Bristol’s Svalbard have just released a new video for their track “To Wilt Beneath The Weight.” The song is taken from their latest studio album The Weight Of The Mask. The video captures Svalbard’s highly-charged performance of the track at Cult Of Luna‘s Beyond The Redshift festival in London last year. Svalbard also recently announced a UK and European tour for March, with Norwegian psychedelic proggers Enslaved and American metal band Wayfarer. 

Order The Weight Of The Mask here.

Svalbard’s Serena Cherry commented,
“We filmed this live video at The O2 Forum in London, which is the very same place that I saw one of my first ever metal shows! (It was Mudvayne!) The feeling of walking out onto that stage where I have seen so many inspiring metal musicians play was surreal. Truly one of those ‘pinch me’ moments. To have this wonderful memory of performing at Beyond the Redshift is very special to me, it was one of those awesome festivals where you get to watch and meet so many fantastic artists.”

““To Wilt Beneath The Weight” is about the pressures and sacrifices you make as a touring musician. The lyrics explore the strain it can put on relationships and the challenging times that come with being away so often. This song features my favorite Svalbard lyric, which is “grit your teeth when they’ve just been broken.” Which represents the determination against all odds to keep persevering with your passions.”

“It also features the lyric I find the most painful, which is: “completely at the mercy of every form of insincerity.” Every time I scream that line on stage I choke up because it feels so raw and real.”

Watch the “How To Swim Down” video here.
Watch the “Faking It” video here.
Watch the “Eternal Spirits” video here.

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. 

The Weight Of The Mask tracklisting:
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

Enslaved – UK + European TOUR 2024
w/ Svalbard + Wayfarer
March 06 – UK  London, Islington Assembly Hall 
March 07 – UK  Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
March 08 – UK  Manchester, Club Academy
March 09 – UK  Glasgow, Slay 
March 10 – IE   Dublin, Opium 
March 12 – NL  Helmond, Cacaofabriek 
March 13 – FR  Paris, La Machine 
March 14 – CH  Geneva, PTR/l’Usine 
March 15 – FR  Montpellier, Victoire 2
March 16 – IT   Milan, Legend 
March 18 – CZ  Prague, Futurum
March 19 – AT  Vienna, Szene 
March 21 – DE  Cologne, Club Volta 
March 22 – DE  Leipzig, Taubchenthal 
March 23 – DE  Berlin, Hole44
March 24 – PL  Warsaw, Proxima

More from Svalbard:
Formed in Bristol UK, Svalbard have released four studio albums, three EPs and several split releases. 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.

The Weight Of The Mask is Svalbard’s most devastatingly raw and beautiful work to-date, overflowing with mesmerising performances, transcending boundaries across shoegaze, post-hardcore, black metal and more. Uncompromising and highly charged, the record spans themes intrinsic to humanity, such as emotional strength and depression, to unrequited love and vulnerability.

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

Follow Svalbard:
https://www.facebook.com/svalbarduk
https://twitter.com/Svalbardband
https://www.instagram.com/svalbard/