Track By Tracks: IMPUREZA - Alcázares (2025)

The concept of the album «Alcázares» is the Spanish Reconquista.

A period in the history of medieval Spain spanning from 722 to 1492.

The Reconquista is the name given to the era of conflict between the Christian kingdoms of northern Spain and the Muslim territories of Al-Andalus, culminating in their complete disappearance from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492. The album is essentially based on this theme, while maintaining an external perspective on history, with a more fantastical and esoteric approach, drawing on the myths and legends specific to this period of Spanish history.

TRACK BY TRACK

1. Verdiales (instrumental):

This song was the first one we worked on with Louis Viallet for the orchestrations. When listening to his work, and especially the result with the flamenco guitar, we immediately understood the perspectives that such a partnership would bring to Alcázares!

It was obvious that he had to accompany us throughout this intense musical fresco dedicated to Spain. It is an almost cinematic work, where the orchestrations enhance the power of metal and the soul of flamenco.

2. Bajo las Tizonas de Toledo:

This song recounts the exploits of the legendary Reconquista hero El Cid Campeador, "Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar". He carries his sword "La Tizona", which, according to legend, granted him supernatural powers. This track was the first to be fully composed, but it also served as a reference to validate the mix by Sébastien Camhi. He worked hard because there were more than 100 tracks to mix, and it is the longest song on the album. We did around 10 mixes of this title before being satisfied. And believe me… this time, the blades were not only aimed at Toledo.

3. Covadonga:

This song tells the story of the Battle of Covadonga, whose Asturian victory is said to have triggered the Spanish Reconquista. It recounts the legend of Covadonga, where arrows fired by the Muslims turned back on them, and where rocks from the mountain supposedly broke away and buried them. This is certainly the oldest song on the album because it was composed at the time of writing our previous album, La Caída de Tonatiuh, around 2014/2015. It was even supposed to appear on that album, but we finally put it aside because it was already long enough. Some will say that the drum intro is a nod to Painkiller by Judas Priest.

4. Pestilencia:

This song tells the story of the Spanish plague that struck the country during the medieval period. People of that century believed the plague was divine punishment, God's retribution for their sins that had provoked his wrath. On this track, Xavier Hamon composed and recorded the Latin percussion with a Guitar Pro score as the only guide because the composition and the sound research on the flamenco intro took more time than expected, and if we had not proceeded this way, we would have been late on the planned schedule. Incredible what he managed to do with a MIDI track… At the end of the Pestilencia video, you finally discover the face of the Peddler who brings the plague to all the musicians. But know that he is present throughout the whole video… hidden in the shadows.

5. Reconquistar Al-Ándalus:

This song tells the story of the faithful of Christ who, through the faith that animates them, acquired such great strength that they managed to reconquer the throne of Al-Andalus by bloodshed! The surrender of Sultan Boabdil (nicknamed El Moro "The Moor" by the Spanish), emir of Granada and the last Muslim stronghold of the Iberian Peninsula.

This song should have ended almost 1 minute earlier, but our bassist, Florian Saillar,d wanted to bring a more solemn and orchestral touch to the end of the track (almost Dimmu Borgir style…). We finally let this epic rise settle, and the track now ends with a much more grandiose finale than we had initially imagined.

6. Murallas (instrumental):

This interlude is a tribute to the great names of flamenco that we admire with a rather raw guitar take, palma,s and a cajón. Simple, immersive but timeless.

7. La Orden del Yelmo Negro:

This song tells of the power of the Order of the Temple and its brotherhood of light, whose faithful are driven by an insatiable quest for the Christian faith. They embody the defenders of liberty and are certain that this boundless passion brings them redemption from their sins. They are the protectors of the Holy Land, and out of honor and loyalty to the Order of the Black Helm, they swear allegiance to the cross until death!

The drums of this song were composed the evening before recording the album takes at Studio Artmusic. Guilhem Auge wrote his parts late into the night in his bed and performed everything live the next day in a few takes, and in 1 hour it was done… Esteban Martin speaks in Latin at the beginning of the song; he quotes the Templar motto “Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam”.

8. Castigos Eclesiásticos:

This song tells of the existence of a tribunal of the Holy Inquisition whose purpose is to purify the infidels. The devil has filled their veins because they have kissed the horns of the beast. Their bodies have been lost in the abyss, and their souls have been delivered to the Antichrist; they have lost their faith and must face the judgment of the great tribunal to atone for their terrible and diabolical betrayal.

We make you a promise: no rattlesnake was harmed during the recording of this song. The long clean vocal part that appears twice, including the one that closes the song, was also performed by our singer Esteban Marti,n but this time he used the Andalusian accent to give a more rooted identity to this song.

9. El Ejército de los Fallecidos de Alarcos:

This song tells a story of black magic where the protagonists are supernatural creatures, an army unleashed from hell to quench their thirst for revenge. It recounts the story of the fallen at Alarcos, a bloody battle where the Christian armies of northern Iberia suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a victorious Muslim army, despite being much smaller in number.

This song is the one that gave the most trouble to our singer. Indeed, until the very last minute in the studio, the lyrics were rewritten, restructured so that everything would be coherent and that the necessary breath for the long phrases of each part would be sufficient! On the contrary, the guitar, bass, and drum parts were composed faster than in all the other songs.

10. Ruina del Alcázar (instrumental):

Tribute ! Louis Viallet composed a real movie soundtrack with orchestrations worthy of the great Eric Serra (Le Grand Bleu, Léon, Subway, Nikita).

11. Santa Inquisición:

This song recounts the tortures inflicted by Tomás de Torquemada on those who rejected the cross. This diabolical inquisitor tortured heretics with impunity, and his name has become synonymous with horror, cruelty, and religious fanaticism. He was the voice of the Inquisition during this era, sowing fear and terror. Torquemada was the executioner of the Holy Inquisition, operating under the protection of the Church.

The beginning of this very angry track is a nod to a band we love very much, Krisiun! To add a more Christ-like side to this song, Esteban doubled his death vocals this time with black metal vocals to bring this feeling of darkness that the track needed.

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