Mixing flamenco and death metal may initially sound like the type of thing you might find on the social media of a pretentious guitarist. Impureza proves that there can be more to it than just interspersing your intense riff work with some Spanish-style nylon-string acoustic guitar work. When they do it, it makes complete sense melodically. Especially on their new album ‘Alcázares’, their most ambitious work so far, and – perhaps even more importantly – the most seamless blend of their influences that the French band with Spanish blood has created so far. It’s certainly unusual stuff, but it’s also surprisingly listenable.

What really sets ‘Alcázares’ apart from the previous two Impureza albums is that the flamenco elements bleed into the death metal songs a lot more noticeably than before. The first distorted riff on the album sounds like it could have been a flamenco riff had it been played on a different instrument, and Esteban Martín inserts significant portions of passionate, flamenco-styled clean vocals into the heavier sections, which works surprisngly well. All of this contributes to a style that transcends the brutal metal with occasional folk cameos that the likes of Nile go for in favor of something truly unique.

As for the death metal on ‘Alcázares’, the brutality appears to be toned down ever so slightly in order to increase the catchiness of the riff work, which is a welcome evolution as far as I’m concerned. But guitarist Lionel Cano Muñoz and drummer Guilhem Auge can still pummel the listener with pulsating chords and whirling barrages of notes. Of note is also Florian Saillard, who has one of the cleanest, most melodic fretless bass playing styles I have ever heard in metal. These guys clearly know how to build upon each other’s strengths, and it has resulted in some spectacular musical moments.

Selecting ‘Pestilencia’ as the album’s first single was a wise choice, as it presents all of the album’s strengths in a relatively concise package. Even better is the epic closer ‘Santa Inquisición’, which moves back and forth between some of the best riffs of the album, some really cool melodies and perhaps the album’s most cathartic chorus. Other highlights include the powerful opener ‘Bajo las Tizonas de Toledo’, the highly dynamic ‘Castigos Eclesiásticos’, and the intense yet melancholic ‘El Ejército de los Fallecidos de Alarcos’. The best vocal melody might just be the pleading one in ‘La Orden del Yelmo Negro’.

Combining two seemingly contrasting styles the way Impureza does on ‘Alcázares’ could have easily been a novelty thing that loses its appeal about a minute in. Instead, however, the band has gone out of its way to compose a number of thoroughly enjoyable songs that ebb and flow perfectly within the context of the album. This is truly progressive death metal in a way I haven’t heard in a long time. The kind that doesn’t numb you with dazzling displays of technicality, despite the immense skills of the musicians involved, and instead takes you on an adventure.

Recommended tracks: ‘Santa Inquisición’, ‘Castigos Eclesiásticos’, ‘Pestilencia’