Natural Spirit is a Ukrainian pagan folk metal band that returns with a new single “Swamp” after five difficult years. The release is not framed as a grand comeback so much as a continuation under pressure. The song’s image is concrete rather than mystical, a slow, suffocating pull that mirrors daily life in wartime.
Formed in Chernihiv in the late 1990s around composer Oleg Kirienko, Natural Spirit builds on melodic black metal roots and folk elements. Key records like Ruskolun (2004), Sita Rosa (2008), The Price of Freedom (2011), and the 2020 album Під серпом часу (Under the Sickle of Time) established the band’s profile across Eastern Europe and beyond. The new material shifts darker and more direct while keeping the core identity intact.
Today the group is essentially a duo: vocalist Antonina and Oleg. Writing and production run remotely, shaped by schedules, air alerts, and basic logistics. Release strategy is single-first. The band aims to issue multiple tracks this year instead of a full album they cannot properly present. The focus is on songs that stand on their own, delivered when they are ready, not when a format demands it.
War touches everything. Friends serve on the frontline or volunteer, energy and resources fluctuate, and air raids are too common. Even so, the Ukrainian scene persists. Festivals like Faine Misto and Atlas continue with charity goals for the armed forces and veteran rehabilitation, keeping a public space for heavy music in existance. Natural Spirit’s message is clear: They are alive, they are making art, and that is so important.
Natural Spirit interview 05.09.2025
Antonina Vinnyk
Producer: Janne Vuorela
https://naturalspirit.bandcamp.com/
Picture: Natural Spirit
