ALBUM REVIEW: When I Die, Will I Get Better? – Svalbard

Every once in awhile as a music lover, you will come across a band that not only changes your perception about music but also changes your perception about life. Music drives the soul and allows you to experience emotions passed on from others through the medium of their artistry. Bristol-based quartet SVALBARD are one such band that emanates such power and feeling through their music that it’s hard not to sit up and take notice.

Bursting on to the scene in 2011, the band rapidly built up a strong following. A couple of albums and a few EPs later and SVALBARD are becoming one of the UK’s brightest hopes in the metal world. Originally playing towards the hardcore/punk crowd, their latest offering sees the four-piece hone their craft and there is a great deal of maturity bleeding through every note.  

Starting with the electrifying Open Note shows the listener they are about to hear something exceptional. The pounding drums during the intro are accompanied by warm harmonies before the track opens up into a ferocious mixture of beauty and sorrow. It’s a genius mix of power and grace that is one of the band’s standout tracks to date and a more than the perfect opener.  

Click Bait sees the anger that feeds the faster sections come through with conviction but also marries up beautifully with the shining guitar parts as they prove, with only two tracks in, that they are more than capable with mixing the heavy and light. One aspect of SVALBARD that is quite noticeable is how poignant and heartfelt the lyrics are throughout their work. Listen To Someone is an incredibly powerful and emotional work of art that a lot of people, especially currently, can relate to. The dual vocals of Serena Cherry and Liam Phelan are matched up perfectly in a whirlwind storm of fire and ice that hit you from all angles. Serena’s haunting, breathy, clean vocals float effortlessly over the harsh attack of Liam‘s gut-wrenching bark. The lyrics “listen to someone without judgement” should be taken into your life as a constant reminder that we aren’t always aware of the issues of others.

What Was She Wearing? has a softer, more gentle approach than previous tracks, at least in the opening few minutes.  It’s a welcome break and it allows the clean vocals to shine. The guitar work again is stellar and works well with the rhythm section. While there are times that the guitars can sound a little reserved, it’s in tracks like this that they can really breakthrough and hit hard.

The beauty that lies within the chaos is the band’s USP. The whirlwind of riffs that can dance over a barrage of blast beats in such tracks as The Currency of Beauty, shows just how SVALBARD are capable of hitting you with a myriad of different emotions. While the black metal elements have been toned down, it does allow for an easier and more fluid listening experience, especially for newcomers to the band. While there are a lot more lighter elements in When I Die, Will I Get Better? it does mean that the darker and heavier elements feel a lot grittier when they make an appearance. Their songwriting has improved dramatically over time and they have finally nailed their sound.

This is the closest SVALBARD have come to pure perfection. It’s a more focused and driven album than their previous work that shows great maturity and allows every aspect of the band to shine bright. It’s haunting, heart-wrenching and breathes power. The UK metal scene is in safe hands with bands like SVALBARD carrying the torch.  

Rating: 9/10 

When I Die, Will I Get Better? is set for release on September 25th via Church Road Records. 

Like SVALBARD on Facebook.