Review: “Necronomicon Automaton” by Gama Bomb

Representing something of a *jazz hands* surprise release while Irish Thrash Metal stalwarts Gama Bomb are ripping up the road with Raised By Owls in the United Kingdom, EP “Necronomicon Automaton” appears just 16 months after the bands well received 2023 album “Bats“. Adorned by cover artwork by Graham Humphreys, it was recorded in Dublin and Newry, Ireland, London, UK and in Warsaw, Poland. Produced, mixed and mastered in-house by guitarist Domo Dixon, curiously the drums performed by James Stewart, engineered by Paweł ‘Janos’ Grabowski and not former Shrapnel drummer Chris Williams who has been touring with the band since 2020 and was announced as a full time member of the group last year…

…there is no easy way to say it but the truth is, despite their best efforts to scupper themselves at every turn, Gama Bomb once again deliver a record of sublime quality with “Necronomicon Automaton“. The Traditional Metal warbling of vocalist Philly Byrne are the perfect foil for their old school Thrash Metal riffs, which as ever are delivered at speed as the band dive headlong into the tongue in cheek lyrics of “Nunchucks!” before a blistering trademark solo. Clocking in at 145 seconds the opening track is shorter than a poison dwarf while rivalling Usain Bolt for the 100 meter record. Declaring Saturday night’s alright for fighting with a glorious sing-a-long chorus, the opening cut sets the tone before the floor is opened for “Intror The Deceiver“. The second cut races away at breakneck speed with galloping drums and spellbinding solos that hint at a Power Metal influence, a fist pumping chorus once again perfectly executed. A tale about the German tanks of World War II “Necropanzer” is another slick Speed Thrash cut of verve and swagger, Gama Bomb putting the pedal to the Metal and ripping out a short and yet sickly sweet virtuoso solo in the first half of the onslaught. If you’re not signing the chorus “Beware the iron beast, Phantoms in the trees, Hear the dread commander, Ready! Aim! Fire the Necropanzer!” by the end of the first spin, you should seriously consider seeing a doctor because its more infectious than an STD. Taking the pomp and circumstance of the earlier cuts to a new level, a tale of an evil undead female robot adds a little je ne sais quoi to the record with title track “Necronomicon Automaton“. Arguably a cut that epitomises what Gama Bomb are all about, it has a gang-chanted chorus with razor sharp old school Thrash riffs fly in all directions throughout. John ‘J.R.’ Roche and Domo Dixon in fine form while the rhythm section gets a full work out. The eclectic and eccentric nature of Byrne’s lyrics are a cause for celebration, the five piece making it hip to be strange in wonderful fashion [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Nunchucks!
2. Intror The Deceiver
3. Necropanzer
4. Necronomicon Automaton

“Necronomicon Automaton” by Gama Bomb is out 18th April 2025 and is available over at bandcamp.