Origin: Russia
Formed: 2012
Location: Saint Petersburg
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal / Ambient
Status: Split‑up
Label: Independent
Themes: Nature, Winter
Ель Ветра (“Spruce of the Wind”) was a short‑lived atmospheric black metal and ambient project founded in 2012 by Roman Barinov, a musician also known for his work in Liveride and Crane’s Dreams. Despite its brief existence, the project carved out a distinct niche within the Russian atmospheric black metal underground, focusing on cold, mist‑shrouded soundscapes and a deep reverence for natural environments.
The debut EP Морось (2012) encapsulated the project’s entire aesthetic: raw yet delicate guitar textures, distant and melancholic vocals, and ambient passages that evoke fog, snowfall, and the quiet stillness of winter forests. The music leaned heavily into mood and atmosphere rather than aggression, aligning Ель Ветра with the more introspective side of Russian black metal. Listeners often described the EP as immersive and emotionally subtle, capturing the fleeting beauty of winter weather and the solitude of northern landscapes.
Although no further releases followed, Морось left a small but memorable imprint on the scene. Roman Barinov’s approach—minimalistic, nature‑bound, and quietly expressive—reflected the ethos of many early‑2010s Russian atmospheric projects, where personal vision outweighed production polish or promotional ambition. After the project dissolved, Barinov continued his musical path through other atmospheric and post‑black metal endeavors, carrying forward the same sense of introspection and natural mysticism.
Ель Ветра remains a brief but evocative chapter in the Russian ambient black metal tradition, remembered for its ability to distill winter’s fragile beauty into a single, resonant release.
Roman Barinov – All instruments, vocals (2012–?)
(Also known for: ex‑Liveride, Crane’s Dreams)
EPs
Морось (2012)