New Model Army
Impurity

THE REVIEW

Until a few months ago, I only knew the debut album titled "Vengeance" by this group. Sinister and pulsating bass arpeggios, energetic drums, and a punk-like singing style. Dark enough to be remembered as kids from the gloomy years of the English new wave. A sort of post-punk Clash, a "militant" group, inspired by an anti-imperialist socialism with a Christian imprint. Less fortunate and, allow me, a bit less talented than the band led by Strummer.

Not whiners in fishnet stockings or new Depeche Mode wannabes. Sincere and professional guys, indeed!

Probably, in the span of four years, New Model Army changed style and direction to eventually offer us this "Impurity". Year of grace 1990. 
Some solutions actually seem distant from what was proposed at the time of the debut. The atmosphere in "Impurity" is nevertheless melancholic. It is the pop, hard rock, and funky notes that mark the sound of this English band at the beginning of the last decade of the twentieth century. Even the acoustic parts play a significant role.

"Impurity", despite the news provided so far, does not disappoint and lends itself to being evaluated as one of the last breaths exhaled from that unforgettable musical season. In a few years, in fact, crossover and grunge will erase any remnants of New Wave (which today, fortunately or unfortunately, has come back strongly in vogue although revised and corrected).
Pulsating compositions, lively, yet shrouded in fogs full of melancholy.
The opening track is entrusted to "Get Me Out". A pretty good hard rock, certainly more intelligent than the prevailing one at the time. 
It transitions to the milder, but no less beautiful, "Space" and proceeds, with some negligible drops, through tracks like "Innocence", "Marakesh", and "Lust For Power".

An alternation of anger and delicacy. 
Anger and delicacy, upon reflection, are the key words to understand the album reviewed. 
An excellent and appreciable "rock" artifact. Because, time and time again, when faced with these works (not innovative but certainly honest), that magical little word made up of four letters is the most suitable.