Polish black metal icons Patriarkh (Патриархь; formerly Batushka) have embarked on a dark and ominous pilgrimage as they unveiled the next single, "Wierszalin IV (feat. Eliza Sacharczuk)", from their forthcoming concept album, Prorok Ilja, due on 3 January 2025 via Napalm Records. Accompanied by a video, the new song weaves the sacred-inspired vocals of Eliza Sacharczuk with liturgical melodies, building into a storm of dark choirs and unforgettable harsh vocals.
Building on the critical success of Hospodi (2019) and relentless touring around the globe, Patriarkh brings a renewed vision and profound storytelling to its Napalm Records debut. This eight-track journey immerses listeners in the true story of Eliasz Klimowicz, the enigmatic Prophet Ilja, set against the dramatic historical backdrop of the 1930s and '40s. Deeply rooted in Eastern Orthodox traditions, Patriarkh masterfully merges black and doom metal with haunting religious themes, conjuring an atmosphere as dark as it is mesmerizing.
Patriarkh on the new single "Вершалин IV": "This is the most Oriental sounding song on our new album. The beautiful monody that runs throughout the entire piece is deeply influenced by Greek and Romanian traditions, which are integral to Orthodoxy. In our new music, we aim to showcase different aspects of Orthodoxy. Just as the Prophet Ilja journeyed to Kronsztadt, we travelled far for musical inspiration to create a psalm in honour of the New Jerusalem that our prophet was building. This song features our long-time singing teacher Eliza Sacharczuk. We have been collaborating with her since 2016, continuously improving our singing skills through lessons and consultations. Our choice was intentional; Eliza has a truly unique voice. Listen and see for yourself!"
Prorok Ilja details a true story that happened in the band's home area of Podlasie, in the village of Grzybowszczyzna, in the 1930s and 40s. The album takes the listener into the world of Eliasz Klimowicz, the titular Prophet Ilja, an illiterate peasant who was the leader of the Orthodox Grzybowska Sect, active until the 1960s, cultivating and transmitting the history of the self-proclaimed prophet. Patriarkh spread its gospel by using an arsenal of folk instruments, such as tagelharpa, mandolin, mandocello, hurdy-gurdy and stringed dulcimer, and worked with a symphony orchestra and choirs to give their new creations the most organic and vivid feeling possible. As is a trademark of Patriarkh's music, Orthodox sacredness is mixed with black and doom metal, now largely enriched with folk music, neo-dark folk, and even film music. The band utilizes the entire palette of Orthodox music, venturing into the areas of Byzantine monody, liturgical chant and Russian polyphony, neatly adapting folk and liturgical melodies to its own style.
Patriarkh on the forthcoming album Пророк Илия: "With this new release, we are starting a new chapter in our history - not only is our name changing, but our music is also undergoing a natural evolution. The story on the album encouraged us to get out of our comfort zone, we reached for means that we had not used before in our music. Many of you will wonder if this is still black metal? Or is it even metal? Radio play, audiobook, theatre, film soundtrack, folk music, performance... All these terms will fit here. Some will hate, others will love..."
The lyrical side of Prorok Ilja is an interesting mix of theatre and pastoralism. Patriarkh uses fragments of texts from the theatre play Prorok Ilja and draws from the messages contained in the works of Włodzimierz Pawluczuk, combining them with folk and liturgical texts. On Prorok Ilja, listeners can hear various languages - and Polish for the first time! The album was recorded in January and May 2024 at Tall Pine Records (Behemoth, Zalewski, Afromental), Heinrich House (Behemoth, Vesania, Hate), Wem Studio (Kasa Chorych, Lukasyno, Cira) and Radio Białystok studio. Mixing and mastering was handled by Wojciech Wiesławski at Hertz Studio (Vader, Behemoth, Decapitated), and production was helmed by band mastermind and leading vocalist Bartłomiej "Варфоломей" Krysiuk. "Prorok Ilja is an album full of emotions, sentimentalism and folklore. It's pastoral, lyrical, epic, multidimensional and multicolored, just like my Podlasie is multicoloured", says Варфоломей. Dive into the deepest shadows with this black metal masterpiece and join Patriarkh on this intriguing ride! Link
Patriarkh Live:
* Asia & Australia Prophecy 2024
29.11.24 TH - Bangkok / Mr.Fox Livehouse
01.12.24 HK - Hong Kong / MOM Livehouse
03.12.24 CN - Shanghai / MAO Livehouse
04.12.24 CN - Beijing / Omnispace
06.12.24 KO - Seoul / West Bright Hall
07.12.24 TW - Taipei / Jack Studio
09.12.24 JP - Tokyo / Shibuya Club Asia
12.12.24 NZ - Auckland / Tuning Fork
13.12.24 AU - Melbourne / Max Watts
* Nowy Wierszalin Poland 2025
03.01.25 PL - Łódź / Wytwórnia - SINFONIA ORTHODOXIA w/symphonic orchestra and male choir
22.02.25 PL - Krosno / Rock Klub Iron
07.03.25 PL - Wrocław / Transformator
08.03.25 PL - Zabrze / CK Wiatrak
09.03.25 PL - Kraków / HYPE PARK
14.03.25 PL - Lublin / Fabryka Kultury Zgrzyt
15.03.25 PL - Olsztyn / Scena Zgrzyt
16.03.25 PL - Warszawa / Klub Proxima
17.03.25 PL - Białystok / Zmiana Klimatu
21.03.25 PL - Gdynia / Podwórko.art
22.03.25 PL - Szczecin / Kosmos
23.03.25 PL - Poznań / 2progi
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