Polish black metal outfit Batushka are headed to North America for a series of 20 North American Tour dates beginning in Toronto, Canada at the Opera House this November, before ending their trip at The Fonda in Los Angeles. This in support of the group’s latest release Hospodi, which is  is out now via Metal Blade Records.

Hospodi, the group’s latest effort from the band’s lead singer, Bartłomiej Krysiuk, who attracted controversy after a split with Krzysztof Drabikowski, the band’s former guitarist and former principal songwriter. Drabikowski has attempted to claim ownership of the band’s title, and has planned to release a separate album under the name Batushka called, Panihida, on Sphieratz Studio.

The band’s music is famous for its use of imagery associated with Eastern European Orthodoxy, their traditions and mythology. They pay tribute to much of their culture and have used many of these aspects for their music videos.

“The whole album is a concept based on the Liturgy of Death, the prayers for the dead, and Orthodox funeral rites and dirges,” said the band regarding the album in a press release. “It’s all about a ritual that involves the dead and the mourners. We also used a lot of old folk songs and elegies from our homeland. These are sung during the wake, around the casket, in the deceased person’s home. Nowadays, only a few older people know them and still sing them accordingly in our region. We decided to cherish that tradition and I’m glad that with our album these songs and rites will survive.”

BATUSHKA ON TOUR:
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