In just four years, Fossils rapidly ascended to the pinnacle of popularity among Bangla bands in West Bengal. Their explosive live performances and the impact of their debut album in 2002 played pivotal roles in this remarkable journey. Widely known as the "first album," Fossils introduced a groundbreaking sound that sparked a new movement in contemporary Bangla music. Distinguished as the only Bengal-based band with true rock star charisma, Fossils' influence now extends beyond the state borders, reaching even across to Bangladesh, a nation with a rich history of original Bangla rock music since the Seventies. Their appeal isn't confined to the local scene; Fossils has gained a dedicated fan base among non-resident Bengali audiences worldwide, from Bangalore to Bombay, Hyderabad to Houston.
Fossils emerged during a crucial period when Bangla rock was in its nascent stages. Concurrently, the landscape of contemporary Bengali music was evolving, thanks to the revitalized Moheener Ghoraguli and the poetic contributions of Suman Chattopadhyay (now Kabir Suman). While this movement placed a significant emphasis on meaningful lyrics, the rock scene was still clinging to the heavy glam-rock influence of the Eighties, neglecting the importance of substantive words to complement the music. In the midst of this scenario, Fossils made a transformative entrance. Rupam Islam, following the launch of his inaugural solo album at the Calcutta Book Fair in 1998, joined forces with like-minded musical colleagues to establish Fossils. Together, they envisioned a band that would redefine contemporary Bengali rock, addressing the existing gap. Fossils pioneered a fresh sound characterized by melodic aggression and powerful ballads, marking a departure from the prevailing norms in Bangla rock.