By the Spirits is the solo neofolk project of Michał Krawczuk, based in the Lower Silesia region of Poland. Since its inception in 2016, the project has become a significant voice in the contemporary European dark folk scene, characterized by a minimalist approach that eschews the genre's typical reliance on martial percussion or heavy synth layering.
Instead, Krawczuk utilizes a 'less is more' philosophy, focusing on the interplay between rhythmic acoustic guitar and his own deep, steady vocal delivery. The project is conceptually rooted in the ancient history and pagan spirituality of the Ślęża mountain, a site of prehistoric cult worship. This geographical connection provides a thematic backbone of nature-worship, death, and spiritual transition. Critically, By the Spirits is praised for its authenticity and ability to evoke a 'timeless' folk atmosphere without falling into the kitsch of medievalism. It sits comfortably alongside peers like :Of the Wand & the Moon: and Rome, but maintains a more organic, stripped-back sonic profile that emphasizes the 'folk' over the 'neo.'
Shares neofolk, somber, field_recordings, acoustic folk (subgenre)
Shares neofolk, mysterious, darkwave, acoustic folk (subgenre)
Shares neofolk, somber, darkwave, acoustic folk (subgenre)
Shares neofolk, mysterious, acoustic folk, forest (subgenre)
Shares neofolk, mysterious, field_recordings, forest (subgenre)
Shares neofolk, somber, field_recordings, darkwave (subgenre)
Shares neofolk, somber, mountain, bonfire (subgenre)
Shares neofolk, mountain, field_recordings, acoustic folk (subgenre)
Shares neofolk, somber, field_recordings, chanting (subgenre)
Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →