Patriarkh
Patriarkh is a Polish black metal band heavily influenced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, incorporating liturgical chants and performing "black liturgies" wearing religious habits. The band has its origins in related band Батюшка (Batushka), led by Polish musician Krzysztof Drabikowski. After a falling out within the band led to a schism, Patriarkh, then known as Batushka and led by other original member Bartłomiej Krysiuk continued performing, while Drabikowski attempted to maintain his own version of the band, typically identified by fans using the cyrillic, Батюшка. During this period, Drabikowski and Krysiuk were engaged in a prolonged and bitter legal dispute over ownership of the "Batushka" name and which artist had to right to perform under it. In 2024, after Krysiuk lost the legal case and an appeal, his project announced they would be continuing as a band under new name, Patriarkh. The debut release as Patriarkh appeared in January 2025. The case returns legal ownership of the Batushka brand to Drabikowski. Streaming services are beginning to retroactively ascribe Krysiuk's Batushka releases under the new name Patriarkh. This will affect how scrobbles are presented.
