Svalbard release new video for How To Swim Down

Svalbard have released a video for brand-new single How To Swim Down, the latest cut from their upcoming album The Weight Of The Mask.

Featuring full-clean vocals from Serena Cherry and a violin performance from guirarist Liam Phelan, it's something a little bit different from the Bristolian metallers.

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

"I cannot watch the music video for How To Swim Down without crying," she continues, adding that video creator Boy Tillkens "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 uncharted 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."

Svalbard's new album The Weight Of The Mask is released October 6 via Nuclear Blast.

Catch them in London on October 20 as part of Cult Of Luna's Beyond The Redshift festival – get your tickets now.

READ THIS: Svalbard: “I can’t imagine not using the band as a way to express my eternal hell”