ALBUM REVIEW: Sea Savage – Gama Bomb

That time of year has come where everyone will be beavering away on their end of year lists, going back to previous months to refresh their memories and begin the task of agonisingly ranking each release. Irish thrashers GAMA BOMB are about to throw a spanner in the works in the form of their seventh full length effort Sea Savage which is out now via Prosthetic Records. Dust off your bullet belt as you’re in for a treat!

Judo Killer is precisely the kind of tongue in cheek material that has brought GAMA BOMB such acclaim throughout their career, it gives you that comforting welcome of familiarity. The confident tempo sets the tone alongside punchy, emphatic drum beats and the catchy, melodic vocal work. Sea Savage kicks it up a notch with some fierce shredding and snappy vocal work which is reeled off in rapid fashion. The falsetto segments hit that sweet spot, sending a shiver down your spine. Miami Supercops continues to raise the energy levels with enticing grooves and galloping footwork from session drummer James Stewart. The solo work that is introduced towards the latter stages is mouthwatering, ensuring that this release is off to a flying start.

She’s Not My Mother, Todd provides a nod to the Schwarzenegger classic Terminator 2 with its comedic quips and continues their infatuation with 80’s movies and Sci-Fi. This track possesses a punk-like demeanour with its upbeat, bouncy nature. Iron Blood brings forth further instances of swift riffing and exhilarating melodies to get your blood pumping. The frenetic drumming and fret-blazing solo work really assist in enhancing the intensity on show. Lords Of The Hellfire Club continues this exuberance with speed injected riff flurries and an addictive stride bolstered by chunky bass lines.

Sheer Khan was our first taster of this album when first released a couple of months back but it still hits just as hard and slips perfectly between its accompanying companions. Whilst still containing thrash influences in its construction it feels like an old school heavy metal track. No frills, just riffs, exactly what the doctor ordered. Rusty Jaw provides a nostalgic greeting to tracks which dwell further back in the GAMA BOMB catalogue with former guitarist Luke Graham offering his services to help co-write this piece. Electrifying solo work continues to be the ace up the Irishmen’s sleeves, showcasing impressive skill that elevates the track and gives you a teasing glimpse of what they have in their bag of tricks. Monsterizer picks up the pace once more with face melting shredding and impactful drumming that will put a nice dent in your ear drums. Philly Byrne‘s falsetto is the gift that just keeps giving and the fact he went through a whole host of issues to come back firing on all cylinders sounding more imperious than ever before is nothing short of miraculous.

Ready, Steady, Goat displays a snappy rhythm that will undoubtedly get stuck in your brain. The track ebbs and flows in tempo, showing that GAMA BOMB aren’t just a bunch of breakneck speed freaks and can handle the more restrained side of the spectrum adeptly. There is a slight irony in the last statement as Electric Pentacle dives headfirst into charging riffs and powerful drum beats but rather than just casually tread down the well beaten path this track delves into a higher level of intricacy and technicality, easily becoming one of the heaviest tracks in their storied arsenal. Gone Haywire triumphantly sprints towards the finish line as groove ridden melodies take the spotlight. One final mind-bending flourish of splendorous solo work adds the emphatic exclamation point.

Sea Savage feels like the next stage of evolution for GAMA BOMB. It contains all the hallmarks that we have come to know and love such as their jokey nature and technical proficiency but also shows an extra dash of diversity. Despite James Stewart coming from a more extreme background (working with VADER and DECAPITATED) his style is immediately evident and brings something fresh and exciting to the table. The Irish outfit have also become very comfortable with switching up the tempo, not feeling the need to fly through every track like an adrenaline junkie and this works very effectively and allows each track to emphasise its own identity. Whilst some of their new wave thrash counterparts have unfortunately hung up their battle jackets, GAMA BOMB are fighting fit and sounding better than ever.

Rating: 9/10

Sea Savage is out now via Prosthetic Records

Like GAMA BOMB on Facebook