Impureza – “La Caída De Tonatiuh” [Album Review]

If you ever thought your death metal needed more flamenco influences then Impureza’s La Caída De Tonatiuh is definitely for you. What we’ve got here is a highly entertaining 50 minutes of brutal death metal firmly planted in the roots of traditional Spanish music. It’s an eclectic, exciting and unique record.

There is plenty of flamenco influence throughout the recording’s 12 tracks, but never does it get in the way or feel at odds with the blistering pace of the extreme death metal on show – the metal is the star here, so don’t you worry. Even in “Otumba, 1520”, one of the most brutal tracks on the album, there are fleeting moments of flamenco guitar that only enhances the song. Indeed, there is certainly a unique flavour to Impureza’s sound that makes it stand above a lot of other death metal bands.

The traditional Spanish elements in the mix elevate the already impressive death metal writing that incorporates blistering guitar solos, thundering bass and tremendously powerful, scary vocals. I can listen to this kind of stuff all day. While the flamenco elements can surprisingly add to the power of the death metal here, there are a couple of tracks that only feature the traditional Spanish sounds. “El Dorado” is a fine example of such a song. The best on the record, however, has to be the title track “La Caída De Tonatiuh”, which opens with some sensational flamenco playing that builds effortlessly into a crushing instrumental death metal piece full of awesome chunky riffs and mesmerising drum work.

I love the combination of traditional Spanish music and death metal. It works surprisingly well and makes for a highly entertaining record that you have never heard the likes of before. La Caída De Tonatiuh is a wonderful, surprising record that you’ll play on repeat for quite a while to come.

La Caída De Tonatiuh Track Listing:

01. Lamentos De Un Condenado
02. Sangre Para Los Dioses
03. Otumba, 1520
04. El Dorado
05. Abre-Aguas (En la Tormenta de Tlaloc)
06. Leyenda Negra
07. Corazón Al Cielo (Homenaje A Pace De Lucía)
08. Camino Hacia Mictlán
09. El Nuevo Reino De Los Ahorcados
10. Ultimo Día Del Omeyocán
11. La Caída De Tonatiuh
12. La Llegada De Los Teules

Run Time: 50:12
Release Date: November 10, 2017

Oh man, this band’s newest album sure left a mark. Check it out here!