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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)
Genre
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

[edit]

Svalbard began writing material for The Weight of the Mask soon after the recording of their third album, When I Die, Will I Get Better?, in early 2020.[1][2] Writing was initially hindered due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[3] which prevented Svalbard from working on material in person, and co-lead vocalist and lead guitarist Serena Cherry said that it "took a while to find each other again, build a common creative bond and create synergies".[2] Guitarist and co-lead vocalist Liam Phelan stated that the pandemic nevertheless gave the band a creative push, helping bring out more of an emotional edge to Cherry's lyrics and his music.[4] On 24 April 2021, the band announced that they had started writing their fourth album.[5] Svalbard worked on material 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]

In June 2022, Svalbard were signed to Nuclear Blast Records, owing to the critical success of When I Die, Will I Get Better?.[1][7] Signing with Nuclear Blast was a "dream come true" for Cherry, as most of the bands she was inspired by (including Nightwish, her favourite band) had released albums through the label.[8][9] Concerned about whether their material would be "good enough" for Nuclear Blast and live up to the acclaim of When I Die, Will I Get Better?, Svalbard approached songwriting more analytically than they had before.[1][6] About six songs worth—approximately half—of the material written for The Weight of the Mask was scrapped.[1][6] In February 2023, the band recorded the album with long-time producer Lewis Johns at The Ranch Production House in Southampton.[3][8] 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.[8] She provided Johns with Insomnium's Anno 1696 (2023) to use as a production reference during recording, citing its "clarity with the guitars [as] a huge benchmark for me".[1]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]

Musically, The Weight of the Mask has been primarily described as post-hardcore[10][11][12] and post-metal.[13][14] Reviewers also noted influences of black metal,[10][15] power metal,[11] metalcore,[15] post-rock[14][15] and blackgaze.[9][12] 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).[8] The album also introduces violins to Svalbard's sound, performed by Phelan.[8][16] Cherry compared their use to My Dying Bride.[8] 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.[17][18]

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, forgoing the social and political themes of their previous albums.[9][8][10][17] They are presented in a direct and blunt manner,[19][20] and do not use metaphors.[9] In a 2023 interview with Kerrang!, Cherry said: "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."[9] She also attributed its lack of political lyrics to her exhaustion with the contemporary political situation in the United Kingdom, stating she had become "almost too consumed by frustration."[9]

"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".[21][22] "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.[23] Cherry described "November" as "sort-of anti-Christmas song – it's for everyone else out there who finds that time of year hard, when every other Christmas song is talking about how magical this time of year is."[22] The song features spoken word elements inspired by the Saturnus song "For Your Demons".[22][24] "Lights Out" was titled after the 2003 album of the same name by Antimatter, and details the struggle of reaching out "when you’re falling apart".[22] The song was originally written for When I Die, Will I Get Better? in 2019, but left off as Svalbard were unable to "piece it together effectively".[1] Cherry said that she wrote the lyrics to "How to Swim Down", a song about unrequited love, from the perspective of a World of Warcraft healer to "illustrate this point, of selflessly pouring your energy into someone from a distance".[22][25] Originally intended to be an instrumental bonus track, Johns helped Svalbard flesh the song out by encouraging them to add more instrumental and vocal layers.[26]

Release and promotion

[edit]
Svalbard performing at Hellfest 2023 in Clisson, France

Svalbard "unofficially" began the promotional cycle for The Weight of the Mask with the release of the album's lead single, "Eternal Spirits", on 27 February 2023.[18][23] After the single's release, the band joined Cult of Luna for a tour of Europe from 17 March to 31 March 2023.[27] Svalbard then played at a number of festivals in the summer of 2023, starting with the Portals Festival in London on 28 May 2023,[28] and Hellfest in Clisson, France, on 17 June 2023.[29][30][31] On 12 July 2023, Svalbard announced the release of The Weight of the Mask and released "Faking It" as the album's second single.[21] Its music video was inspired by "Everybody's Fool" by Evanescence.[2] On 15 August 2023, "How to Swim Down" was released as the third single, coupled with an animated music video by Boy Tillkens.[16] The album was released on 6 October 2023,[21] and debuted at number 29 on the UK Independent Albums Chart and number 79 on the Scottish Albums Chart.[32]

Following the album's release, Svalbard embarked on a second tour of Europe between 14 October and 21 October 2023.[33] On 31 January 2024, the band released a live music video for "To Wilt Beneath the Weight", filmed at the 2023 Beyond the Redshift Festival at the O2 Forum in London.[34][35] Between 6 March and 24 March 2024, Svalbard and Wayfarer supported Enslaved on their first European club tour since 2018.[36] Between 18 May and 20 May 2024, Svalbard toured Japan with Kokeshi,[37] before embarking on their first tour of Australia between 23 May and 26 May 2024, supported by RUN.[38][39][40][41] In November and December 2024, the band (along with Doodeskader) will open for Alcest on the European leg of their Les Chants de l'Aurore tour.[42][43]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[11]
Dork[44]
Kerrang!5/5[20]
Metal.de9/10[14]
Metal Hammer (UK)[45]
5/7 (DE)[46]
Outburn7/10[13]
Ox-Fanzine[47]
Rock Hard7.5/10[48]

The Weight of the Mask received acclaim from critics. 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.[20] Ox-Fanzine's Roman Eisner also praised its "clearly formulated" lyrics and well-illustrated potrayal of depression, as well as its variety.[47] Blabbermouth.net's Dom Lawson said that the album "rocks with a vigor and vitality that could never be anything but uplifting" and considered it to be Svalbard's best album "by far".[11]

Lothar Gerber of Metal Hammer Germany noted the album's "numerous guitar melodies and emotional harmonies" while singling out Matt Francis for his performance on bass.[46] Danni Leivers of Metal Hammer UK 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."[45] Thomas Mahnke of Metal.de felt that its "well thought out" songwriting should "open [Svalbard] up to a new audience without alienating older listeners."[14] Steve Loftin of Dork found that the band's overt confidence and diversity "[gave] armament to [its] hefty subject matter", and claimed that it boosted their status as "one of Britain’s great new heavy bands [...] one-hundred fold".[44]

The Weight of the Mask was ranked at number 12 on Kerrang!'s list of the "50 best albums of 2023",[49] and at number 6 on Metal Hammer's equivalent list.[50] Metal.de named it the best post-rock/metal album of 2023.[51] The album won the award for "Best Metalgaze Album" at the 2023 Metal Storm Awards,[52][53] while its cover was nominated in the "Best Album Artwork" category at the Heavy Music Awards 2024.[54]

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Serena Cherry; all music is composed by Svalbard.[55]

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

Notes

  • String arrangements by Liam Phelan, Lewis Johns and Olive.[55]

Personnel

[edit]

Personnel per liner notes and Nuclear Blast.[55][56]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for The Weight of the Mask
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[57] 79
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[58] 91
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[59] 29
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[60] 9

Release history

[edit]
Release history for The Weight of the Mask
Region Date Format Label Catalog # Ref.
Various 6 October 2023
Nuclear Blast NBR7034-1 (LP)

NBR7034-2 (CD)

[61]
Brazil 26 October 2023 CD Shinigami NBSR300 [62]
Japan 3 November 2023 CD Ward GQCS-91397 [63]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Orzeck, Kurt (13 February 2024). "Interview: Svalbard Leader Says New LP Was Worth The "Weight"". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Eisner, Roman (December 2023). "Der Tunnel am Ende des Lichts" [The tunnel at the end of the light]. Ox-Fanzine (in German). Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  4. ^ Giffin, Brian (28 March 2024). "Svalbard: Removing The Mask (2024)". Hot Metal. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. ^ Redrup, Zach (27 April 2021). "News: Svalbard begin writing fourth album!". Dead Press!. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Hughes, Mia (12 October 2023). "Svalbard's Masochistic Post-Metal Has An Optimistic Takeaway". Bandcamp Daily. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  7. ^ BraveWords (28 June 2022). "Svalbard Sign To Nuclear Blast Records". bravewords.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. ^ 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!. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Ruskell, Nick (12 July 2023). "Svalbard: "I can't imagine not using the band as a way to express my eternal hell"". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  10. ^ a b c RaduP (19 October 2023). "Svalbard – The Weight Of The Mask review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Lawson, Dom (4 October 2023). "The Weight Of The Mask". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  12. ^ a b Swingle, Emily (22 November 2023). ""They're both extreme, and they can be intimidating to an outsider." Svalbard made one of 2023's most personal and emotional metal albums. It was at least partly inspired by rollercoasters". Metal Hammer (loudersound). Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
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  15. ^ a b c Sacher, Andrew (6 October 2023). "Notable Releases of the Week (10/6)". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
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  17. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023 – via Loudersound.
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  23. ^ a b Carter, Emily (27 February 2023). "Svalbard pay tribute to late metal heroes with new single Eternal Spirits". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  24. ^ Shiels, Harry (4 October 2023). ""We never want to create something in the studio that we can't recreate live" - Serena Cherry on the past three years and Svalbard's journey to their new album The Weight Of The Mask". Noizze UK. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
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  30. ^ Djam (28 June 2023). "[Live Report] Hellfest 2023 – La fête de l'enfer @Clisson Rock City". Noise Injection (in French). Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
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  32. ^ "The Weight of the Mask". Official Charts Company. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  33. ^ admin (19 May 2023). "Svalbard – announce run of European headline dates for October". Metal Planet Music. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  34. ^ Anon. (31 January 2024). "Svalbard unveil music video for "To Wilt Beneath The Weight"". Lambgoat. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
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  50. ^ Alderslade, Merlin (8 December 2023). "Creeper's Sanguivore is Metal Hammer's album of the year". Metal Hammer (loudersound). Future plc. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  51. ^ "Die metal.de-Redaktion kürt ihre Alben des Jahres 2023!" [metal.de editorial team The best albums of 2023!]. metal.de (in German). 21 December 2023. p. 10. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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  55. ^ a b c Svalbard (2023). The Weight of the Mask (booklet). Nuclear Blast Records. NBR70342.
  56. ^ "Svalbard – announce new studio album 'The Weight Of The Mask'!". nuclearblast.de (in German). Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  57. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  58. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  59. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
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  62. ^ "Shinigami Records – Svalbard – The Weight Of The Mask". shinigamirecords.com.br. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  63. ^ 株式会社ワードレコーズ. "ワードレコーズ・ダイレクト / The Weight Of The Mask【CD】". wardrecords.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.

Further reading

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[edit]
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