Northern Ireland, interms of the metal scene, are best known for
producing pagan metal greats Waylander. The land just might have to make
room for metal greatness because Gama Bomb is out to make a name for
themselves and do it by paying homage to the 80's thrash metal scene and do
it rather well.
In reading the song titles to Survival of the Fastest and even the
looking at the artwork, it is clear that Gama Bomb wants to make music that
not only entertains the listener, but also get them banging their head.
80's thrash done by a band that only started recording in this decade?
Believe it because Gama Bomb is just about what you would expect from a
band like Anthrax, Exodus, or even S.O.D. and more. Vocalist Philly
Byrne sounds almost identical to a combination of Joey Belladonna and
Paul Baloff while the music sounds so much like old school thrash that it
nearly becomes a parody of the genre. With all that is right in the
music department, lyrics take a back seat and do so with a smile on its
face. Songs such as Zombie Creeping Flesh, Fortified Zone, and Hell
Trucker are strong indicators of the band's willingness to just have fun
and make music. If you're looking for a ballad that will best represent
the next generation of thrashheads, look no further than Bullet Belt,
which boasts the lyrics, "Thrash your brains or go away!" As a bonus,
the last two tracks on the album, The Survival Option and M.A.D., are
from the Fatal Mission demo, meaning a few extra minutes of headbanging
fun. At just over 34 minutes though, Survival of the Fastest will leave
you wanting more.
It is uncertain how long Gama Bomb will be able to sustain success
making the kind of music they do. However long it lasts, at least Gama
Bomb can say they made an album that metalheads of all ages can enjoy, and
that is something few bands can ever say in their lifetime. Do not
Survival of the Fastest too seriously or else it may just go over your
head.
