Hailing from Denmark, the two piece instrumental noise rock-duo Fossils is one kick-ass combo rarely seen these days. With one bass and a drum kit Fossils use their simple setup to bring forward a storm of energetic, punky and yet unpredictable rock music. Having released one full length called "Meat Rush" in 2011 and the live EP "The Veal Thing" in 2012, playing several shows in Denmark with acts such as Liturgy, ZU, Iceage and Health as well as touring the US, Germany and Iceland, the duo has stirred up a strong reputation as a powerful live band, ready to kick the audience in their head with a firm musical boot of metal and punk infused rock music. As Chris Dowden from the American band Landfill beautifully describes it after witnessing the dynamic duo live in Houston, Texas: "Fossils burned everything I know about music to ashes and pissed on the ashes. It was a great show." Now Fossils have unleashed their second full length, the short, sweet and genuinely pissed off "Flesh Hammer." And what a hammer indeed. This fiery record consists of 20 intense minutes and 10 precise, noisy and ever-entertaining no-bullshit pieces of music produced by Danish sound-enigma Q (Beta Satan, Entombed a.o.) and created by a band that has refined their trademarks: Short creative bursts of pushing yet complex rhythms combined with thunderous riffs striving to create and environment of groove and headbanging as well as unpredictability and surprise. Always interesting and always animating to bang that head, Fossils pour out their unique brand of instrumental, noisy rock'n'roll firmly rooted in punk, metal and hardcore. "Flesh Hammer" was recorded in the band's rehearsal room during five days in July under an almost unbearable hot summer. The band had decided that at all songs needed to be recorded live with no overdubs and only complete takes was acceptable. The idea was to preserve the band's live energy and to cut to the core in regard to sound and expression. No unnecessary effects, just a wall of sound consisting of bass and drums. The production should be simple but massive, like when Fossils perform live. As unique and mad as Fossils are musically, they are visually likewise in an absurd class of their own. The artwork for "Flesh Hammer" is a photograph of the band's logo and the album title laser engraved in original American Beef Jerky (a salted and dried beef meat) done by a sinister tech-wiz in an abandoned Philadelphia factory after midnight. And thereby Fossils continue their tradition for incorporating meat in either titles, visuals and artwork as done on previous releases. Tasty!
