At the crossroads of orthodox liturgy and extreme metal, where ancient traditions meet modern expression, PATRIARKH emerges from the shadows of controversy with their most ambitious project to date. The band, formerly known as Batushka, is set to release their concept album "PROPHET ILJA / ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ" on January 3, 2025, weaving a tapestry of sound that bridges centuries of spiritual and musical tradition.
Deep in the heart of Podlasie, a region known for its rich multicultural heritage, lies a story that has waited nearly a century to be told. The album centers on Eliasz Klimowicz, an illiterate peasant who became the leader of the Orthodox Grzybowska Sect, transforming from a simple farmer into a figure of profound religious significance. In the 1930s and 1940s, Klimowicz's influence spread through the village of Grzybowszczyzna, creating a movement that would persist until the 1960s.
"This idea was born in my mind some 7-8 years ago," reveals vocalist Варфоломей, the mastermind behind the album's production and concept. "Those who have followed our journey from 'Hospodi' through 'Raskol' and 'Carju Niebiesnyj' will easily spot the signs, places, texts, and symbols connected to 'Prophet Ilja' in our previous releases. Everything has been leading to this story – the story of Eliasz Klimowicz that we're finally telling."
PATRIARKH's latest offering represents a bold evolution in their sound, blending traditional Orthodox sacral elements with black and doom metal foundations. The band has expanded their musical palette significantly, incorporating folk instruments such as tagelharpa, mandolin, mandocello, hurdy-gurdy, and string cymbals. The addition of a symphony orchestra, female vocals, and male choirs creates a rich, multidimensional soundscape that transcends genre boundaries.
The album's first single, "Wierszalin II," serves as a gateway into this ambitious work. The track explores the theme of divine revelation, functioning as a prayer infused with purpose. It reflects the anointing that accompanies the prophet's message, embodying expressions of worship, adoration, and gratitude for the privilege of serving and praising heaven through his work.
What sets "Prophet Ilja" apart is its remarkable linguistic diversity. The album features texts in Old Church Slavonic, Belarusian, Russian, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, regional Chakhlatsky dialect, and for the first time in the band's history, Polish. This linguistic variety reflects the multicultural essence of Podlasie itself, a unique region in Poland where various cultures, faiths, and communities intersect.
The project brings together an impressive roster of collaborators, including Maciej Maleńczuk (Homo Twist, Pudelsi, Yugopolis), folk singer and instrumentalist Adam Strug, and Podlasian folk artists Marek Papaj and Eliza Sacharczuk. The mysterious Sister Fiokła, a long-time collaborator who prefers to remain anonymous, adds another layer of authenticity to the recording.
Recorded between January and May 2024, the album's production spanned multiple prestigious studios, including Tall Pine Records (known for work with Zalewski, Afromental, Behemoth) and Heinrich House (Behemoth, Vesania, Hate). The mixing and mastering were handled by Wojciech Wiesławski at Hertz Studio, known for their work with legendary acts like Vader and Behemoth.
The album's visual elements are equally thoughtful, featuring oil paintings by Podlasian artist Maciej Szupica and atmospheric photographs by the late Marek Dolecki (1943-2015), a renowned photographer and documentarian of Podlasian village life. The graphic design by Daniel Rusiłowicz completes the visual concept created by the band's vocalist.
As PATRIARKH prepares to unveil this masterwork on January 3, 2025, with a special promotional concert in Łódź, the album stands as a testament to the band's evolution and artistic maturity. "Prophet Ilja" is more than just a metal album – it's a lyrical, epic, multidimensional work that captures the spirit of a region where cultures converge and ancient traditions live on in modern expression.
The album represents what Варфоломей calls their "opus magnum of sacred and profane," a work that doesn't just tell a story but preserves a crucial piece of cultural history through the lens of contemporary metal. In doing so, PATRIARKH has created something truly unique: a bridge between past and present, between the sacred and the secular, between tradition and innovation.
For fans of extreme metal and world music alike, "Prophet Ilja" promises to be one of 2025's most intriguing releases, offering a journey through time, faith, and sound that few other albums dare to attempt.
