Impureza | Alcázares | Season Of Mist

 

    Impureza is a Franco-Spanish metal band founded in 2004 by guitarist Lionel Cano Muñoz in Orléans, France. The band is known for its unique blend of death metal and flamenco, a style they call Hispanic Metal. Their sound merges traditional Spanish music, acoustic fretless bass, and flamenco guitar with brutal vocals and extreme metal intensity. Drawing inspiration from Iberian history, esoteric themes, and Latin culture, the band creates concept-driven music entirely in Spanish.

Over the years, Impureza gained attention through early demos, split releases, and performances with major bands like Gojira, Suffocation, and Cattle Decapitation. Their first full-length, "La Iglesia Del Odio," appeared in 2010, followed by the widely praised "La Caída De Tonatiuh" in 2017. After several lineup changes, vocalist Esteban Martín joined the band, bringing a fresh and aggressive vocal style that fit seamlessly with the band’s vision. Known for their historical and fictional storytelling rooted in Spanish conquest and resistance, Impureza has become a distinctive voice in the extreme metal world.

"Alcázares" continues Impureza's unique direction, mixing death metal with flamenco influences in a way that sounds fluid and vivid. The album runs for just under 50 minutes and contains 11 tracks. It presents a musical journey that feels cinematic and intense from the first moment, thanks to the layered approach of the band. The combination of metal and flamenco is well-thought-out and fully integrated, with the flamenco parts carrying equal weight to the heavier sections.

The vocals by Esteban Martín add a strong presence, and his delivery in Spanish gives the music an identity that goes beyond language. The phrasing fits perfectly into the rhythms and melodies, and it gives the music a natural tone that avoids sounding forced. The Spanish language suits death metal more than traditional heavy metal in this context—it blends well with the intensity and speed of the instrumentation.

After the “Verdiales” flamenco-inspired intro, strikes "Bajo Las Tizonas De Toledo," which takes the world by storm with its chorus that oddly resembles Madonna’s “Music”—not just in melody but in rhythm and spacing. The pace of the album is dynamic. Some sections are extremely fast, with brutal blast beats and shredding guitars, while others slow down into acoustic flamenco interludes or melodic choral passages. These shifts are frequent, often within the same track, and the transitions feel smooth. The rhythms are complex but not confusing, which makes the music engaging without sounding chaotic. The percussion and fretless bass work together to build a rhythmic base that feels alive. Some arrangements even include orchestral layers, provided by guest musician Louis Viallet, which add another dimension to the atmosphere.

The production by Sébastien Camhi and mastering by Jacob Hansen support the multidimensional sound. Each instrument can be heard clearly, and the mix balances the acoustic and electric parts. The flamenco guitar, handled by Lionel Cano Muñoz, is central to the album’s identity and is used throughout—not just in intros or outros. Percussion by Xavier Hamon adds traditional Spanish texture that merges well with the heavier drumming.

Visually, the album cover by Johann Bodin and Xavier Ribeiro reflects the themes of the music—historic, dramatic, and mystical. The art shows a ruined courtyard and ghostly knights rising from the grave, fitting well with the lyrical focus on conquest, resistance, and memory.

"Alcázares" is an immersive listen. It doesn’t follow a single formula and keeps changing shape, switching from aggression to grace without losing focus. The album is deeply rooted in Spanish history and sound, but it speaks fluently in the language of extreme metal. For fans of Nile, Hate Eternal, Behemoth, or Fleshgod Apocalypse, "Alcázares" is essential listening. After Brujeria I enjoyed a Hispanic album so much.

Score: 8.5