Patriarkh (Formerly Batushka) Announce Album Prorok Ilja, Drop Single “Wierszalin III”
The legal battle may be over, but Polish black metal band Patriarkh — the band formerly known as Batushka — is moving on. Not only do they have a long line of tour dates coming up, but they just announced a brand new album ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ (Lat. PROROK ILJA) and released a new single “ВЕРШАЛИН III” (Lat. WIERSZALIN III).
The new album will be released on January 3 via Napalm Records and will feature eight new tracks. According to the band, the album is about the “true story of Eliasz Klimowicz, the titular Prophet Ilja, set in the 1930s and 40s.” It’s the band’s follow up to 2019’s Hospodi, though that was under the old name, obviously.
“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, theater, film soundtrack, folk music, performance… All these terms will fit here. Some will hate, others will love…”
In addition to the album announcement, the band posted its first single, titled “ВЕРШАЛИН III” (Lat. WIERSZALIN III). The said the following about the track:
“‘WIERSZALIN III’ is the first single that announces our new release PROROK ILJA (Lat.) and it probably best reflects the diversity and musical multidimensionality of this album. Just as the titular Prophet Ilja built New Jerusalem in Podlasie, we are building our new identity and showing our new musical face. Listen and share your impressions…“
ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ (Lat. PROROK ILJA) will be released on January 3, 2025 via Napalm Records, but you can preorder your copy today.
ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ tracklisting:
1. WIERSZALIN I (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН I (Cyrillic)
2. WIERSZALIN II (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН II (Cyrillic)
3. WIERSZALIN III (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН III (Cyrillic)
4. WIERSZALIN IV (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН IV (Cyrillic)
5. WIERSZALIN V (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН V (Cyrillic)
6. WIERSZALIN VI (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VI (Cyrillic)
7. WIERSZALIN VII (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VII (Cyrillic)
8. WIERSZALIN VIII (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VIII (Cyrillic)
ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ will be available in the following formats:
Wooden Box (Digipak, bonus CD, pendant, flag & patch) – 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder and Patriarkh Shop exclusive)
Deluxe 2LP GATEFOLD GOLD Vinyl (Alternative album cover artwork, bonus vinyl, & 24pp vinyl booklet) – 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder and Patriarkh Shop exclusive)
1LP GATEFOLD SILVER Vinyl – 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
1LP GATEFOLD MARBLED ORANGE RED BLACK Vinyl – 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
1LP Gatefold in Black Vinyl
6 Page Digipak
Digital Album
PATRIARKH Live 2024
Epic Prophecy For Europe 2024
w/ Vltimas & God Dethroned
15.10.24 IE – Belfast / Limelight 2
17.10.24 UK – Glasgow / Slay
18.10.24 UK – Sheffield / Corporation
19.10.24 UK – Birmingham / Castle And Falcon
20.10.24 UK – London / Underworld
21.10.24 UK – Milton Keynes / Craufurd Arms
22.10.24 NL – Eindhoven / Dynamo
23.10.24 NL – Zwolle / Hedon
24.10.24 DE – Herford / Kulturwerk
25.10.24 NL – Ulft / Dru
26.10.24 DE – Bochum / Turock Fest
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 KOR – 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 AUS – 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
