(TheBRHM.com) The 2000s was period that saw a lot of more modern thrash bands put out their early works. You had some that went the extended demo route of releasing several demos and splits in the early 2000s before dropping their debut. Then you had those who ran one or two demos and maybe an EP before dropping their debut early or midway through the decade.
Gama Bomb: Wild Zombie-Slaying Thrash
The UK’s Gama Bomb falls into category two but their debut album Survival of the Fastest was an interesting look at what could be in the future. I say “interesting” as I remember there being some fans who had gotten bored with the young thrash bands because there were so many.
Not only were there a lot of them from many places, you could pick up on specific trends in thrash quickly because a good amount of bands would have a similar sound.
For me, this was perfect. I love from this period in part because it’s a young discography for many active bands. Gama Bomb’s Survival of the Fastest came out in 2005 and they’ve released eight albums in total. This isn’t four or five decades of classics and questionable projects to go through.
Survival of the Fastest – Side A
Gama Bomb’s debut also happened to come out when I got into metal but I wouldn’t get into it for another year since I was going through the thrash OGs at the time.
Getting into Survival of the Fastest, we have an 11-track, 29 minute speeder. The sound of the album overall isn’t what you’d get from the motorbastard or blackened thrash end of retro thrash influenced by Sodom, Motorhead and Bathory. This is more of the crossover stuff influenced more like Anthrax and Suicidal Tendencies.
It’s high energy, fast as hell thrash and this album is one for the late 80s and 90s kids or wrong-decade headbangers.
The A-side includes the first six tracks “Zombie Creeping Flesh”, “Steel Teeth (The Metal Jaw)”, “Zombie Command”, “Atomizer”, “Fortified Zone” and “Racists!” I enjoyed all of the A-side to some degree but all tracks except “Racists!” hit hard enough to get that replay after the song or midway through the track.
“Zombie Creeping Flesh” and “Steel Teeth (The Metal Jaw” were the standouts on this side. Don’t sleep on “Zombie Command” and “Atomizer”. They don’t fall short of the two standouts and “Atomizer” is a track that could battle the opener for best two songs on the side.
Standout Tracks: Zombie Creeping Flesh*, Steel Teeth (The Metal Jaw)*, Atomizer
B-Side
The remainder of the album features my two favorite tracks on the album. “Hell Trucker” just rips, it’s exactly my kind of thrash speed-wise and it’s my pick for Song of the Album. The other banger here is “Bullet Belt”. Like “Hell Trucker” and the album as a whole, this is mindless headbanging thrash.
There’s little in the way of social commentary that is going to give you a different perspective on things. If anything it boosts a dislike of racists and Nazis in a fast and fun way but even that’s minor. No, this is for those of us who like zombies, sci-fi, and metal. It’s a formula that Gama Bomb came in with and continue to use today…and it still works!
As for the other three tracks on this side, the B-side opens with “Scientists?” which is a super science/evil science tune that keeps the speed of the album. It’s fine and the same can be said for “Skellington Crew”. Coming in before “Bullet Belt”, it’s actually a good track that also benefits from following “Nuke the Skeets”.
“Nuke the Skeets” is the shortest track on the album and kind of a fun spoken word track at 13 seconds. It’s a fine buffer following “Hell Trucker”.
Strongest Tracks: Hell Trucker**, Bullet Belt*
Strength of the Opener and Closer
“Zombie Creeping Flesh” is a decent enough opening track but there are a few candidates that probably would’ve done better. “Steel Teeth” was a song that had more bite while “Hell Trucker” has more bite than both and would’ve been an incredible opening track.
Also, swapping “ZCF” with either of those songs wouldn’t throw the album off. Many of the songs have a same-y sound to them with a few really popping the ear more than the rest. That’s the kind of party we’ve got going on here.
“Bullet Belt” is perfect where it is as the album closer. I enjoy albums that end on a loud and fast tracks the most and Gama Bomb picked a great closing tune.
Overall, this was a pretty good album. One thing that hurts it is the production of the time. It’s very noticeable if you were to check out Citizen Brain, which was released in 2008 and features all of Survival of the Fastest along with some extras.
Honestly, this album crawled so that Citizen Brain could fly. Check it out!
Staff Writer; James “Metal” Swift Jr.
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.