Founded in Białystok in 2015 by multi-instrumentalist Krzysztof Drabikowski, Batushka merges black metal with Orthodox liturgical music sung in Church Slavonic. Their debut album Litourgiya (2015), critically acclaimed, made the band a phenomenon in the Polish and European metal scenes. Live performances featured eight-string guitars and religious imagery, maintaining anonymity. In 2017, Batushka signed with Metal Blade Records, but internal conflict emerged. In 2018, vocalist Bartłomiej Krysiuk attempted to claim the band name, triggering a legal battle. Both Drabikowski and Krysiuk released competing albums in 2019: Panihida and Hospodi. Drabikowski’s version gained fan support and toured successfully. Despite setbacks, including COVID-19, he performed at major events like 70000 Tons of Metal (2024) and Hellfest. In May 2024, a Polish court ruled in Drabikowski’s favor, barring Krysiuk from using the name Batushka. Krysiuk’s group subsequently rebranded as Patriarkh. Batushka, under Drabikowski’s leadership, continues to blend sacred tradition with extreme metal, maintaining its unique identity in the global scene.
