GAMA BOMB

Upon hitting play on the opening prologue track of BATS, it’s safe to assume that we’re about to embark on quite the journey - with GAMA BOMB as our intrepid tour guides. From the tombs of Egypt to the faded glamour of old Hollywood, Philly, Domo, John, Joe and James lead us through new sonic landscapes and all manner of novel adventures on what they themselves call their “weirdest” album yet.

BATS is the first GAMA BOMB album to be entirely self produced; utilising the remote recording skills picked up during various lockdowns over the past few years, recording for BATS was approached with a deliberately self-sufficient attitude. The writing process commenced in late 2021 with a prolific output and a no-holds-barred approach, meaning that when the time came to refine songs into the shape of an album, there were over 30 sketches of tracks to choose from. Philly comments: “Bats is a testament to our exploratory spirit - it’s the weirdest album we’ve ever made, but it feels totally like us. Some of these pieces venture into unfamiliar territory: melodic here, grinding there, even funky in spots. It was very freeing, and the result is catchy, powerful and fun.

Recording commenced in summer 2022, with the majority of the album being tracked at Domo’s home studio in Dublin. Those remote recording skills were put to the test in Poland, Northern Ireland and England over the course of several months, with mixing and mastering being completed in early Spring 2023. Taking the reins on mixing for the first time, Domo kept things simple - allowing the songs to shine in their own distinctive ways. The lack of external influences on their creative process may have been at times unnerving, but the results are unequivocally 100% GAMA BOMB, embracing the most experimental parts of their psyches. No dilution! Only BATS!

Whilst the lyrical content veers into various different directions, the album is tied together with a 1960s-inspired aesthetic as demonstrated via the BATS artwork - serving as a visual tribute to the iconic design trends and pop culture of the 60s. The art was created by the legendary Graham Humphreys, the artist behind iconic posters for A Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead and What We Do In The Shadows, now in his fourth collaboration with GAMA BOMB. John comments: “The accompanying artwork and inlay by the lovely Rory McGuigan are based on 1960s exploitation movies in the vein of Russ Meyer and other directors who didn't want to put their name on their films.” Longtime GAMA BOMB fan and accomplished painter, Kirsty Clark, takes the starring role on the album artwork - welcoming you into the entirely fictional BATS cinematic universe.

Sonically, GAMA BOMB manage to stay true to their distinctive thrash sound, honed to perfection over two decades at the frontline of headbanging and fist-pumping. There are nods to heavy metal titans such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, there’s even a sliver of Bad Brains-esque punk attitude, and more familiar influences such as Tankard and Sodom are still evident. But if you think GAMA BOMB are serving up something run of the mill then you’ve clearly not accounted for a blazing saxophone solo (courtesy of Irish sax man Gavin Kerins) or a star-turn from hip hop pioneer The Egyptian Lover who raps on - naturally - Egyptron.

BATS is an album that could only be borne from GAMA BOMB; on this, their eighth studio album, they have embraced their inner absurdities, they’ve taken a trust fall into each other's arms, relying on the idiosyncratic glue that has bound them together over the last 21 years to propel them forwards.

BATS by GAMA BOMB will be released by Prosthetic Records on November 10.

Personnel:

Domo Dixon - Guitars

John Roche - Guitars

Philly Byrne - Vocals

Joe McGuigan - Bass and Vocals

James Stewart - Drums