Patriarkh - a new band to me - arrives in horse-drawn carriage onto the 2025 scene with quite an impact with "ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ" (Prophet Ilja), and a unique brand of somewhat folky and atmospheric and aggressive black metal, that has with it a distinct eastern European soviet-era malaise that is, while not to my particular taste (I'm a little soy Westener), is a really enjoyable foundation for their style of music. It's the first review of 2025, and I must say quite enjoyable at that. If you're a depressive black metal andy, get in there and start your year strong with the Polish angst of Patriarkh's latest release.