The members of the Ukrainian heavy metal and punk band Death Pill—guitarist and lead vocalist Mariana Navrotska, bassist Natalya Syeryakova, and drummer Anastasiia Khomenko—face the unusual challenge of making music while living across different continents and time zones. Formed in Kyiv in 2017 as the city’s sole all-female heavy band, their lives and creative process were drastically disrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Following the outbreak of war, Syeryakova relocated to Australia and Khomenko moved to Spain, while Navrotska remained in Kyiv. The invasion also prompted the band to shift exclusively to English-language lyrics, dropping Russian.
Despite these separations, Death Pill released their self-titled debut in 2023 through London’s New Heavy Sounds label. They followed it up with their second album, Sologamy, crafted almost entirely through remote collaboration, software like Guitar Pro and Guitar Pro spreadsheets, and digital communication. Working across distances led to humorous disagreements over song tempos and arrangements, but also fostered a collaborative environment where parts were traded internationally. While a few tracks were mapped out during a brief in-person gathering in the summer of 2024 and a subsequent rehearsal session in Kyiv, the rest of the 10-track record was assembled piecemeal.
Sologamy spans a diverse sonic range, moving from thrash metal and sludgy new wave to deformed grunge and experimental structures. Although the music remains ferocious and heavy, the lyrical themes lean toward personal psychological turmoil rather than direct political commentary on the war, reflecting the band members’ need to process complex emotions while preventing the conflict from consuming their entire lives.
Clocking in at under 30 minutes, Sologamy captures the molten fury of punk and metal despite being recorded under duress. The band plans to reunite for a live tour starting in September at London’s Loud Women Fest, where they will adapt the new material for the stage. Emphasizing that their bond is rooted in personal friendship rather than convenience, Death Pill remains steadfast in performing exclusively together rather than utilizing session musicians.
