Gama Bomb - Bats - CD

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.

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.