Formed in Québec City in 2015 by guitarists Criss Raptör and Steve
Force, along with drummer Rick Wild, Ültra Raptör was born from beer, metal, and
dinosaurs. Their early spark came from an offhand comment about Cadillacs and
dinosaurs, a phrase that somehow captured their mix of wild fantasy, retro
fury, and full-throttle precision. After their 2018 self-titled EP and 2021
debut “Tyrants,” the band became one of Canada’s liveliest names in speed
metal. Now, Criss Raptör leads a refreshed
lineup into their second album, “Fossilized,” a release that doubles down on
everything that made their debut such a lightning strike.
“Fossilized”
opens with a roaring title track that wastes no time with its pure speed metal
electricity. The riffs slice through the air with the sort of galloping energy
that turns a small room into a festival pit. Phil
T. Lung’s high-pitched vocals soar with an old-school grandeur that
calls back to the golden age of heavy metal without sounding like a tribute
act. Tracks such as “Spinosaurus” and “Hard ’N Fast” throw hooks around like
they’re being fired from a machine gun, while the rhythm section keeps things
tight and driving, giving each song its own punch of power.
The
production, handled by David Lizotte, finds
the right point between raw energy and precision. Every guitar squeal, drum
strike, and vocal shriek lands with force while keeping the band’s natural bite
intact. The artwork by Mario E. Lopez M fits
the album’s prehistoric madness perfectly, vivid, wild, and larger than life. Ültra Raptör hasn’t just made another fast metal
album, they’ve built a time machine fueled by riffs and adrenaline.
“Fossilized” is a shot of heavy/speed metal purity, executed with heart and
energy from start to finish.
Score: 8.0
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