Metalcatto
Fun isn’t usually my thing. In fact, this review is only happening because Metalkitten (my three-year-old) saw dinosaurs and lasers in Ültra Raptör‘s promo and said, “that one has dinos in, so it’s cool.” With such crushing logic used against me, I had no option but to comply and give this Speed/Heavy Metal ride a chance to prove that it could be more than silly entertainment for the late afternoon. You see? I might be old now, but I still listen to the youth here and there.
Fossilized delivers exactly what it promises: exciting, fast, and uplifting Heavy Metal that brings you back to the times of DIO and true Speed Metal. Retro-Metal isn’t usually my thing, but it’d be a lie to say that all this gimmicky dinosaur and space stuff didn’t get a smile or two out of me. Besides, it does what every decent album should do—riff endlessly. The riffs are potent and infectious, so if there’s anything left in you of a traditional Metal fan, this is a good way to reconnect to your past—or your parents’ past, if you’re one of our younger readers. (Of course, we think about you kids! Sometimes, you even give us hope and dank memes.)
Yes, there are moments that made me wonder if this is what Heavisaurus would sound like if it decided to make a spin-off band for older audiences. However, don’t let the silliness deceive you, because the guitar solos are sharp, the drums pack a punch, and the vocals deliver exactly what you’d expect from the style. So, if it weren’t for the geeky themes, you could easily think this is a serious retro-effort that would get praised endlessly by more nostalgic outlets. Still, as you know, I don’t usually wallow too much in the mud of ancient times, so I do have some comments.
Ültra Raptör is campy and borderline corny at times, which works fine for this occasion, but if you’re the kind of Metalhead who just stares blankly at the band during a gig, then this isn’t for you. You’ll also probably need to really like Blaze Bayley to enjoy the vocal style. Personally, I’m fine with that, but if you prefer your vocalist to just scream into the mic, then maybe not. My real issue, though, is that you’re listening to something you should already be familiar with—unless you somehow skipped the first 30 years of Metal history, which honestly wouldn’t surprise me. That’s why we’re here, after all—to educate you!
Anyway, Ültra Raptör is a blast, and if you want Metal that makes you feel like living instead of jumping off a bridge, Fossilized has the kind of energy that rages on and keeps you away from your most self-destructive impulses. Also, I’m sure Elyna will be surprised that I reviewed something like this and didn’t hate it. Proof that even an old cat can have a soft spot. (But please, don’t poke a cat in the belly unless you want to lose your eyes.) Cheers!
Label: Fighter Records
Release date: 7 October, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/UltraRaptor
Country: Canada
Score: 3.5/5.0
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