This a freshly new discovery personally, but damn, I’m in awe.
From Orléans, Centre-Val de Loire in France, Impureza (Spanish for “Impurity”) consists of vocalist Esteban Martin, guitarist Lionel Cano Muñoz, fretless bassist Florian Saillard, and drummer Guilhem Auge. While the group hinted at their unique fusion of flamenco and classical music with death metal during their early years (most notably “Las Iglesias Del Odio,” “El Gitano Maldito,” and “La Checa Del Pervrso”), the four-piece truly became folk metal masters on the full-length La Caída de Tonatiuh.
After years of writing, the French-Hispanic musicians will be unveiling their follow-up – Alcázares – next month via Season of Mist. The 11-track Reconquista-concept album will include additional percussion once again provided by Xavier Hamon and orchestrations by Louis Viallet (Epine), as well as mastering by Jacob Hansen (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Katatoia, Aborted).
So far, we’ve been teased with two tracks off Alcázares. Setting the scene of plague-era Iberia, “Pestilencia” showcases Esteban’s Spanish growls and clean voice, like Gojira meets Demonic Resurrection. The track is beautiful, extreme, and emotionally distraught, with a stunning video by Cana Prod – Michel Canavaggia (Your Shapeless Beauty).
As vicious as Nile or Behemoth, yet triumphant as Opeth, “La Orden del Yelmo Negro” is an absolute war song. Classical strings blare over chants and sour growls of lethal warrior monks and The Order of the Black Helm.
If you’re a fan of extreme metal with weird twists, please give this a listen as soon as possible. It also looks like there’s physical copies available, so you can order a CD or clear vinyl with purple splatter or an orange-black color.
Update: Impureza just dropped a video for dual-single “Verdiales” and “Bajo las Tizonas de Toledo”