Gama radiation bombs through Belfast's Empire

LIKE returning prophets the mighty Gama Bomb exploded into action in Belfast leaving all in their wake irradiated by their power and presence atop a mighty four-band line up on Saturday (August 17th).

Backing their album The Terror tapes on a brief Irish, Gama Bomb were back to prove that thrash metal was alive and well, and still speeding through humour and riffs, seeming at times re-born as the mixed their usual frenetic pace with more measured swipes of assault.

And, openers Sentient proved they had a measure of their own power on their first live show, with a varied range of melodic death, growls and harmonies demonstrating massive potential.

At times they showed the need refinement, but the standard of playing was always high. What they could do with is an element of learning in terms of stagecraft, something all bands at this stage need to develop.

Such concerns were not ones that afflict Zombified. They are a band who are comfortable in their genre, with heavy death sounds, tones that grind and the tradition of circle headbanging. Newer and older songs alike were played with aplomb, despite a minor technical problem during the set. The track Human Cull stood out amongst a positive set.

As to the mystery that is Mental Deficiency...masked men, rubber-limbed front man, easy banter, infectious riffs and melodies; all were present and correct.

Seeming to be a joke band on the surface it is easy to miss the point: Mental Deficiency have a superb sense of timing and have notably improved both arrangements and song structures since we last saw them. The overt sexism is there to provoke a response and they duly received a positive response, from all genders that were present...

But Gama Bomb are at different level, no doubt through experience, touring and an ongoing recording career.

The drama of a Gama Bomb performance is often missed, their sense of irony in their songs can be overlooked, and their humour can sometimes shade the talent on stage and on record.

Over-simplified comparisons with the first wave of speed and thrash metal belie the stage in their development. Gama Bomb's woes over the past 12 months are put aside on stage. Philly's charisma as a front man, with Joe as a vocal/banter foil are obvious. Poking fun at themselves and the genre in general (Philly wearing a Michael Jackson t-shirt a case in point) any airs and graces that some bands assume are thrust aside in a compact, powerful performance.

Drawing songs from this year's The Terror Tapes (available on AFM Records now) Backwards Bible and single Terrorscope stood out amid a blur of tracks drawing back catalogue favourites such as Zombie Brew and OCP together in a musical mosaic coloured with tracks such as Smoke The Blow with William Defoe.

There is a poise about Gama Bomb in 2013, which sees them on the cusp of yet greater strides: looking back is now not an option on the strength of this performance and without sacrificing their basic sound it now honed into a fine cutting instrument surely ready to cut a swathe through the metal scene.

Look out for a Gama Bomb special show coming soon on RockRadioNI - featuring interviews and insight into what makes the band tick.

Thrash-tastic Terror Tapes from Gama Bomb

ADVERSITY? Gama Bomb have spat on adversity, poured poteen over flames that once threatened to consume them, and released one of the best thrash metal albums in many a long year with The Terror Tapes.

With vocal polyp surgery needed by Philly, long time guitarist Graham (amicably) parting company with the band, Domo breaking a tendon in his finger and a split with former record label Earache it could be enough to crush lesser mortals.

But in the world of Gama Bomb, despite brief flirtations with packing it in, they dragged their collective asses back to doing it the old school way and produced what is quite simply an awesome rendition of what thrash metal is all about.

The magic forumla of technical excellence, and the dichotomy between pure fun and seriousness is wrapped up in one wonderful package.

From the off the cautionary tale of drug abuse in The Wrong Stuff sets a breakneck pace sure to have necks aching, before the pummelling steps up a notch in Legend of Speed.

As if these two tracks weren't enough to get the most ardent thrasher roaring with delight it gets even better, as Backwards Bible proves catchier than an STI in Amsterdam.

But it is the mid-duo of tracks We Started the Fire and the single Terrorscope that rip through the lug-holes, with soaring solos, mad riffing and choruses that hook you in, willingly or not.

For all the seriousness of some Gama Bomb songs Philly and co have not kept the fun in a darkened locker.

Smoke The Blow with William Defoe and Sh**ing Yourself to Live will still have you chortling before the next tracks smash your face.

Philly was quoted in a recent edition of Terrorizer as saying this "...maybe this is like the thrash metal Thriller?"

We wouldn't go as far as that, but it is damn close to being a definitive take on thrash.

By the time Metal Idiot's guns through like an juggernaut driving at F1 speeds and the album rounds off with Wrecking Ball and you know there is something special about The Terror Tapes.

What makes this a special release is that it takes the second or third listen to really appreciate what is being delivered by Gama Bomb. The recipe of ingredients first laid out in the 80s by the pioneers have been taken and put into a great melting pot of snappy snare drums punctuated by fills; rhythm and bass playing nailed tighter than a messiah on a cross and lead solos and vocals threatening the sheer fabric of metal's tenuous grip on reality.

That is not to say that Gama Bomb can't be topical - as well as the madness of the likes of Beverly Hills Robocop your reward for persistence will find messages about the dangers of rascism and the urgent need for continuing freedom of speech.

If Gama Bomb were a charity their cross-border origins in this tiny island of Ireland would have grant-giving bodies pouring European money into their pockets. If they were besuited business men the likes of Invest NI would be offering subsidies and making grand announcements via government press officers.

From both sides of the border Gama Bomb continue to unleash thrash terror, and on The Terror Tapes they have come close to the perfect thrash metal album ever released anywhere on the British Isles. Nine and a half out of ten - and that half point off perfection deducted because all the editorial staff here wanted more tracks!

The Terror Tapes is available now on AFM Records. One message - buy it!