Few bands can create a true cultural fusion without compromising their authenticity.
But French–Spanish act Impureza has been proving for twenty years that the brutality of death metal and the passion of flamenco not only coexist — they forge an entirely new dimension within the metal scene.
Their new album, Alcázares, is the band’s most mature and dramatic work to date — a time-traveling journey through the darkest yet most glorious eras of Spanish history.
In the in-depth interview below, you’ll discover the very heart and soul of the band: from their flamenco roots and early underground years to the present day — a time when the world may finally be ready to embrace this truly unique sonic universe.
Impureza is rising higher and higher – deservedly so –, merging brutal death metal with graceful flamenco folk music. Although that combination is already very appealing, you could take it to a masterful level. I bow to you! Please introduce yourselves and drive our readers crazy in a few sentences!
Thank you for these powerful words; they go straight to our hearts!
We are Impureza, a Franco-Spanish band born from the desire to merge the violence of death metal with the nobility and passion of traditional flamenco.
Since our beginnings, we have drawn on our Hispanic roots and the music of the peoples who have shaped our history to create our universe and develop our songs.
Our music is a bit like a journey through time, a testimony and a tribute to Iberian culture at its most intense and dramatic. Prepare to dive into Alcázares, the album of our most complete adventure!
How did the idea of merging these two genres come to your mind? Did you first encounter flamenco or death metal? Which one did you start playing first?
It seemed obvious to me that a bridge had to exist between these two worlds because metal and flamenco both carry deep emotion.
Flamenco is in my blood; it’s a family tradition.
Every day at home, we were surrounded by this Spanish culture, where guitars, palm trees, and emotionally charged voices accompanied our daily lives.
I first learned flamenco guitar, then metal guitar (because, admittedly, when I was younger, I found it more exciting, more rebellious, more powerful) before much later searching for a way to unite the two.
But I sensed in each of their identities the same rage, the same desire to convey emotions, and I was certain that with the right recipe, I could merge the two genres and create the musical concept I had in mind.
Having formed in 2004, Impureza has reached its 20th anniversary. Your first appearances were on split albums – in fact, you have two such releases. How did those collaborations in 2006 and 2007 work out for you? What was the band’s mindset like in the early days, and how does it differ from your present approach?
Yes, 20 years already… And yet, the flame is still alive.
In the beginning, Impureza’s mindset was very instinctive: we wanted to break the mold, create something that didn’t yet exist, two musical genres that didn’t mix.
The 2006 and 2007 splits were an opportunity to share our vision with a wider audience (the bands were from Italy, Poland, Germany, and Sweden).
This allowed us to make a name for ourselves in the underground scene thanks to the Nihilistic Holocaust label, which had released at least 3,000 copies at the time!
We had no career plan, just a creative rage, a vital need to express our musical identity, even with limited resources. Today, after many concerts, albums, and years of work, our approach is more mature and structured, but the spirit remains the same: artistic rigor, sincerity, and the desire to push this fusion further.
We have a better grasp of our musical language, we refine every detail, and we surround ourselves with people who understand our approach.
But the fire has never stopped burning.
Were you already living in France at that time? I suppose the Spaniards must be proud of you, because of your artistic achievements. Do you often get invited back home?
Yes, I was already living in France at that time.
I was born in France, but into a family deeply rooted in Spanish culture, with very present roots.
This dual identity has always informed my way of seeing music: one foot in the flamenco tradition, the other in the French and international metal scene.
Regarding Spain, it’s always a tremendous honor to see our music recognized there with respect and curiosity.
Even though the project was born in France, Impureza’s heart beats to the rhythm of Spain. The Spanish feel that this isn’t an artifice or cultural reclamation; it’s a sincere approach, a tribute to our origins, our history, our struggles, our legends.
We haven’t had the chance to perform in Spain yet.
Probably due to an incomplete address book. But we’re hoping to play there soon, ‘Alcázares’ seems to have made a lot of noise there!
Nowadays, we can hear a lot of unique musical fusions. In your opinion, how strange would Impureza have sounded back in the 1990s? Is it a good thing that a more diverse metal scene has emerged since then over all the years?
Absolutely. In the 1990s, Impureza would undoubtedly have been perceived as a musical UFO, perhaps even a provocation. At the time, genres were often more compartmentalized, and the highly codified death metal scene left little room for blends as daring as flamenco. We probably would have been seen as too folkloric for metal, and too extreme for fans of traditional music.
But it’s precisely this discrepancy that attracted us. We weren’t trying to please a particular scene, but to create our own.
Today, we feel that mentalities have evolved: listeners are more curious, musical boundaries are fading, and the metal scene has been enriched by numerous cultural influences, which is an excellent thing. What we did in the shadows at the beginning is now understood, accepted, even sought after.
Metal is becoming a true platform for expression, giving rise to unique, sincere, and powerful
projects. Impureza is fully part of this dynamic, claiming a strong culture while expressing it with the codes of extreme metal.
Maybe I’m a bit ignorant, but I can’t recall the names of any other bands playing flamenco death metal. I suppose you could name a few! Can you help me out? Are there any artists you would recommend us to check out?
In reality, the fusion of flamenco and death metal remains extremely rare. This is what makes our project so unique.
There are a few bands that have explored certain flamenco elements in extreme metal, but without pushing the concept as far as we did, creating this music and the universe around it.
I can only recommend checking out Flametal, the band of my sadly deceased friend, Ben Woods, an American guitarist passionate about Spanish culture and an excellent flamenco musician. His band fused flamenco and heavy metal.
I could also mention Rodrigo y Gabriela, who aren’t metal musicians, but they are two incredibly technical Mexican acoustic guitarists influenced by the rage of metal and the passion of flamenco.
And to go further in the discovery (for those who do not yet know), listen to Paco de Lucía or Vicente Amigo on the pure flamenco side, they are our mentors, and they will make you understand where the soul of Impureza comes from.
Your second album was released in 2017 by the prestigious Season of Mist label. I assume this fulfilled completely your ambitions. Quite a bit of time has passed since then – how would you describe your collaboration with them so far? What are you most grateful to them for?
Releasing ‘La Caída de Tonatiuh’ in 2017 on Season of Mist was a decisive step in Impureza’s history. This label has an international reputation, a strong artistic direction, and a genuine respect for atypical bands. For us, it was a recognition of years of work behind the scenes, and an opportunity to bring our fusion to a much wider audience.
Our collaboration with them was based on mutual respect. Season of Mist gave us our artistic
freedom while supporting us in the production, promotion, and distribution of the album worldwide.
It’s a privilege to be able to evolve in such a professional environment, without ever having to deny our identity.
What we are most grateful for is their trust. They believed in us, in our unconventional musical proposal, without trying to mold or dilute it. Thanks to them, La Caída de Tonatiuh found a real resonance, and this paved the way for what we are today. This support, at a time when few dared to bet on such a merger, marked a turning point in our career.
Now we have arrived at your latest, third album, which is just about to be released! It feels like this release contains even more flamenco this time, and the overall impression is even wilder. How do you see it? What would you say about the new album? Why should death metal fans make sure to get it?
‘Alcázares’ is undoubtedly Impureza’s most accomplished and audacious album to date.
It’s the album closest to us because its theme is that of old Spain, and it transports us directly to our own history.
For death metal fans, Alcázares is a slap in the face on several levels.
The production is organic and powerful, the rhythmic complexity has been pushed to the limit, whether in the drums or the Latin percussion, but above all, it’s the identity of this album that will captivate the listener.
It’s an album that dares, that tells a story, that will take you on a journey to a bygone era where myths and legends were born, and where religion reigned supreme and dictated political and societal decisions.
It contains all the brutality that fans of the genre expect, but with a rare dramatic and cultural
breath, a living and vibrant soul. It’s death metal with a burning heart, a song of ruin and honor inherited from centuries past.
Alcázares isn’t just an album. It’s an experience.
The cover art is also very fitting and distinctly Spanish in style. What should we know about it?
The cover of Alcázares is a gateway to our world in itself.
It’s a visual homage to Hispanic heritage, in all its grandeur, tragedy, and sacredness.
Nothing is left to chance. The goal was to create a visual echo of the music, something noble,
mysterious, almost mystical.
At a glance, you understand that this is not a simple death metal album.
It exudes a sense of fulfillment, but at the same time, you sense that something is about to happen, like an evil awakening.
For the more observant among you, this artwork pays deliberate homage to an iconic cover of a legendary band…
There’s been quite a lot of time between each album release. Not that it’s a problem – except that fans are kept waiting! 🙂 What does it take for a new work to be considered complete? How do the years go by, while an Impureza album comes together?
It’s true, our releases take as long as they need, because for us, quality always takes precedence over speed. An Impureza album is never complete until every note, every nuance, every emotion is in its right place.
We take the time to refine the compositions so that they best serve the purpose. The record must be a coherent whole, telling a story, transporting the listener on an intense and sincere journey.
An album, once etched in its grooves, becomes eternal.
Between albums, years often pass, filled with writing, rehearsals, but also personal life and the constant search for new inspiration.
We also give the previous album time to live, to find its audience, to be steeped in the band’s history.
In short, at Impureza, we prefer to take the time to do things well rather than rush, because each album is an important chapter in our history, a commitment to our roots and our fans. And when the time comes, we’re sure it’ll be worth the wait. Well, we hope so, haha!
Going back to the flamenco parts – could you please list some of the famous pieces you’ve incorporated into your heavy mix? Moreover, I’d like to know, how do you decide which flamenco elements fit where?
Of course! In our approach, we like to draw from the classic flamenco repertoire while
reinterpreting it with our metal energy.
But we can also find rhythms from bulería, sevillanas, and rumba, for example.
As for the place of flamenco in our compositions, it’s always a question of balance and dialogue.
Often, the flamenco parts serve to create contrasts, breathing spaces, or to accentuate a particular atmosphere in the piece.
This is what makes up the soul of Impureza: a living balance between two powerful musical styles.
In my opinion, Alcázares deserves to be at least the best death metal album of July – and should rank high on end-of-the-year lists as well. How much do you believe in that kind of recognition? What are your feelings about it?
Thank you for these words; they mean a lot to us.
We see this type of recognition as a wonderful reward, especially after so many years of work,
passion, and dedication. If Alcázares finds its place in the year-end charts or is hailed as one of the best albums of July, it’s of course a source of great pride, not to stroke our egos, but because it means that our message, our identity, and our music truly resonate with listeners.
We believe that works made with the heart always find their place.
So if Alcázares makes a lasting impression this year, it will be above all thanks to the loyalty and open-mindedness of enthusiasts like you.
Based on the comments under your videos, it seems that you have quite a lot of South American fans. What do you think the reason behind this phenomenon can be?
It’s true, and it’s something that means a lot to us.
We have a very active and welcoming community in Latin America.
We believe this is due to several reasons. First, Hispanic culture is deeply rooted there, and our music, although extreme, speaks that cultural language. Flamenco, Spanish history, references to Iberian traditions… all of this resonates particularly well there, as there is a very strong historical, emotional, and identity connection.
Secondly, the Latin American audience is known for its intensity and passion, and is often very receptive to sincere, committed, and unusual projects. Our brutal fusion, rich in emotion, roots, and spirituality, naturally resonates with them.
Furthermore, we mustn’t forget that the South American metal scene is one of the most vibrant in the world, with a loyal audience deeply connected to the music. You feel that they don’t consume a band like a product, but rather live every note. And that’s exactly the energy we put into Impureza.
It’s a very strong bond between us.
What are the lyrics mostly about? What kind of changes could you name in this respect compared to your earlier records?
Impureza’s lyrics have always been at the heart of our project.
They recount history, myths and legends, wars, and conquests, drawing on the depths of Hispanic
culture, particularly Arab-Andalusian and South American!
On ‘La Caída de Tonatiuh’, for example, we explored the Spanish conquest of the Americas, with a
critical and dramatic perspective, but also a spiritual one, evoking Aztec deities and beliefs.
A universe and a culture that fascinate us!
With ‘Alcázares’ we have evolved towards a more internal dimension.
It’s an album that delves into the memory of our people, with its power struggles and the fall of
empires, but also religion, culture, and the soul of the ruins of the past.
Ultimately, it’s perhaps a rather poetic album, where history becomes a symbol of our own human
condition. There’s a real effort put into the language, between the rhythm of the words and the
theme of this album.
Compared to our previous albums, we can say that Alcázares’ lyrics are more mature, more
structured, more meaningful, while maintaining the same intensity.
Being with a major label probably brings you many opportunities to perform live – yet it seems that you play fewer shows compared to other bands of a similar caliber. Is there a reason for this?
That’s a perfectly valid observation, and it hits a nerve.
Being on Season of Mist, a well-known label, does indeed open doors for us in terms of visibility, distribution, and credibility. But contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t automatically guarantee a sustained tour or a high number of shows. Much still depends on the local scene, promoters, logistical resources… and, above all, our contacts.
With the tremendous reception ‘Alcázares’ has received, we’re more eager than ever to promote this album on stages all over the world!
Our concert schedule may be different from other bands on Season of Mist, but our will to continue and our passion for our project have never waned!
How many live shows can we expect from you this year? What can fans expect from your performance at Mennecy Metal Fest?
Currently, we have a concert announced at the Mennecy Metal Fest and another concert at the end of the year that has yet to be announced.
Fans can look forward to a special show with flamenco dancer Cécilia Cappozzo, who has honored us by performing that evening.
We won’t be offering a metal concert or a flamenco concert, but rather a Hispanic metal show with an Andalusian touch for an intense show and a strong cultural initiation!
Is a longer European tour a possibility? How many shows would be ideal to support the new album?
Absolutely, a longer European tour is not only possible, but definitely desired.
With the release of Alcázares, we want to take this new album beyond our borders, wherever our ‘flamenco metal’ fusion can resonate strongly, whether in Spain, Germany, Eastern Europe, or even Latin America in the long run.
We are currently open to proposals from organizers, associations, tour managers, and festivals, because Alcázares deserves to be promoted wherever it can resonate most.
What’s life like for someone who’s a Spaniard to the core in France? 🙂 How do you usually spend your days?
Relaxation and guitar.
Is that what you wanted to read? Well, it’s done, haha!
What can we expect in the future? What might be the next step? Will there be another long interval until the release of the next album?
I believe Impureza’s future promises to be intense and inspired.
Even though Alcázares has only just been released, we see this album not as the end of a cycle, but as the starting point for a new dynamic.
Indeed, we are completing our trilogy, which began 15 years ago with ‘La Iglesia del Odio,’ which dealt with the Inquisition, the conquest with ‘La Caida de Tonatiuh,’ and the Reconquest with ‘Alcázares.’
We will be starting with fresh ideas, and we are galvanized by the amount of wonderful feedback we have received for ‘Alcázares.’
This release has given us so much energy!
In short, we have turned a page, but the book is far from over.
As long as passion flows through our veins, Impureza’s music will continue to make its voice heard.
Thank you so much for answering my questions – it truly means a lot. I wish for all your dreams to come true and that you always find the best path forward!
A huge thank you to you for these insightful and insightful questions.
It’s a true pleasure to be able to share our passion and our story with such sincere listeners. We sincerely hope that Impureza’s music continues to move you.
¡Hasta siempre, y que la música nos guíe!
🔗 Follow Impureza:
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