Svalbard

2010 release ** "Svalbard’s debut full-length album is titled Heimkunft, German for “homecoming.” Beginning with the three minute instrumental track “Zeitwende,” Svalbard offers us a glimpse of their earlier sounds. Initially reserved, the song soon snowballs into an intense and somewhat epic piece. Heimkunft then swiftly jumps into more mainstream territory with tracks such as “The Mist that Hides Your Trace” and “Endless Fall” as such tracks demonstrate a very willful pop sensibility, even if it is somewhat dated. Shenderovich’s vocal style, often singing in English, strongly resembles those of Wolfsheim’s Peter Heppner, and he presently lacks a full range of expression and pitch, his grasp of both English and the German language is impressive enough that it’s certainly possible Svalbard just require more time to hone their skills. But, as the vocals are such a dominant and important presence on this disc, vocal training may become necessary if the band wants to keep using them in an attempt to produce a trademark sound. Heimkunft also features more combative and forceful musical elements. “Abschied Von Der Jugend” is one such example, taking a direction somewhat more consistent with modern industrial dance music. Many other tracks use military-style drumming, and any person who listens to Svalbard is going to inevitably make a comparison to Laibach, Der Blutharsch, or Rome."