The Weight of the Mask
The Weight of the Mask is the upcoming fourth studio album by British post-hardcore band Svalbard. It is set to be released on 6 October 2023 through Nuclear Blast Records. It will be 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 third album, When I Die, Will I Get Better?. After a few tours in support of the album, the band would sign with Nuclear Blast Records in June 2022. Svalbard's lead guitarist/vocalist Serena Cherry said that signing with Nuclear Blast was a "dream come true" for her, as most of the bands she was inspired by (including Nightwish, her favourite band) had released albums through the label.

The Weight of the Mask was written and recorded between 2022 and 2023 with long-time producer Lewis Johns at The Ranch Production House in Southampton. 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.

Composition and lyrics 
Musically, Kerrang! described The Weight of the Mask as "dancing on the lines that sit between metal, hardcore and blackgaze". 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). The album also introduces violins to Svalbard's sound, performed by the band's rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist Liam Phelan. Cherry compared their use to My Dying Bride. 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.

Lyrically, The Weight of the Mask focuses on themes of mental health, anxiety, depression and love, eschewing the political themings of their previous albums completely.  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."

"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." "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.

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

Track listing

Personnel 
Adapted from Nuclear Blast.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

Release history

References 
Notes

Citations

External links 

 The Weight of the Mask on Bandcamp

2023 albums
Nuclear Blast albums
Svalbard (band) albums