Bringing unrelenting brutal death metal with crusty harsh vocals, distorted guitars, screeching feedback, ferocious drumming, and a touch of melancholy, Fossilization is back with their debut full-length album Leprous Daylight.  Relative newcomers, having formed in 2020, have already made a name for themselves with an EP released in 2021 and a split EP released in 2022 with Ritual Necromancy.  Continuing to build a solid (and steady) discography, the band does not hold back and brings a lot of thunder with Leprous Daylight making for a monumental full debut.  To add to the band’s already impressive presence, Fossilization consists of only two members—V. and P.—who are also members of the death/doom band Jupiterian.  This small but mighty band does not need any more members as the sound they create is a force to be reckoned with.  

The album opens with a quick introductory track consisting of some sludgy ambient sounds before quickly diving into warlike riffs and drumming creating hype before leading into their first single released from Leprous Daylight, “Once was God.”  A fitting title for an archaically raw and powerful track full of fast and barbaric riffs and intense drumming.  This piece makes sense as the first to release as it is a great introduction to the album as well as the band.  It has a perfect flow as it keeps energy up while also including some variety with punch-like dramatics to punctuate and break up the ferocity.  The third track which is a personal favorite, “Oracle of Reversion,” has a transition about two minutes in that leaves my jaw dropping.  It is so well created and executed as they move from death metal brutality to a marching and more drum heavy section with some doom influence. Fossilization is very good at keeping up excitement and filling listeners with anticipation.  Small, quick changes in technique and style as well as bars of amping up tempos had me on the edge of my seat.  V. and P. are clearly no strangers to songwriting as each piece is so well crafted that I could write an entire review about this alone.

I am a sucker for a good ending and I have to talk about the final track, “Wrought in the Abyss,” which brings more doomy vibes with slower melodies and funeral doom type vocals.  It closes out Leprous Daylight giving listeners a chance to catch their breath and enjoy these final minutes before immediately pressing “repeat.”  

While Leprous Daylight is not bringing anything groundbreaking to the death metal scene, it is a VERY good and solid death metal album and worth every listen. Fossilization does not need to reinvent the wheel here because they are experts at what they do and they have created eight beastly stellar tracks that are well written and memorable.  I already know this release will make an appearance on my year-end list. I have been a fan of Fossilization since their beginning and am excited to see a full length now added to their name.  Leprous Daylight does not disappoint and while I expect the band’s momentum to slow a bit and not continue to release something each year (though that would be incredible), I know we can expect more great things from V. and P. in the future. 

— Angela

---

Leprous Daylight is available now on Everlasting Spew Records.  For more information on Fossilization, visit their Facebook page.