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GAMA BOMB
"Sea Savage" (Prosthetic
Records; 2020)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
It's been a long time since we've reviewed an album by thrash legends Gama Bomb. I mean, we still had their MySpace page listed here, for chrissakes. But the band has a new album out, "Sea Savage," and the time seemed right to update our reviews page (and get rid of that MySpace address).
The good news is that "Sea Savage" is probably the most fun I've had listening to an album this year. With its balls-out pace, entertaining pace and amusing lyrics, this album wraps itself around you like a tapeworm around an intestine. Thankfully, any weight you'll lose listening to this CD is going to come from banging your head to it, not from a disgusting parasite.
"Sea Savage" revels in old school thrash, thrumming alone at a breakneck pace that makes you wonder how the musicians' fingers didn't end up all interwoven. The vocals remind me of Dave Brock-era GWAR (and that' a good thing) with a little extra spice thrown in. The high-pitched chorus of the track "Sea Savage" and the screeching vocals on "Monsterizer" are just two examples. You know from the song titles that the lyrics are going to be entertaining, and they are. Funny and wild, they also remind me of GWAR (and, again, that's a good thing).
I don't want to say I'd forgotten about Gama Bomb prior to this album, but I will confess they fell out of my regular playlist. "Sea Savage" puts them squarely back on it. It's one of those albums that might as well be injecting caffeine directly into your veins. It gives you energy you didn't know you had. That's art as far as I'm concerned.
And, yes, I fixed their internet address.
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/gamabomb/.
"Tales from the
Grave in Space" (Earache; 2009)
Reviewed by Snidermann
There are two very important things you need to know about Gama Bomb's new CD, "Tales from the Grave in Space":
1) It rocks;
2) It's free. (Editor's 2020 update: This offer is no longer available)
We'll discuss item #1 first: To say Gama Bomb is an explosive band is a vast understatement. The music on "Tales from the Grave in Space" is heavy and in your face. The band wastes little time in setting the stage for a great heavy metal listening experience. I don’t know what a Gama Bomb actually is ... I don't even know if there is such a thing ... but I don't really care. All I need to know is this: Gama Bomb is great heavy metal band. They're one of those bands that sounds much better when played at a very loud volume. I listened to this bad boy as I was doing chores around the house and, the next thing I knew, the CD was over, my chores were done and it was time to listen to Gama Bomb again!
This band has it all: explosive power, great musicianship, killer song writing ability and a great sound to boot.
Oh, yeah ... about that free part. Yes, you read correctly - Earache Records and Gama Bomb have decided to give away this music for free. It's an experiment to see if they can drum up more interest in the not-so-pirateable things (i.e., t-shirts, concert tickets, merchandise) by giving away the music to as many people as will take it. Sounds like a great plan to me! Of course, if you want a an actual CD, they're available as well, but you're gonna pay for those! (Editor's Note: Again, it appears this offer is no longer available. Buy the CD!)
Awesome stuff from an awesome band!
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/gamabomb/.
"Citizen Brain" (Earache; 2008)
Reviewed by Metal Mark
Whenever someone mentions 80s thrash bands, I often get the image of long haired guys wearing black band shirts, leather jackets, black straight leg jeans and white, scuffed hi-top Nikes. Oh, and you can't smile, of course, because that would be very unmetal like or something. (Unless you're Anthrax, because they dressed differently and didn't have to be asked twice to ham it up. That was all part of their image too, but it helped to set them apart. Putting out albums the caliber of "Spreading the Disease" and "Among the Living" didn't hurt in separating them from the majority of the pack of striving thrash hopefuls, either. But I digress).
Ireland's Gama Bomb remind me of Anthrax in some ways, not that their vocalist is running across the stage wearing a multi-colored headdress nor should he. Yet these guys have a sense of humor and they sound a bit like mid-late 1980s Anthrax. They have a rather straight ahead, tight chugging sound with the group choruses chiming in. They also have some parts that remind me a little of early Metallica and Agent Steel as well.
The lyrics are general silliness about such topics as beer, zombies, thrashing, head-smashing hammer-wielding psycho clowns and General Zod (of "Superman 2" fame). I love the booklet with pictures of their lyrics placed on old video game boxes, DVD cases and various other odd locations.
This band isn't going to be accused of being overly creative, but they are very active in the way in which they charge crazily at their instruments. I think that one of the most interesting aspects about thrash is that a chaotic approach can work better than an ordered approach if it's done right and that's what you get here.
Like most of the new wave thrash acts emerging today Gama Bomb aren't doing much that hasn't already been done. Yet what they are recording is entertaining just because they plunge at it like they really believe in what they are doing and then you begin to believe in them as well.
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/gamabomb/.
"Citizen Brain" (Earache; 2008)
Reviewed by Spudbeast
U.K. nerd thrash outfit Gama Bomb's first major label release is a good pummeling record, albeit slightly flawed.
The CD opens with killer riffage and showmanship on "Zombie Blood Nightmare," a track that really gets the blood flowing and sets a good thrashing pace for the rest of the album. "Zombie" is full of guitar solos and drum fills; this track never relents,. An ode to the classic side scroll brawlers of the early 90s, "Final Fight" is a fast thrasher, and any fan of the game will be especially stoked on this song. "Bullet Belt" would make an excellent anthem for the thrash renaissance while "Zombi Brew," a comedic speed metal anecdote of zombies brewing beer from the brains of the victims is one of the album highlights (I, for one, love that premise and suggest that the band make a music video for the track, preferably directed by the one and only George A. Romero.
"Return to the Technodrome" is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed song, and "In The Court of General Zod" really maintains the nerd thrash feel of the album, which is unique in its own way.
Unfortunately, not all of the tracks are as engrossing as these and sometimes it feels as if the album is a little heavy on the filler side, with many tracks just being forgettable, trite thrash songs. While definitely worth more than a few spins, some of the tracks just felt tacked on. Hopefully, with their next effort, Gama Bomb will be a more refined, fully-realized band.
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/gamabomb/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2020 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
