Unpure are (Encyclopedia Metallum says they're still active) an early(ish) group from Sweden whose earlier efforts have been largely overlooked, no doubt due to their relatively late arrival on the scene. (The fact that the most enduringly influential second-wave black metal bands all "officially" debuted by 1994 at the very latest cannot be denied, regardless of how good those that followed may have been). They released a trio of demos during 1993 and 1994 before finally signing with the now-famed Austrian label Napalm for a pair of full-lengths in 1995 (Unpure) and 1996 (Coldland), consisting solely of core duo Kolgrim (bass, vocals) and Hräsvelg (guitars, drums, vocals) for all of the previous save the first demo and second LP. In 2001, likely coinciding with the revival of interest in Swedish black metal thanks to new groups like Watain and Funeral Mist, the band released an album - Trinity in Black - through the then-cult French Drakkar label famous for its insanely limited Black Legions material. A final full-length followed in 2004 via the Polish Agonia label, World Collapse, after which, as far as I can tell, the band fell off the face of the planet.
This piece, from the ever-reliable Tales of the Macabre # 1 from Germany, 1993, is almost more of a write-up interspersed with a brief interview with Kolgrim, but I've transcribed it despite the brevity of the interview proper for both posterity and because I think Unpure's early releases have never gotten the accolades they deserve.
Kolgrim - Tales of the Macabre # 1 - 1993
The record is great.
Unpure - Unpure - 1995
Ultra-primitive, almost pre-Norwegian second wave in its sensibilities, Unpure alternates between blasting, interweaving streams of sinister tremolo melody and trudging, morphing, ever-evolving power-chord dirges with subtle, sparing use of harmonic accents to particular effect. It brings to my mind Samael's debut with respect to the latter, the speed/death/black metal of groups like countrymen Merciless or Rotting Christ for the former.
More to come here...
Æon
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