The instrumental symbol of heavy metal for many is the guitar: flying V, Les Paul…it’s the epitome of cool for us ‘bangers. There is, however, a growing number quietly acknowledging its driving factor as a pulsating rhythm section. To reinforce this view, the bass and drum duo is becoming an attractive proposition and, following hot on the heels of last year’s grunge-sludge sexiness from Akris, Danish duo Fossils attempt to advance the cause in a more brutal fashion on their second album Flesh Hammer (Indisciplinarian Records).
You’d expect a gore-fest given the titles on offer. The likes of ‘Spamtastic’ and ‘Pelvis Crust’ can lead to a comic conclusion and this is enhanced when the over egged levity of the promo shots is encountered. It soon becomes apparent that the only carve up is from that shuddering bass, often with melodic progressions, and pounding battery of the kit, flicking between blastbeats and driving metal with ease. The initial strains are promising: the bass of Simon Tornby appearing to take centre stage and provide a sound akin to a mimicked vocal, with its curious and inventive patterns tripping over some hostile yet tuneful riffs. The background and overall structure is savage enough to promote a death classification but the occasional strangled blues melodies and quasi-Jazz inflections show a progressive tendency. All tracks are brief which, given the style of music and the lack of voice, is something of a mercy: the crashing novelty subsiding as the tracks tend to slam into each other, becoming indistinct with a lack of variation from the pattern, with the welcome exception of the acoustic intro to the penultimate ‘Flesh Pillar’.
The power and ferocity coursing throughout this album, plus an edgy production which makes the bass positively fizz, gives the collection an attractive quality which gives rise to much fist pumping and no little desire for the nearest pit. It’s rare, however, to hear this style of metal without an accompanying larynx and it is this, plus the lack of distinction in the tracks, which gives an overall lack of fulfilment despite the promise it holds.