ZETRA - Announce Highly Anticipated Self-Titled Debut Album + Release Video For New Single 'Starfall' Feat. Svalbard's Serena Cherry

April 3, 2024

Otherworldly alt. duo ZETRA have emerged from the shadows once more with whisper of their highly anticipated, self-titled debut album, that will be released on 13th September via Nuclear Blast Records. The wanderers have also bestowed upon us the gift of a video for their new single 'Starfall', which features Serena Cherry of the mighty Svalbard.

The wanderers whispers echo:

"The sky illuminates as the meteors begin their cataclysmic descent through the firmament.
Starfall.
The second chapter of our realization emerges. The unveiling of our Opus 1, 'Zetra' continues.
Starfall.
We are united on this journey with the supernatural force that is Serena Cherry of Svalbard.
Begin to know."

Watch the transcendent video for 'Starfall' below.

Pre-order and pre-save Zetra now at:
https://zetra.bfan.link/zetra.ema

SVALBARD - release video for 'To Wilt Beneath The Weight' + touring the UK/Europe in March

January 31, 2024

Svalbard are proud to release a video for their track 'To Wilt Beneath The Weight', taken from their breathtaking latest studio album The Weight Of The Mask. The track is a combative clincher to the record, acknowledging the dark reality of personal demons and the fight against them. The video beautifully captures Svalbard's highly-charged performance of the track at Cult Of Luna's Beyond The Redshift festival in London last year.

To celebrate the release of The Weight Of The Mask, Svalbard recently announced a UK and European tour for March, with Norwegian psychedelic proggers Enslaved and American metal band Wayfarer.

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 'To Wilt Beneath The Weight' video below.

Order The Weight Of The Mask HERE
Listen to The Weight Of The Mask in full on YouTube HERE

The Weight Of The Mask is Svalbard’s most devastatingly raw and beautiful work to-date, overflowing with mesmerising performances from Serena Cherry, Liam Phelan,Mark Lilley and Matt Francis, 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.

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 - tracklist:
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

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.

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

SVALBARD - new album 'The Weight Of The Mask' is out now

October 6, 2023

Today, Svalbard are proud to release their breathtaking new studio album, The Weight Of The Mask. Uncompromising and highly charged, the record spans themes intrinsic to humanity, such as emotional strength and depression, to unrequited love and vulnerability.

The Weight Of The Mask is Svalbard’s most devastatingly raw and beautiful work to date, overflowing with mesmerizing performances from Serena Cherry, Liam Phelan, Mark Lilley, and Matt Francis, transcending boundaries across shoegaze, post-hardcore, black metal, and more.

Serena Cherry stated:
"It feels pretty surreal to be releasing our fourth album today, after spending 2 years writing and recording it. It's so exciting for these songs to be out in the wild, we can't wait to see everyone's reactions to this album!"

Order The Weight Of The Mask HERE
Listen to The Weight Of The Mask in full on YouTube below.

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 destigmatize these topics.

SVALBARD will be returning to the EU mainland for six headline show dates this month, which will be followed by a performance at the Cult Of Luna curated Beyond The Redshift event in London and a headline date at The Key Club in Leeds.

Formed in Bristol UK, Svalbard have previously released three studio albums, three EPs and several split releases. Their exceptional last studio album, 2020's When I Die, Will I Get Better? was dubbed by Metal Hammer UK as "the most important British metal record of 2020", with both Metal Hammer and Kerrang! lauding the record as a top 10 album of the year. A career milestone, it cemented Svalbard as a powerful and vital component of our global music scene.

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 tackles 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.

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

SVALBARD - release melancholic composition 'How To Swim Down' alongside heart-breaking animated video

August 15, 2023

DON'T BREAK THE SPELL
I'LL NEVER TELL
WHY WE WON'T DROWN
IF WE SWIM DOWN...

Svalbard have released the third single from their forthcoming new studio album, The Weight Of The Mask, due out on October 6th. The track titled 'How To Swim Down' is Svalbard's most unique and moving work to date, featuring heart-rending, ethereal violin parts from Liam Phelan, and a profound vocal performance from Serena Cherry.

The track is accompanied by a beautiful animated video, created by Boy Tillkens. The heart-breaking animation is a delicate portrayal of humanity, detailing the tenderness and strength found in existence.

Svalbard's Serena Cherry commented,

"This song is about the exquisite pain and sorrowful beauty of unrequited love. I think it's the saddest, most heart-breaking song we've ever written. Lyrically, the starting point of the verse is about the concealment of adoration, before the chorus gives way to realizing and accepting the fate of loving someone quietly from afar.

I cannot watch the music video for How To Swim Down without crying. Boy has captured the bittersweet emotion of the song so delicately, it's an incredibly moving piece of animation to watch.

Musically, How To Swim Down saw us dive into unchartered waters with Liam adding many layers of mournful violin parts onto the track. Finally, violins - for the first time in Svalbard history! It feels so exciting to have new instruments on a song. Another first is that How To Swim Down features only clean vocals, no screams. I wanted the vocal delivery of these lyrics to feel as though I'm whispering a secret to someone whilst they're sleeping. My vocals here represent that lonely type of communication, singing to yourself in an empty house. It's a private, selfless love song, where only the listener knows of my heartache."

Pre-order The Weight Of The Mask + stream 'How To Swim Down' HERE
Watch the 'How To Swim Down' video below.

Stream previous singles 'Faking It' HERE and 'Eternal Spirits' 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 destigmatize these topics.

Svalbard finished an extensive tour across the continent supporting post-metal monoliths Cult Of Luna and Russian Circles earlier this year, and the band are currently in the midst of a string of European summer festival performances. They've recently played the likes of Inferno (Norway), Hellfest (France), and With Full Force (Germany), plus2000Trees and Portals in the UK. Their remaining festival dates are listed below.

SVALBARD will be returning to the EU mainland for six headline show dates in October, which will be followed by a performance at the Cult Of Luna curated Beyond The Redshift event in London and a headline date at The Key Club in Leeds.

Summer Festivals
11-13 Aug - BE, Kortrijk, Alcatraz Festival
16-19 Aug - UK, Compton Martin, ArcTanGent
October Dates
14 Oct - NL Nijmegen, Soulcrusher
15 Oct - DE Cologne, Helios 37
16 Oct - DE Berlin, Urban Spree
17 Oct - DE Dresden, Chemiefabrik
18 Oct - DE Neunkirchen, Stummsche Reithalle
19 Oct - FR Paris, Backstage By The Mill
20 Oct - UK London, Beyond The Redshift - curated by Cult Of Luna
21 Oct - UK Leeds, The Key Club

Formed in Bristol UK, Svalbard have released three studio albums, three EPs and several split releases. Their exceptional last studio album, 2020's When I Die, Will I Get Better? was dubbed by Metal Hammer UK as "the most important British metal record of 2020", with both Metal Hammer and Kerrang! lauding the record as a top 10 album of the year. A career milestone, it cemented Svalbard as a powerful and vital component of our global music scene.

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 tackles 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.

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

SVALBARD - announce new album 'The Weight Of The Mask' + single/video 'Faking It'

July 12, 2023

Svalbard are proud to announce their ardently anticipated new studio album, The Weight Of The Mask, due out on October 6th via Nuclear Blast Records.

White-hot new single 'Faking It' has also been revealed, accompanied by a video. The track lays bare a poignant, candid account of dealing with depression and coming to the realization that you are "faking it" to just get by.

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 destigmatize these topics.

Svalbard's Serena Cherry stated,

"If the previous record was about facing your demons, then The Weight of The Mask is about fighting them with everything you've got. You can literally hear the depression transform into aggression in these songs. The Weight of The Mask was admittedly a challenging album to make because we cut so deep this time around, it was a painful but ultimately cathartic process. This album is the sound of two years worth of internal darkness boiling away inside and then finally being unleashed.

"Faking It is a song about feeling deprived of meaningful human connection due to depression acting like a wall that shuts you off from others. It addresses the ways in which those who suffer with depression can feel guilted into putting on a happy mask. The lyrics are a reflection on happiness as a social obligation and how scarily good you can become at deceiving everyone around you into thinking that you're fine when you're not. With 'Faking It', we are both acknowledging the pressure for forced positivity, the fear that people won't like you if you're sad, and also questioning where the root of this intolerance towards depression lies."

Pre-order The Weight Of The Mask + stream 'Faking It' HERE
Watch the 'Faking It' video below.

Serena added about the 'Faking It' video,

"This video leans on deliberately obvious binary oppositions to hammer home the message of the song. We have the glossy smiling shots, filmed in the fakest place we could find: The Selfie Factory; mixed with dark, expressive performance footage that represents the internal struggle within."

Stream the previous single 'Eternal Spirits' here: https://Svalbard.bfan.link/eternal-spirits.ema
Watch the 'Eternal Spirits' video here: https://youtu.be/1Oh30tCl1DQ

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.

The beautiful album artwork was created by artist and illustrator Hestor Aspland, with layout by Lee O'Connor.

Serena Cherry stated about the album artwork,

"We have been huge fans of Hester Aspland's Illustration since we saw her stunning artwork carved into a wooden table at our favorite metal bar, The Gryphon. The intricate, floral aspect of her artwork for The Weight of The Mask reflects the sonic beauty within our melodies. Then the bleaker animal skull mask symbolizes the lyrical content. Working with Hester was an absolute dream and we love the art she has created for us."

The Weight Of The Mask will be available in the following formats

CD Jewel Case
LP
- 1LP Crystal Clear w/Black Marble
- 1LP Purple w/Black Splatter (band exclusive)

Digital Album
Formed in Bristol UK, Svalbard have released three studio albums, three EPs, and several split releases. Their exceptional last studio album, 2020's When I Die, Will I Get Better? was dubbed by Metal Hammer UK as "the most important British metal record of 2020", with both Metal Hammer and Kerrang! lauding the record as a top 10 album of the year. A career milestone, it cemented Svalbard as a powerful and vital component of our global music scene.

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 tackles 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.

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

SVALBARD - RELEASE NEW SINGLE "ETERNAL SPIRITS"

February 27, 2023

ASH TO ASH, DUST TO DUST
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ALIVE IN US

Today, Svalbard are proud to release a brand-new single, "Eternal Spirits", accompanied by an electrifying, live-performance music video. "Eternal Spirits" is an uncompromising, poignant track, dedicated to the memory of the legendary musicians of our community who we have sadly lost. It showcases Svalbard's finesse and fiery spirit, where musical ferocity and ethereality interflow, forging an evocative, raging sea. Svalbard are currently working on their fourth studio album.

Svalbard's Serena Cherry stated,
"Eternal Spirits is one of the most tragic songs we have ever written, yet it is also a celebration of the legacy and musical heritage. It is a song about late metal musicians who sadly passed away too soon and the loss we feel within the metal community without their presence. This song is a heartfelt tribute to our metal heroes who are gone but will never be forgotten because their legacy lives on in the millions of hearts they have touched with their music. It's crushing when your heroes die, but with this song, we want to commemorate our late heroes' glorious music and the legions of bands they have inspired. That inspiration will never die.

On a more personal level, Joey Jordison was the person who inspired me to pick up an instrument. I started learning drums when I was 12 years old because of the energy and passion he exuded from his playing. When I listened to his drumming, every hit gave me a surge of motivation. His creative spark lit a fire within me that will never be extinguished. I'd like to dedicate 'Eternal Spirits' to his memory."

Stream"Eternal Spirits" here: https://Svalbard.bfan.link/eternal-spirits.ema
Watch the "Eternal Spirits" video below.

Svalbard will be touring Europe in March 2023 with Cult Of Luna and Russian Circles, followed by a full spring/summer of European festival performances including; Inferno (Norway), Hellfest (France), Gränichen Open Air (Switzerland), Alkatraz (Belgium), With Full Force (Germany), plus 2000Trees, ArcTanGent and Portals in the UK.

Formed in Bristol UK, Svalbard have released three studio albums, three EPs and several split releases. Their exceptional latest studio album, 2020's When I Die, Will I Get Better? was dubbed by Metal Hammer UK as "the most important British metal record of 2020", with both Metal Hammer and Kerrang! lauding the record as a top 10 album of the year. A career milestone, it cemented Svalbard as a powerful and vital component of our global music scene.

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 Bristolian 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 band now look forward with renewed optimism and frankly have every right to. 2023 will see them head out across Europe with Cult of Luna and Russian Circles, having now signed a worldwide deal with the iconic heavy music label Nuclear Blast. In a world ever more open to breaking down doors that once seemed firmly closed, Svalbard seem as vital as any artist right now.

Svalbard 's back-catalogue is now available via Nuclear Blast, rediscover It’s Hard to Have Hope and the catalogue here: https://bfan.link/Svalbard-its-hard-to-have-hope.ema
Rediscover their video 'For The Sake Of The Breed' here: https://youtu.be/nJXDX6-AMBw

Svalbard is:
Vocals/Guitar - Serena Cherry
Vocals/Guitar - Liam Phelan
Drums - Mark Lilley
Bass - Matt Francis

SVALBARD - Sign To Nuclear Blast Records

June 28, 2022

Nuclear Blast Records are proud to announce that SVALBARD has signed to the label globally. Formed in Bristol UK in 2011, the blackened post-hardcore group has since released three studio albums, three EPs, and several split releases. Their exceptional latest studio album 'When I Die, Will I Get Better?' was dubbed by Metal Hammer as "the most important British metal record of 2020". A career milestone, it cemented SVALBARD as a powerful and vital component of our global music scene.

SVALBARD's Serena Cherry stated,
"I have many fond memories of visiting my local record shop and buying anything that had the Nuclear Blast logo stamped on it. You always knew you were in for a tasty metal treat with a Nuclear Blast band! Most days I have to pinch myself that we have now joined Nuclear Blast, it is a real dream come true for me to work with this amazing label."

Svalbard's Liam Phelan stated,
"I'm absolutely thrilled that we have been welcomed into the Nuclear Blast family with open arms and cannot wait to work with this iconic label."

Nathan Barley Phillips, Senior Nuclear Blast A&R stated,
"I'm absolutely delighted to welcome SVALBARD to Nuclear Blast! Ever since I heard the raw and visceral emotion of 'Disparity' back in 2015, I was an instant fan.
With biting lyrics and a keen observation of today's societal issues, SVALBARD continues to be one of the most important and challenging voices in the heavy scene today. I’m delighted to be able to amplify this voice as the band gets set to make an indelible mark on our genre."

SVALBARD's back-catalogue is now available via Nuclear Blast, rediscover ‘It’s Hard to Have Hope’ and the catalog here: https://bfan.link/Svalbard-its-hard-to-have-hope.ema

Hard-hitting! That’s the only way to describe this fearless group. There’s no poetry, no ambiguity - just direct, raw honesty as the Bristolian quartet tackles 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.

Whilst refining their distinctive blend of euphoric black metal, post-rock, and d-beat, SVALBARD has 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.

Whilst the underground has been in on the secret for a few years now, 2020 became the year that people well and truly took notice as Svalbard's third album 'When I Die, Will I Get Better?' landed on critics' end-of-year lists across the globe. At home, the respect and acclaim was clear to see as both Metal Hammer and Kerrang! lauded the record as a top 10 album of the year.

You might say there follows a pause… like many artists, the last couple of years have seen SVALBARD stopped in their tracks somewhat. This didn’t prevent them from playing their biggest UK headline tour to date, performing their latest album in full at Damnation Festival, and being invited to the prestigious Roadburn Festival, amongst other highlights.

They now look forward with renewed optimism and frankly have every right to. 2023 will see them head out across Europe with Cult of Luna and Russian Circles, but before that, they take arguably their biggest step up yet: signing a worldwide deal with the iconic heavy music label Nuclear Blast. In a world ever more open to breaking down doors that once seemed firmly closed, SVALBARD seems as vital as any artist right now.

SVALBARD are:
Vocals/Guitar - Serena Cherry
Guitar - Liam Phelan
Drums - Mark Lilley
Bass - Matt Francis