Formed in 2011 by co-lead vocalists and guitarists Serena Cherry and Liam Phelan with drummer Mark Lilley, the band's line-up has featured bassist Matt Francis since 2020.

Primarily exhibiting a post-hardcore and post-metal sound, the band's style features elements of black metal, crust punk, post-rock and shoegaze.

[2] The band took their name from Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, where the archipelago of Svalbard serves as a fictional setting (especially in Northern Lights).

[1][2][3] Svalbard recorded their eponymous debut EP in 2012 as a five piece featuring bassist Ben Thomas and vocalist Mike Thompson,[6] with neither Cherry nor Phelan wanting to handle vocal duties.

[23][24] Svalbard entered a period of turmoil following touring in support of One Day All This Will End due to the long-term illnesses of Cherry and Phelan and the departure of their bassist.

[25][26] Expanding on the heavier and melodic tendencies of One Day All This Will End,[27] the album was noted for its social and political themes,[28][29] covering unpaid internships, revenge porn, feminism, abortion, animal welfare, sexual assault and long-term illness.

[30] Following the album's release on 25 May 2018,[31] Svalbard embarked on tours of Europe and the United Kingdom, which included a performance at the 2018 ArcTanGent Festival[32] and supporting dates with OHHMS and La Dispute.

[35][36][37] Afterwards, Svalbard performed at the 2019 Roadburn Festival as part of a Holy Roar Records showcase,[38][39] before embarking on their first ever tour of Japan with The Tidal Sleep in May 2019.

Three weeks before the album's planned release, the band severed their ties and associations with Holy Roar due to the recent sexual misconduct allegations against its founder Alex Fitzpatrick.

The members of Svalbard have cited bands including Alcest, Explosions in the Sky, Helmet, Mew, Mogwai, Mono, Nasum, Slipknot and This Will Destroy You as musical influences.

[70][71][72][73] Cherry has also cited the soundtracks to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy series as influences on her guitar leads for the band.