Ültra Raptör roars again.
Four years after their first album, Criss Raptör (guitar, ex-Kaotik), Phil T. Lung (vocals, ex-War Command), Dick Van Heuß (bass, Morgue, ex-Obvurt), Tony Bronco (drums, Délétère, Monarque, Csejthe) and Zoltan Saurus (guitar, Hatalom) unveil Fossilized with the help of Fighter Records.
The band kicks off strongly with Fossilized, the eponymous track that fully embraces its Heavy roots with a sustained rhythm, and doesn’t hesitate to play with harmonics and high-pitched but powerful vocals. The catchy tone of the song is perfectly exploited to allow the chorus to remain melodic, but also to allow the solo to bring a touch of chaos before moving on to Spinosaurus, which slows down slightly but remains very effective. The leads perfectly complement the solid and stirring foundation created to make us bang our heads frantically while the musicians fuel their Old School sound, which is noticeably reinforced, moving on to more airy melodies with Hard ‘N Fast, the next track. The catchy groove, supported by a rumbling bass, is easy to notice, and although the rhythm seems to slow down, it allows itself one last burst before moving on to Livin for the Riff and its frenzied charge that carries us away in turn, while the vocalist shows us the extent of his abilities. A few choruses provide moments of increased energy, but the sound calms down for a moment when Bitter Leaf kicks in, finally settling into a more mid-tempo approach that allows the hard rock influences to fully express themselves. The rhythm ignites without warning, effortlessly carrying us to the very calm finale, then X-Celerator breaks the dynamic once again and borrows from thrash its most abrasive and jerky tones, as well as its ferocious double bass drumming, which makes the choruses even more effective. We continue with Pterö-Ranger, which starts off at a fairly classic pace, delivering powerful riffs while the vocalist skillfully responds to the guitars, leaving them room for the solo. Then, with Down the Drain, the tempo picks up again and offers a dance of harmonics supported by the rhythm section. We feel guided by Phil‘s thrusts, who spares no effort to keep our attention while his bandmates struggle to rally Le Voyageur d’Oort, a short interlude of just over a minute that allows us to catch our breath. Once the melodies fade away, Face the Challenge takes over and instantly sweeps us away with its cheerful riffs, closing the album on a slightly softer note, oriented towards the heavy roots of the 80s.
If you’re not afraid of kitsch visuals, Ültra Raptör is the perfect band for you! Its unapologetic Old School sound and unique theme make Fossilized a timeless Heavy/Speed Metal album that easily sticks in your head.
75/100