Bristol, UK's Svalbard are a very hard band to pin down. They explore the attitude and political agenda of a hardcore band, the build up and break down elements of groove metal, while intertwining the ethereal qualities of black metal, ravage their guitar necks and drum heads with the ferocity of punk, all in this melting pot of duality that allows them to stand on the shoulders of their peers.
The last time we heard from Svalbard was in 2015, when I mentioned their album, One Day All This Will End, many times over, including my Top of 2015 list. It was a tremendous debut full length that lead many to wonder if the band can build on what they started, and I couldn't be more stoked to answer with a resounding, YES!
The band is now set to deliver eight brand new amazing tracks with their sophomore release, It's Hard To Have Hope, on May 29th via Translation Loss and Holy Roar Records. Recorded by Lewis Johns at The Ranch Production House, and Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audioseige, the production yields another level of ferocity while retaining the quality and clarity of a massive production.
Check out the video release for "Unpaid Internship" below, directed by the band's own Liam Phelan, and grab your pre-order for the album right away!
