Batushka "Carju Niebiesnyj" (2021)

 

Operating under the drama of band name disputes, here we have Krysiuk's Batushka marching on with a string of three EPs that passed me by. Perhaps I am only following Krzysztof's Batushka? The whole thing is a confusing mess of foreign names often interchanged with unique language letters. Either way this arm of the sound Litourgiya reckoned upon us feels stylistically cornered as this iteration of the band hash out a similar resolution across six songs. Sticking to their guns, the main focus is steeped in overtones to tie in a darkness counter to eastern orthodoxy of centuries gone by.

After many spins, that's left Carju Niebiesnyj feeling like a duller incarnation, throwing the same punches over again. Its one merit is in production, a sense of expanded budget falls upon its crisper tone where instruments and voices come across clearer. Even with that, some charm may be lost as low fidelity often stirs magic in the Black Metal aesthetic. Talking on the music itself, only Pismo V stood aside as an interlude focusing on a duet of male and effeminate voices, singing with deep reverbs to evoke a sense of biblical burdens bestowed upon church goers of a time and place now lost.

Otherwise its screams, bleeding guitars and batterings of blast-beats tread a familiar line. Its competent but expectant, leaving one with little more to remark on than the particulates of their unique take established six years ago. Its enjoyable, especially in the embellished moments where choir voices and eastern overtones take rise, most keenly on its closer. In the plunges of darkness speared on by aggression and fury, not so much. Ultimately, its been another case of Metal music played safe and steady where as I am seeking something different and new.

Rating: 4/10

Batushka "Hospodi" (2019)

Yesterday I covered Panihida by a different artist, the founder, under the same Batushka moniker. The situation is somewhat rotten and this record, backed by Metal Blade records, will probably end up with the legal rights to the name however its very obvious these musicians can't quite do it the same way. With a bigger production budget a cushy aesthetic makes for a clearer separation of the elements. Rather than the extreme clattering barrage of its counterpart the instuments stand tall with clarity, making it easier to hear where this album steers from its originators vision.

The first few songs hold over a tone steeped in dark religion. Ritual bells plays between songs that brood the Orthodoxy atmosphere with the choral clean vocals lingering a fraction behind Drabikowski's original. The guitars have a space to breathe and boldly they occupy as a focal point above soft symphonics. By the third track a diversion unfolds, big chunky riffs unleash mosh grooves akin to Khold, a fusion of grim distortion and bombastic riffs in tune with Nu Metal and Groove Metal. Its the albums most stark brake in stride as other directions feel much closer to the darkened core. Its always the guitars that step outside expectations and expand the horizon. It would be a niche touch for the band to progress if under different circumstances.

With its cleaner production and expansive set of songs Hospodi offers a derivative experience, drifting from the Eastern Orthodoxy template that made this band so unique. It holds on to Clergy chants but it feels like dressing around a set of songs that have an anchor in a similar strain of darkness. Its more exciting given the diversity but you can hear the different minds behind it. Yesterday I wrote that Panihida was the better but only as a Batushka record. This one is has more dynamism and swells of intensity. Both are worth your time and different is my conclusion I guess!

Rating: 6/10

Batushka "Panihida" (2019)

This post will be the first of two covering a pair albums born from an odd and unfavorable situation. The mysterious Batushka, a Polish Black Metal band inspired by Eastern Orthodoxy, is now split in a strange legal situation where the original artist has be shunned and seemingly screwed over legally as his hired band mates leveraged ownership of the band itself. Panihida is the record released by original artist Krzysztof Drabikowski, its a notch lower on production value as he does not have the resources a record label like Metal Blade does. They have also been dead silent on the situation, no response to Drabikowski's claims have been made.

I will kick it off by saying the tone and temperament of this follow up record holds true to Litourgiya. It lacks the impact the Gregorian clean vocals initially wooed fans with but that is to be expected. This time around another listed set of eight tracks go through the typical motions of extreme music, blasting drums rattle the cage and meaty rhythm guitars chime in duality with shrill tremolo picking that scales tarnished melodies. Soft choral synths and theologian singing softly line the crevasses but the best moments always seem born of their uprising to the forefront.

There isn't much in the barraging of evil metallic onslaught that feels special. Its well performed but tends to go through the motions sustaining the evil orthodoxy atmosphere. All the best moments are birthed through breaks from intensity. On occasion softy guitar leads bring melodic uplift but they are scarce. In the right mood it can be very enjoyable but it lacks that ability to suck you in regardless. The impact of the first record had that but this follow up is simply more of the same. I will write on the other record tomorrow and say now this is the better of the two but not by much.

Rating: 6/10

My Weekend At Download Festival 2019

Going for both Saturday and Sunday this year I had some miraculous fortune being in the right places at the right time to miss out on the rain. There was no avoiding the mud though! Not a lick of grass insight, the arena was a mud bath but I got through it and had a fantastic time. Once again the festival delivers on a magic I manage to convince myself is going to run out as the years roll and this year was no exception, the headliners really delivered something special. This year I thought I'd right about the highlights, good and bad, despite catching many more acts over the two days!

Power Trip
I saw this band not so long ago opening for Napalm Death in a small club and they blew me away with their 80s Slayer-alike Thrash Metal. It was great to know they could grab the attention of the festival organizers but a main stage slot was unexpected however given what a mighty show they put on it is no surprise. There strong songwriting for a tried and tested formula really matched the crowd and the probably won over a lot of new fans with an explosive show!

Behemoth
It was my first time catching the Devilish legends Behemoth, their music was a strange translation to summer sunny skies on the main stage but impressive costume design and stage makeup made it work. The performance was engaging and tearing through some strong at utterly dark songs they really made quite the impression as a band I need to get more familiar with!

The Hu
 There was no way I was missing the opertunity to see a Mongolian Metal band! Squeezing into a rammed tent the crowd was electrified to see a really unique and almost drone like vibe emerge from the fusion of Metal and native Mongolian instruments. It went by in a flash! I had checked them out before but this live show really helped bridge a gap in their music.

Batushka

Making their way onto my highlights list for all the wrong reasons. Russian Orthodoxy inspired Batushka had me dead excited for their notorious live show, however taking an age to to set up an elaborate stage of era furnishings and ornaments, their slow arrival to the stage became a drag. Going through some sort of slow candle lighting ceremony they took far to long, overplayed their set time and took more than five minutes between the three songs they churned though doing dull rituals of candle lighting and blessing books. It was a sham and they angered a lot of fans with the poor execution of their show. It did not translate to festival restraints.

Die Antwood
 Hear the booming bass from the Tent where Batushka were dampening spirits I was dead excited to catch the quirky South African Rave Rap duo! Unfortunately I only caught the trail end of their set however it was an absolute riot! The sound system was blaring and their energy on the stage was phenomenal. I couldn't help but move. Its really nice to have something break the flow of similar music being played around the festival. Would have loved to have seen more of it, shame about set overrun but these things happen.

Slipknot
 Prior to the show I had been feeling a little hesitant with Joey and now Fenn's departure. It was however a dynamite show from a band who seemed focused on giving us the absolute best. Corey Taylor was pitch perfect and ten years on from one of the greatest shows Id ever seen, the Knot proved they still have it! It was very emotional, strong memories of my social groups bonding over this band in our youth and that feeling of freedom when your inside the song, inside the moment, free of life's burdens. Only a few bands can do that and Slipknot is one of them, with deep cuts like Get This and Scissors it felt truly special.

Cane Hill

 With delays for fans entering the arena Cane Hill has to kick off Sunday to a small crowd however they gave it their all and a being at the front one could get a better appreciation of guitarists unique playing style and use of effects. As a band they have obvious influences from Korn and Nu-Metal however it made clear that they are bringing their own style and it rocked hard!

Alcest
 Ive been waiting a fair few years for my opportunity to catch Alcest and they did not disappoint! Their serine music translated beautifully to the intimacy of the small stage and their enchanting singing was captivating. The sound was impeccable and these songs came to life on the stage! Wonderful set.

Whitechapel
 Ive never gotten that deep into this Deathcore band however of the times I have seen them they have always been killer. Clearly oversold on the smallest stage, a rammed audience squeezed in and despite being at the back, barely able to see the stage the sound was impeccable. Their trio of baritone guitars were crushing and they soared through a brutal set of tracks. Perhaps this is an advantage of listening from next to the sound desk!

Smashing Pumpkins
 They feel somewhat like a recent discovery for me. Its always 90s bands that seem to get to my heart and I would have been thrilled for this show had I not seen them earlier in the year. It seems they are good friends with Amalie Bruun of Myrkur. They brought her out to do a Black Sabbath cover together which has a special atmosphere to it. Their show was reasonable, amazing set design but It feels like they have ambled through the last fifteen years missing out on the opertunity to establish themselves as a headline act. Billy's stage presence is left to be desired between songs but the performances themselves were fantastic.

Slayer
Its farewell to the legendary Slayer from this side of the pond. I would of loved to see the whole show but the beginning was absolute fire and ever over thirty years into it they can still pull of their songs with a manic intensity. Tom sounded fierce and the live show is certainly not the reason they are calling it curtains. There was a huge fan turn out for the legends but I had to leave early to get my spot for Tool.

Tool

They have been my band of choice to "get into" this year. Many, many hours churning through their discography, which seemed so difficult to get at first. Having got through every record I made the drive north listening to Tool and really starting to connect with the music in anticipation. Live music always has this magic and I shouldn't of been surprised to have it unleashed again. At first the show felt a little underwhelming, no cameras on the band and nothing but trippy visuals plastered across the big screens. It didn't take long for me to realize how much the band wanted the show to be about the music. Their flawless executions of dense and difficult music became a beacon of light and all of a sudden I felt that "strangeness" around their music disappear. It made complete sense, I was converted to a die hard fan and blasted nothing but Tool on the late drive home too. An utterly amazing show to end the weekend on.

Batushka "Litourgiya" (2015)

First time around I didn't hear anything special in this record but given a prod in the side I decided to give it another try and after a couple of spins the magic became obvious. "Litourgiya" is the debut release of Polish Black Metal band Batushka, meaning "father" to a priest. They remain shrouded in mystery, choosing to not reveal their identities. Supposedly their a collective of eight musicians from other established bands and when playing live they take on a similar look to Ghost, cloaked in dark and mystic robes full of demonic symbols and signs. I can't help but feel its not just their image that's taken a big dose of inspiration from Ghost, the music too has thought and craft about it, the focus on clean apostolic vocals giving it a similar spirit of biblical damnation.

Aesthetically its not much of a stretch from traditional Black Metal. Its noisy, overwhelming but not low in fidelity. The guitars have a gorgeous tone range fit for shrill tremolo shredding and weighty down tuned low notes sounding almost Djent but without the technique. Around them a clunky bass strums away, its low end blending into the guitars and its high texture waddling its way into the creaks of space between other instruments. The drums batter wildly with timely blasts, a warm rounded snare, softened pedals and muted cymbals come together loosely with a rawness that musters up enough chemistry for an engrossing wall of unrelenting candlelight darkness.

Batushka distinguish themselves with an orthodox theme lining the songs with Gregorian chants, the pummeling, crushing music sets the tone of fearful Christian mysticism. One can envision clergy working over sacred scriptures locked within catacombs and church cellars. The shrill screams and throaty shouts aren't as prominent, taking a backseat to deep, bellowing ritualistic chants that don't set the tone alone. The accompanying music has a lot of mood and tempo shifts, most of the songs slow down the pace for temperate melodies before erupting with gleaming uproars of energy. The chants and "clean" vocals are quiet in the mix and occasionally slip deep into the background, just harmonizing with the guitars inconspicuously.

As an album it plays as a whole, the songs are rather similar to one another and tend to variate on the same ideas in different ways. There are moments of both ambience and intensity that come in many shades of dogmatic darkness and once you've caught the essence of the theme its effortless to enjoy. The sound and character is nailed but it isn't very expansive, so the stage is set for the band to do interesting things with their craft in the future. A very solid release worthy of listening to any Black Metal fan with a taste for twist on traditionalism.

Favorite Track: Yekteniya 2, Yekteniya 8

Rating: 8/10