Could there be amore appropriate opening to aGama Bomb gig than a lightspeed metal song about an obscure 80s action cop movie? “They are no regular supercops!” singer Philly Byrne squeals over scurrying guitars. “They are… MIAMI SUPERCOPS!” After all, these lads have always been the most chaotic geeks in the 21st-century thrash revival. They’ve mixed the beer-swilling shenanigans of Municipal Waste with odes to Arnie and Star Wars since 2002, and tonight’s London headliner is a celebration of their own silliness. In between his band’s musical mash-ups of speed metal with Judas Priest-ish melodies, Philly chats endearing shit about once, to his shame, enjoying Megadeth’s Risk. Later –in the lead-up to She’s Not My Mother, Todd –he throws out Terminator 2 in-jokes. The arrival of costumed mascot Snowy is pre-empted by narration about the yeti’s lack of genitalia, and even the boys’ Irish heritage gets saluted: Pogues singer and “honorary Irishman” Spider Stacy rocks up to sing an expeditious If I Should Fall From Grace With God. Blending batshit antics with legitimate musical prowess, Gama Bomb continue to offer some of the most fun nights out in underground metal.
MATT MILLS