Metalcatto
It’s hard to keep a gimmick going for long, but if there’s one band that’s taken it to the next level, it’s Impureza. The French-Spanish band sings in Spanish about the fall of the Aztec Empire on La Caída de Tonatiuh (this has to be the musical equivalent of an Asian fusion restaurant). This time, though, it’s leaning even harder into its flamenco roots, and with Alcázares, the project seems determined to win over those who found Tonatiuh a bit too weird. But hey, this is Death Metal—how strange can it really get?
Impureza is obsessed with Spanish Folk music, which always makes its work stand out. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the influence lands, because the band blends flamenco and Death Metal so seamlessly that it ends up feeling like Nile or Fleshgod Apocalypse filtered through the Iberian Peninsula. So if you’ve ever wanted a more technical Death Metal soundtrack to your reading of La Reconquista history, this is it. It genuinely loves its source material to such an extent that I wonder how non-Spanish speakers can fully appreciate it.
What I like most about Alcázares is that, despite all its historical references and conceptual layers, it doesn’t sacrifice technicality. The music is difficult to play, the ideas are fresh, and there’s barely a whiff of recycling. In fact, listening to Impureza can be disorienting simply because there aren’t many obvious reference points. But I’m happy to report the band still writes actual songs. It could’ve just thrown riff after riff and called it a day (looking at you, Nile), but instead, there’s structure and intention. That said, I do wrestle with the idea of this kind of globalized Metal (relax! I didn’t say globalist, you fascist!) and it’s not about cultural appropriation.
I’ve always struggled to figure out what keeps me on the fence with Impureza. On paper, it does everything I should love, but somehow I get lost in the whirlwind of riffs. I’m convinced these guys will blow up soon—and the problem isn’t them, it’s me! Maybe I just need more melody? Jeez, I don’t know! Or maybe I’d just like the vocal enunciation to be a bit clearer—I have a hard time catching the lyrics, and I’m C2 in Spanish, gente!
All that said, Alcázares is a fascinating album that manages to be original without dragging you through 10-minute stretches of postmodern, deconstructed sludge. Basically, you don’t have to be a a snob to fully appreciate how fresh this sounds. In the end, I can’t tell you what Impureza sounds like without just saying: it’s its own thing. Comparisons fall short. And as I’ve said before—even if I hated the album, that’s still the highest compliment I could give.
Label: Season of Mist
Release date: 11 July, 2025
Website: https://impureza.bandcamp.com/album/alc-zares
Country: France/Spain
Score: 3.7/5.0 chorizos!
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