[DID NOT ATTEND: September 26, 2022] Batushka / Witching / Hideous Divinity / Hate
I had heard of Batushka [БАТЮШКА] because there was an article about how there were two bands with the same name. And, it was a case of the band breaking up and the guy who left taking the name–but the main band keeping it as well. So both bands sounded vaguely the same as well, I guess.
Krzysztof Drabikowski formedthe band. But a falling out between Drabikowski and vocalist Bartłomiej Krysiuk in 2018 led to Krysiuk starting his own version of Batushka, which released its own recordings and performs separately from the original band. Drabikowski protested the move and does not consider Krysiuk’s band legitimate.
Here’s some of the quotes from the controversy
Drabikowski stated that “There were attempts to take my creation Batushka away from me” and “the upcoming album Панихида (“Requiem”) will not feature his voice”
Krysiuk then “hired musicians to produce an album that he planned to release as the new Batushka record, behind [his] back”.
On 27 May 2019, Drabikowski’s Batushka released a new full-length album called Панихида (“Panihida”) (“Requiem”) and was very well received by both critics and fans alike.
On 12 July 2019, Krysiuk’s Batushka released a full-length album called Hospodi (“God Almighty”), the album received mixed reviews from critics[20][21] and was panned by some of the band’s fans, with most of the criticism aimed at their “illegitimacy” to use the name Batushka.
In the wake of the public falling out and ensuing drama between Drabikowski and Krysiuk several parody bands using variations of the “Batushka” name emerged online as a widespread meme, each also claiming to be the “true Batushka”, the most notable being “Batyushka” an anonymous project claiming to be from Russia and being actual Orthodox priests and adhering to the Orthodox dogma. Their music is completely instrumental and have independently released over a dozen albums on Bandcamp which were met with indifference and annoyance, as well as mockery from fans of the real band, several people also pointed out how the music uses a drum machine.
Controversy aside, they sounded interesting a Polish black metal band formed by Krzysztof Drabikowski. Their music and lyrics, which are written exclusively in Church Slavonic language, are inspired by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The band members wear habits and Eastern Orthodox schemas during live performances to conceal their identities.
I’m not even sure which band this was. I think it was Krysiuk’s version (known as Fakeuska, apparently) as Drabikowski hasn’t done much. But if they’re wearing robes and hoods, who is to know?
After seeing behemoth back in April, I wasn’t sure if wanted to see another black metal show. This one seemed especially daunting given that it was in the tiny Underground Arts.
So I opted not to go. Maybe if they come back another time.
Polish band Hate opened. I’m not too keen on a band that is simply called Hate. They are a blackened death metal band. They wear corpse paint and have had many lineup changes over the years. Their singer growls, but I have to admit that the lyrics are actually audible, which is quite a plus.
Witching opened our show. They are a metal band from Philly. Their track Lividity opens with acoustic guitars and witching female singing and after two minutes the vocals get decidedly demonic and scary as the music gets heavier and pummeling. It also looks like most of the band is women, which is pretty cool for the genre: Jacqui, Nate, Tatiana, Samantha and Hazel.
Hideous Divinity are from Italy. I’m guessing they couldn’t make the first two shows of the tour and they started in Georgia. They, like the others are heavy and growly.
I actually thought this show was four bands, which would have been just too much growling and heaviness. Even three bands seemed like a lot. Although now that I know more about Witching, they might have been a nice change for the show. Nevertheless, despite the visuals, I’m not sure I was ever really planning to go to this show.
