Norwegian progressive metal veterans Enslaved have unveiled “Spirit Helper,” a powerful new collaborative track featuring Kevin Kicking Woman, an elder of the Blackfeet Nation.
The release arrives ahead of the band’s appearance at this year’s Fire In The Mountains festival, which takes place July 23-26 at Red Eagle Campground in East Glacier, Montana. The collaboration grew out of relationships forged through the festival and the broader community surrounding By Norse Music, the label and creative platform founded by members of Enslaved and Wardruna alongside their longtime manager.
According to guitarist and vocalist Ivar Bjørnson, the project was years in the making, evolving through conversations, cultural exchanges, and shared experiences with members of the Blackfeet community.
“‘Spirit Helper’ began taking shape long before the song itself existed. Its origins lie in years of conversations, festivals, travel, and shared experiences that gradually connected people, traditions, landscapes, and communities.”
Bjørnson explained that Enslaved’s connection to the Fire In The Mountains festival eventually led to friendships with Nick Rink and Kevin Kicking Woman, creating an opportunity for a collaboration rooted in mutual trust and respect.
During a later gathering in New York involving members of the Blackfeet community, the festival, and the Firekeeper Alliance, Kicking Woman shared a traditional morning prayer song that ultimately became the foundation for “Spirit Helper.”
Rather than simply building around the prayer, Bjørnson said the band focused on allowing their music to adapt to its rhythm and spiritual essence.
“Rather than simply building around Kevin’s contribution, it became important for me to allow the music itself to adapt to the pulse, rhythm, and spirit already present within his song.”
He described the finished piece as one of the most meaningful musical experiences in Enslaved’s career.
“Ultimately, ‘Spirit Helper’ is a song about connection—between past and present, traditions and people, and the spiritual and human worlds. For Enslaved, it stands as one of the most meaningful musical journeys we have undertaken.”
Kevin Kicking Woman also shared the significance behind the collaboration, explaining the cultural importance of song within Blackfoot traditions.
“Songs are the Blackfoot way of knowing. Expressing relationship and responsibility, belonging and accountability. The purpose of this song is having the performative expression giving meaning to life. Connecting to the universes through the cosmos, earth beings, water beings and spirit beings. ‘Spirit Helper’ is the physical documentation in this process.”
The single’s artwork was created by Nicholas Rink, who said the imagery symbolizes the connection between cultures, land, spirituality, and music. Among its elements are representations of the ocean separating collaborators, shared humanity, Kevin Kicking Woman’s voice, the musicians involved, and a map of Norway tying the visual back to Enslaved’s homeland.
“Spirit Helper” is available now ahead of Enslaved’s return to Fire In The Mountains later this month.
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