Looks can be deceiving, as they say. When I saw Hester Aspland's stunning art for Svalbard's first album for Nuclear Blast, "The Weight Of The Mask," I was expecting something dark and vicious, more along the lines of Belphegor or Dark Funeral, particularly due to the Scandinavian name, which is basically free real estate for black metal artists. Instead, hidden behind the cult-like visage was one of the most beautiful records of the year. The oyster of Bristol has opened and given the world the pearl of the West Country.

Immediately, Svalbard lets the listener know what they're all about with a bombastic sound that hits hard but also contains some truly wonderful melodies. Add to this the poignant lyrics regarding forced positivity and "Faking It" serves as a fantastic introduction for first-time listeners. There's plenty of aggression in the song, and indeed throughout the album. It was a great choice for a single, as was the following song, "Eternal Spirits," which pays tribute to the fallen heroes of rock and metal, appropriately enough with traces of different styles from black metal to hardcore.

Beauty and the beast is often referred to as the dynamic of male and female vocals, which is definitely a factor here. Liam Phelan's Tomas Lindberg-esque delivery contrasts with the alluring, at times soothing singing of Serena Cherry. "November" is a solid example of this, as Cherry takes the lead over an excellent rhythm display, to create a pleasant passage of time which soon gives way to a more extreme sound. "How To Swim Down" is another highlight when it comes to the elegance of the record, forging an absolutely stunning dreamscape that borders on being transcendent.

This is an album that has no bad songs, but a couple that fall just a little short of the lofty standard they've set for themselves. For example, "Be My Tomb" contains many of the hallmarks of the best songs, but feels a little more standard than the highlights, as does "To Wilt Beneath The Weight." Again, these aren't tracks that let down the album, or that deserve skipping, they just don't match up. There are far more strengths than weaknesses on "The Weight Of The Mask" and they're so dominant that it's easy to forget that there even are any lesser points.

After traversing the waters of the underground for twelve years, Svalbard is ready for the big time. Nuclear Blast has struck gold by snapping the quartet up and I'm sure they'll continue putting out high-quality music for a long time to come. The melodies are so rich and really make the record, turning it into a sonic experience the likes of which many bands would die for. "The Weight Of The Mask" is simply superb, appealing to fans of a number of genres, and will please listeners from mainstream metal fans to those of more esoteric tastes. I can't wait to hear more.