High Speed Black
If you are old, like me, the name Unpure may sound familiar. They started in the mid 90’s and and did not turn many heads. They were signed to a then very underground Napalm Records, then after 2 albums, moved on to Drakkar Productions for one album, then their 4th album on Agonia Records in 2004. Then nothing… until 2023. That’s a 19 year hiatus. Sure, they may have played some random festivals, but there were no releases, and no news about them that I ever heard. Can you blame me for totally forgetting about Unpure?
A Brief History of Stuff
Unpure’s blend of black, thrash, and speed metal makes them interesting for the era. The early stuff summons first wave of black metal, and even the vocals feel like Venom‘s Cronos at times. The riffs are furious, but the sound production is leaves a lot to be desired. The drum sound is probably my least favorite aspect of their early work. Tinny sounding cymbals that are very distracting. Reminds me of early drum programing. The band always had a good amount of energy, but it felt like sometimes a totally different band from song to song.
Enter Prophecies Ablaze
So after an absence of nearly 20 years, what has changed? A lot has changed, and for the better. The production is smooth, and clear, and the drums sound great. I love that the bass drums actually have some bass depth to them, and don’t have that typewriter sound (yeah, I told you I’m old). There’s a lot of speedy, thrashy downpicked riffs, as well as some tremolo speed picking riffs. The vocals are consistent, throaty black metal. Gone are the Venom-esque vocals, but that’s fine. The riffs are mostly memorable, but can be a bit of a blur, as most of this album follows a fast tempo.
Conclusion
After listening to their discography, Unpure seemed to find the right balance. Great production, musicianship, and songs. Their art is still questionable with Prophecies Ablaze. What the hell is it? Like some blurry demons sword fighting? While I enjoy this album, I am not sure if will have the staying power. I may go back to listen to it more, but I may just think of it as an album I wrote about. If black/thrash is your thing, this may be right up your alley. I kinda prefer the simpler stuff in that style like newer Darkthrone. I am happy Unpure have made a comeback, and it’s possible this album will grow on me overtime, if I give it the chance. I’m giving it 3/5 stars
| Band: Unpure (SWE) |
| Album: Prophecies Ablaze |
| Worldwide Release Date: March 31, 2023 |
| Record Labels: Invictus Productions / The Ajna Offensive |
| Favorite Track: 05. Beyond The Nightmares |
Shameless Plug
If you enjoyed this review, also check out my review of Spirit Possessed upcoming album, as well as Jeff’s Ice Age review. If you are into live band photography, check out my website with tons of photos from metal shows in San Diego as well as Hell’s Heroes festival in Houston. HeavyMetalPhoto.com
