Fossils has been shaping the sound, soul, and attitude of Bengali rock music for nearly three decades now. Led by the ever-intense and uncompromising Rupam Islam, Fossils gave the Bengali music scene a voice that spoke to broken hearts, angry minds, confused youth and restless souls. They offered a sound that felt raw, honest, and deeply personal. From swimming through lonely moments with Ekla ghor playing in your ears, to nervously trying to impress your crush with Khnoro aamar fossil, or simply losing yourself headbanging to Bishakto manush — Fossils has been the soundtrack to countless phases of life.
What makes Fossils timeless is their ability to connect across generations. Whether your playlist jumps from Scorpions to The Beatles, Metallica to Pink Floyd, Fossils inevitably rules your heart in some form or mood. Their songs don’t belong to a particular age group; they belong to emotions. And emotions, after all, don’t age.
In a world where everything changes every minute, the people you love, your feelings, your priorities, even your choices, Fossils has held on to its raw energy, unapologetic lyrics, and fearless sound. They have refused to soften or dilute themselves just to fit trends, and that refusal is exactly what keeps them relevant today. Authenticity, it turns out, never goes out of style. There is something magical about Fossils’ songs; no matter how many times you’ve heard them, they never feel old. Play Hasnuhana today, and it still hits you like you’re hearing it for the first time. That familiar ache, that rush of emotion, unchanged, undiluted, eternal.
As Fossils steps into its 28th year, the band is doing what it does best — moving forward with a bang. Fossils is now gearing up for a brand-new album. Along with it, the band has unveiled the F7 logo, hinting at a concept that explores love in the era of AI — a theme both modern and deeply philosophical. In a t2 chat, frontman Rupam Islam and guitarist Allan Ao shared some intriguing insights into the upcoming album, promising that Fossils is still here to challenge, provoke, and move us, just like they always have. Because some feelings never change. And neither does the power of Bangla rock.
Fossils is returning with an album after a few years. What was the moment that made you feel the need to create a new album?
Rupam: We constantly work on new songs, never really think in terms of ‘making an album.’ When a group of new compositions and arrangements reach a point where they start feeling cohesive, that’s when they naturally begin to take shape as an album. Our last album came out in 2019. During the lockdown in 2020, we began working on fresh material, and from 2021 onwards, once rehearsals resumed, those ideas started developing properly. It eventually took us about four years, mainly because we were touring and performing extensively during this period.
The album cover often becomes the first conversation with listeners: what does this one look like, and what story does it tell?
Rupam: We’re working on the album artwork as we speak to you. It’s a bit early to reveal details. Conceptually, the F7 logo explores the idea of love in the age of AI.
Sonically, where does this album sit — classic Fossils, evolved Fossils, or something completely unexpected?
Allan: As the music producer of this album, I have tried to keep the sound of the album organic and real, with all imperfections intact. The songs will sound the same live as they do on the album. As far as the sound goes, there will always be elements of our classic sound, and there will also be elements of how that sound has evolved. We’re still the same people who made those songs back then, and we’re the same people making music now — the only change being our growth and evolution. We don’t try to consciously recreate any particular era or album of ours — everything happens organically. Each song or album is a snapshot of who we are at that stage in time, influenced by our personal growth and the world around us. How it’s labelled is entirely up to the listener.
How have time, age, and experience shaped the lyrics on this album?
Rupam: I’ve been writing songs since 1992. Although we never consciously pick songs from different phases of my journey as a lyricist and composer, it somehow always works out that way. This album includes lyrics written during my early years, as well as songs written as recently as 2023, and of course, all those written in between. Naturally, the older lyrics are simpler in thought, while the newer ones are more layered and complex. That contrast becomes part of the album’s character.
In an era dominated by singles and streaming, why was it important for Fossils to return with a full-length album?
Rupam: We have never really worked on isolated songs; we always developed multiple tracks together. In the past, we did release a few singles before putting out the full album, but in recent times, all of us are extremely busy, and it’s difficult to dedicate time to individual releases. More importantly, when we listened to these songs in sequence, they felt complete as an album. The flow and continuity just worked beautifully.
Is there a particular track that best represents the soul of this album?
Not really. Each song brings something different to the table, and together they define the album’s identity.
Do you feel this album speaks more to the generation that grew up with Fossils or to a newer audience discovering you now?
We believe it speaks to everyone. The way the younger generation has embraced our early songs is something we never imagined, while our longtime listeners have connected strongly with our newer material as well. Somewhere along the way, those generations seem to merge into one.
What do you hope Bangla rock fans would feel when they hear the album for the first time?
Rupam: We’ve already been performing three songs from the album — Longdrive-e, Obhinoy, and Auporibortito — at our live shows, and the response has been overwhelming. People keep requesting them, which tells us they’ve already connected. I’ve been performing Khudharto mangsashi at my solo concerts since 2012, and it has grown into one of my most popular songs, with several young bands covering it. Another recent song from the album, Shunechhi, has been receiving constant requests ever since I performed an unplugged version during an interview. Jodi tumi is a completely new track — a rock song with a strong Bengali sensibility. Overall, the response has been extremely encouraging even before the release, and we genuinely can’t wait for everyone to experience the album in its entirety.
Were there moments of rediscovery, finding things you loved about playing together?
Allan: This album was born in the lockdown, and bringing it to fruition was, in itself, a process of rediscovery. Back in 2020-21, everything around us felt like it had fallen apart, and we didn’t know what the next day would look like. So, we kept making music to make sense of the days. I think I can speak on behalf of the entire band when I say that being able to still do this, to make and play music together and on our own terms, is something we hold with a lot of humility and gratitude.
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