The Bartłomiej “Bart” Krysiuk led version of the Polish black metal band Batushka has caught the ire of some fans, since his split with his former bandmate Krzysztof Drabikowski, who served as the band’s vocalist. Despite their split, both artists have been using the band’s name, and both released albums this year with Krysiuk debuting Hospodi, via Metal Blade and Drabikwski debuting Panihida under Sphieratz Studio.

As a result of this controversy, and ongoing legal battle over the band’s name, Kryisuk has cancelled the remaining tour appearances for his version of the band. Some outlets such as MetalSucks have claimed that the tour had suffered from poor sales, which may have also been a reason for this cancellation.

“As has been reported, we have cancelled all up and coming international touring until a time where the dispute between Derph and myself is resolved,” Krysiuk explained. “Massive financial and bureaucratic undertakings are required to make international touring at this scale work, coupled with the daily firefighting of Batushka’s day-to-day business, it has taken it’s toll and we have reached our limit.”

Krysiuk also explained that a mediation between both parties will likely continue for some time as neither party are close to resolving their differences.

“There is plenty to be positive about with regards to the legal situation surrounding Batushka – however, we expect a lengthy process and despite mediation with Derph and I, we are no closer to resolving our differences,” he elaborated. “We plan to reconvene and carry on preparing new music. Our European dates will continue on – naturally a lot less stressful. We apologise to our international fans but we hope you understand!

Drabikowski has claimed that Krysiuk had replaced him without any prior warning, and that he started using the band’s name without his permission. He, along with a few of the band’s fans claim to be the “true” Batushka, as opposed to Krysiuk’s version.

“At the end of December, a Batushka concert was announced somewhere on the internet … I was surprised. I thought it was a mistake,” Drabikowski stated in an interview with Dark Art Conspiracy. “I called Krysiuk to find out where this information came from. He did not answer the phone. So I wrote him a message. He wrote back that it was not a mistake, and that he also booked other concerts and that he would announce them soon.He informed me that he will release a Batushka album without me – the founder, intellectual owner and author of all the compositions on the first album. He claimed that it was already recorded, by Paweł Jaroszewicz and Artur Rumiński, musicians that he hired for that. He thinks that Batushkа belongs to him. He even calls himself a producer.”

Batushka (Bart’s version) — 2019 Cancelled North American Tour Dates

11/29 — Toronto, ON — Opera House
11/30 — Montreal, QC — Corona Theatre
12/1 — Cambridge, MA — Sinclair
12/3 — New York, NY — Gramercy Theatre
12/4 — Philadelphia, PA — Union Transfer
12/5 — Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Sound Stage,
12/6 — Millvale, PA — Mr. Smalls Theatre
12/7 — Detroit, MI — St. Andrews Hall
12/9 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall
12/10 — Chicago, IL — Metro
12/11 — Minneapolis, MN — Skyway Theatre
12/13 — Denver, CO — Oriental Theater
12/14 — Salt Lake City, UT — In The Venue
12/16 — Portland, OR — Wonder Ballroom
12/17 — Vancouver, BC — Richshaw
12/18 — Seattle, WA — Neumos
12/20 — San Francisco, CA — The Regency Ballroom
12/21 — Los Angeles, CA — The Fonda

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat