Weight of the Mask has received critical acclaim. Emma Wilkes of Kerrang! called the album Svalbard's "masterpiece" and awarded the album a perfect 5/5 score, praising its emotional weight and directness.[19] Similarly, Steve Loftin of Dork found that the band's overt confidence and diversity "[gave] armament to [its] hefty subject matter".[18] Metal Hammer's Danni Leivers said that its balance of heaviness and vulnerability was "testament to just how much the band have grown as songwriters" from When I Die, Will I Get Better?; "The album hangs together cohesively and purposefully, an exercise of extremes that never offers answers, but that stands as a stunning monument to the human experience."[20]

Track listing

The Weight of the Mask track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Faking It"5:28
2."Eternal Spirits"3:35
3."Defiance"5:52
4."November"4:56
5."Lights Out"5:28
6."How to Swim Down"4:05
7."Be My Tomb"4:55
8."Pillar in the Sand"4:18
9."To Wilt Beneath the Weight"5:39
Total length:44:16

Personnel

Adapted from Nuclear Blast.[23]

Svalbard

  • Serena Cherry – lead guitar, co-lead vocals
  • Liam Phelan – rhythm guitar, violin, co-lead vocals
  • Matt Francis – bass
  • Mark Lilley – drums

Artwork

  • Hestor Aspland – artwork
  • Lee O'Connor – layout

Production

  • Lewis Johns – production, mixing, engineering
  • Grant Berry – mastering
  • Matt Janke – assistant engineer
  • Kel Pinchin – editing
  • Sebastien Sendon – editing

Charts

Chart performance for The Weight of the Mask
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] 79
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[25] 91
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[26] 29
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[27] 9

Release history

Release history for The Weight of the Mask
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 6 October 2023
Nuclear Blast [28]

References

Notes

  1. ^ Cherry: "[W]riting political lyrics takes a lot of strength. I've just felt very worn down over the political situation in the UK, over the last three years, to a point where it's almost impossible for me to have the energy to sing about it anymore. I'm almost too consumed by frustration."[4]

Citations

  1. ^ Mills, Matt (10 October 2023). "'I'm at one of the lowest points of my life': Svalbard's Serena Cherry on confronting depression with metal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  2. ^ BraveWords (28 June 2022). "Svalbard Sign To Nuclear Blast Records". bravewords.com. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Ruskell, Nick (1 August 2023). "In the studio with Svalbard: "It's us walking down a dark path together and confronting our demons head-on"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Ruskell, Nick (12 July 2023). "Svalbard: "I can't imagine not using the band as a way to express my eternal hell"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  5. ^ Holmes, Richard (27 September 2022). "Exclusive Interview: Svalbard". rushonrock.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Hughes, Mia (12 October 2023). "Svalbard's Masochistic Post-Metal Has An Optimistic Takeaway". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  7. ^ Svalbardband (30 August 2023). "Svalbard on X". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023. Back in February, we headed to The Ranch Studio to record our 4th album with [Lewis Johns].
  8. ^ Brown, Gavin (16 October 2023). "Gavin Brown Takes On Svalbard - Interview With Serena Cherry | New Album "The Weight Of The Mask" Out Now via Nuclear Blast". Circuit Sweet. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  9. ^ Dunstan, Jody (22 August 2023). "(((O))) Interview: Serena Cherry from Svalbard at ArcTanGent 2023". Echoes and Dust. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Svalbard release new video for How To Swim Down". Kerrang!. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  11. ^ a b Leivers, Dannii (24 September 2023). " "There's not a ray of sunshine or hope in this album": Svalbard explain why new album The Weight Of The Mask is their darkest yet". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 3 October 2023 – via Loudersound.
  12. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (12 July 2023). "Svalbard Announce New Album 'The Weight Of The Mask', Share New Song "Faking It": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  13. ^ Cherry, Serena (3 October 2023). "Svalbard's track-by-track guide to new album The Weight Of The Mask". Kerrang!. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  14. ^ a b Carter, Emily (27 February 2023). "Svalbard pay tribute to late metal heroes with new single Eternal Spirits". Kerrang!. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  15. ^ Kennelty, Greg (30 November 2022). "Cult of Luna, Russian Circles & Svalbard Announce 2023 European Tour". Metal Injection. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  16. ^ admin (19 May 2023). "Svalbard - announce run of European headline dates for October". Metal Planet Music. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  17. ^ Lawson, Dom (4 October 2023). "The Weight Of The Mask". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  18. ^ a b Loftin, Steven (4 October 2023). "Svalbard – The Weight Of The Mask". Dork. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  19. ^ a b Wilkes, Emma (5 October 2023). "Album review: Svalbard – The Weight Of The Mask". Kerrang!. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  20. ^ a b Leivers, Danni (2 October 2023). "The Weight Of The Mask is both the prettiest and bleakest Svalbard have sounded to date - and it's a stunning monument to the human experience". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 3 October 2023 – via Loudersound.
  21. ^ Stewart-Panko, Kevin (18 October 2023). "Svalbard: The Weight of the Mask". Outburn. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  22. ^ "The Weight Of The Mask". Rock Hard (Vol. 436) (in German). 23 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023. (subscription required)
  23. ^ "Svalbard - announce new studio album 'The Weight Of The Mask'!". nuclearblast.de (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  28. ^ "The Weight Of The Mask, by Svalbard". Svalbard | Bandcamp. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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