Citizen Brain (CD - 2008)

Gama Bomb: Philly Byrne (vocals); Luke Graham , Domo Dixon (guitar); Joe McGuigan (bass instrument, background vocals); Paul Caffrey (drums).

Audio Mixer: Scott Atkins.

With the current metal trend being neo-'80s thrash, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, but U.K.'s Gama Bomb are the real headbangers. Trafficking in classic lyrical themes such as science fiction, the apocalypse, and comic books, they've turned the clock back to 1987. Still, CITIZEN BRAIN isn't the work of a nostalgia act, and instead adds a new chapter to the thrash story with whiplash tempos and unhinged howls. "OCP" is a shout-out to ROBOCOP, "Sentenced to Thrash" races ahead like vintage Anthrax, and "In the Court of General Zod" celebrates Superman's Kryptonian nemesis.

Despite all of those, mostly accurate, complaints over its general lack of true originality, the mid-'00s thrash revival has produced something that the original model from the 1980s never did, and that's a highly competent Irish contender like Gama Bomb. Reputedly weaned on a balanced diet of comic books, horror flicks, and video games, the Dublin quintet possesses a sense of humor and diversity of subject matter that's particularly reminiscent of New York legends Anthrax, whose hardcore-like gang shouts and occasional Belladonna-style screams also feature prominently on token tracks like "Zombie Blood Nightmare," "Thrashaholic," and "Space Invaders." Traces of that other N.Y.C. moshing institution, Nuclear Assault, surface on the sub-minute "O.C.P.," but then Gama Bomb prize songwriting brevity on most occasions, anyway, keeping their average songs securely under three minutes in length. Vocalist Philly Byrne also produces some Baloff-esque yelps for Exodus influenced numbers like "Time Crime" and "Hell Trucker," and in guitarist Domo Dixon's incredibly dexterous and melodious solos (see "Final Fight," "Global Warming," "Zombi Brew," and others), Gama Bomb might just have this new generation's equivalent to Dave Mustaine. Heck, when the historical verdict is finally passed on this creatively derivative generation of bands, Dixon's contributions may turn out to be Gama Bomb's most distinguishing quality (unless you count the weird robot voices heard in "Return of the Technodrome"); but for now, Citizen Brain's bludgeoning riff action, superb musicianship, and infectious energy should do quite nicely for the kids. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia minimize