Batushka
photo via Batushka Facebook

Batushka playing first US shows (with The Chasm, Imperial Triumphant, more)

Batushka
photo via Batushka Facebook

…It’s a remarkable album, both in its sound and in its unique stylistic approach of exploring Satanism and blasphemy from a Russian Orthodox perspective, rather than the usual Catholic/Protestant angle. The riffs are memorable, the musicianship is incredible (especially their drummer; have you seen his drum cam video?) and their style is quite literally iconoclastic.

Batushka’s attention to detail and secrecy is also admirable, as their incredibly creepy costumes and live shows prove. Rumor has it that it’s members of Mgła and Behemoth, but so far no one’s talking.

Mysterious Polish black metal band Batushka released their church-chants-fueled debut album Litourgiya in December 2015 via Witching Hour Productions (quoted above is Rhys Williams’ writeup of the album for Invisible Oranges’ feature on December releases), and it was re-released in the US last year on Metal Blade. Batushka were supposed to make their debut US appearance at Maryland Deathfest last year but had to cancel due to visa issues, and the band is now set to finally come to the US for this year’s Psycho Las Vegas. They’ll also play Brooklyn and Chicago right before that.

They’re doing two shows in each city: Knitting Factory Brooklyn on August 14 & 15 with Tomb and Dumal on night one and Imperial Triumphant on night two (night one on sale, night two sold out); and Chicago’s Reggie’s on August 16 & 17 with The Chasm and Suffering Hour on night one and The Chasm and Imperial Triumphant on night two (night one sold out, night two on sale). Tour poster below.

Chicago-via-Mexico death metal vets The Chasm and related band Acerus also have upcoming shows including two in NYC: August 19 at Lucky 13 Saloon with Infernal Conjuration also on the bill and September 14 at Blackthorn 41. The Chasm are also confirmed for Maryland Deathfest 2019. All of their dates are listed here.

New York avant-garde/jazz/metallers Imperial Triumphant (which features current and former members of Secret Chiefs 3, Zorn, Brand X, and more) are about to release a new album, Vile Luxury, next week (7/13) via Gilead Media. You can hear the genre-defying lead track “Swarming Opulence” below.

Pennsylvania black metal act Dumal and Minneapolis blackened death metallers Suffering Hour both released worthy albums last year — The Lesser God and In Passing Ascension, respectively — and you can stream those below too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVctUlaKBgY

Batushka