Batushka

About

PATRIARKH, the architect of Orthodox Black Metal chaos, doesn't just play music – he conducts a ritual. Emerging from the devout darkness of Poland, his project, initially known as Batushka (a name contested in recent years), became a lightning rod, polarizing the black metal scene with its fusion of orthodox liturgical chants and the genre's raw, infernal energy. Grounded in a thick, tremolo-picked assault, PATRIARKH's soundscape is punctuated by soaring, layered vocals that evoke the grandeur of an Eastern Orthodox cathedral, albeit one built upon a foundation of blast beats and blasphemy. The initial breakthrough came with “Litourgiya,” an album that remains a landmark of its subgenre, praised and condemned in equal measure. This release cemented PATRIARKH's position as a provocateur, challenging the boundaries of black metal while simultaneously paying homage to his religious and cultural heritage. Subsequent legal battles over the Batushka name have only fueled the mystique, forcing a rebranding but failing to extinguish the creative fire. He continues to explore themes of faith, death, and existential dread, forging a path that is both artistically ambitious and deeply controversial. Currently, PATRIARKH is reportedly working on new material, promising a further descent into the sonic abyss where piety and perversion intertwine.