Popioły is one-man black metal project founded in 2011 by Sagittarius. This man from Kielce (Poland) is responsible for all guitars, bass, vocals and lyrics on his debut album, Purposeless Through Meaning. Album has been released in 2020, and re-released a year ago via Old Temple. It consists of nine multidimensional compositions that are of significant difference in a length. It starts with the opening track “The Spark” and ends with an outstanding “Outro”.

Tracklist for Purposeless Through Meaning:

1. The Spark
2. W chmurach jowisza
3. Eskalacja przemocy
4. Torn from Void
5. Dietla
6. Wdowi grosz
7. Tam gdzie noc
8. Illusion
9. Outro

As you may have just noticed most songs are in his native language (with exception of “Torn from Void” and “illusion”), but what you probably don’t know is that the lyrical themes are about Nihilism, drugs, apathy, darkness and other depressive and dark themes dealing with a man’s psyche & exposing a fragile human ego.

Stylistically it’s old-school atmospheric black metal with a modern take. Purposeless Through Meaning takes listener to journey that has no destination and where nihilism and pointlessness is meaning in itself. All nine compositions (ncl. “Outro”) are perfectly balancing between the anxious & gloomy atmosphere, and a modern-day take on the instruments, where the production is powerful and engaging, with all instruments (and vocals) on the recording have a powerful sound to them.

Thus, all tracks are full of hypnotizing riffs, a great amount of tremolo picking, low, grim & screaming black metal vocals, powerful dynamics, very stable and good bass lines, blast beats, and numerous tempo changes. Melodic parts/interludes are added into a lot of the guitar riffing, which makes it very listenable even for those who’re not (atmospheric) black metal fans. My favourite tracks include; the aforementioned “Torn from Void” and “Illusion” (both in English), but also to the same extent strong song named “Tam gdzie noc” (Where the night is) and an “Outro”.

After several years after recording, I’m glad to see Popioły’ music being re-released on CD. Purposeless Through Meaning is one of the most engaging and enjoyable modern-day black metal albums of this decade. If you’re a fan of this musical genre, and probably you worship the likes of Mgła, Cień, Burzum, Craft or Human Serpent, then you should, without any doubt, check out this re-issue from Sagittarius and his Popioły project.

Alternatively go to https://oldtemple.bandcamp.com/album/popio-y-purposeless-through-meaning and learn more about this particular re-issue from Old Temple.