Pic courtesy of: Gama Bomb "Our lyrics aren't dumb, they are in fact quite clever. Journalists for some reason won't complain if lyrics are completely generic, which baffles me. We write lyrics to please ourselves. I can pick up the album sleeve any time I want and still get a laugh."

CR: Let’s start with the basics, why the name Gama Bomb? (Very thrash by the way)
Domo Dixon: The idea was to have a name that sounded absolutely huge. That's pretty much it really!

CR: According to your bio, the band started out back in 2002, that makes you 6 years old now, a very respectable age for any band, can you tell us how the sound of Gama Bomb has been developing through the years, I mean have you always played this style of thrash metal or it develop through time and you guys just polished your initial ideas to the point you are right now?
Domo Dixon: The evolution of our sound has been a very natural process to be honest. It develops with us all the time. If you try to think these things out all the time you tend to get bogged down and the music can become kind of stale sounding. We just rip into and see what happens. If you don't make any mistakes you'll never learn a thing and we've learned quite a bit!

CR: Do you see yourselves as part of this so called “thrash revival” wave of bands, or it just happened to occur in the right time for you guys to become one of the most recognized young bands that is currently playing thrash metal?
Domo Dixon: Gama Bomb was around long before there was any word of a revival, it just kind of happened around us. It definitely helped us gain more recognition but we had people coming to see us before it and journalists writing about us in pretty much every magazine before it.

CR: How do you see that so called “thrash revival”, is it a public, fans inspired movement or do you think it’s a more label, market driven phenomenon? How can we (the public) tell the difference between a movement spawn by the scene and one promoted by the record labels?
Domo Dixon: In the beginning (how biblical) it was just people getting together for the love of real, undiluted thrash and it started to take off. The media were bound to notice after a while. The thing is, if there were no bands to sign how could a record label sign them? Everybody (musicians, fans, record companies, magazines, everybody!) just heard the music and thought, 'holy shit, I forgot how class thrash metal is!'

CR: You guys have played with some of the best and more “classical” thrash metal bands in history, Exodus, At War, Sabbath, Onslaught, which of this bands surprised you the most when you got a change to see them live and in person?
Domo Dixon: I don't know about anybody surprising me, maybe more than that I was surprised that they were human. I know that sounds weird but meeting your heroes and finding out they're just normal dudes IS a bit weird. I can tell you who didn't surprise me; that was Tankard. They were beer swilling maniacs! That suited us right down to the ground. Man, I could tell you some stories...

CR: You are about a couple of days away from kicking off another tour through Europe, now with the new album out, are you going to be playing in bigger venues or is it back to the bars, and small gigs?
Domo Dixon: We're going to be playing every kind of venue, it's gonna be a total shout-fest! We'll be playing every dive and shit hole, pub and club, big venue and concert hall across Europe that'll let us in! We're playing a festival in Barcelona too, that's gonna be a real rockhaus! So long as they pay us with free booze, we'll play.

CR: Let’s talk about “Citizen Brain”, first congrats, kick ass record! I haven’t been taken back in time thanks to an album since my old high school cd’s and cassettes, I mean the record pretty much reflects my teenage years, video games, movies etc, etc; very few bands try an accomplished this… do you consider yourselves, 80’s and 90’s “nostalgic fans”? do you think this phrase is correct “all previous times were better than today”.
Domo Dixon: I don't think it's a nostalgia thing, we've just never stopped watching those movies or playing those computer games. They're as relevant now as they always were. Maybe when you find a film you haven't seen in years you get all bleary eyed and remember the good old days but that wears off after a couple of million viewings. Films and games these days suck 90% of the time. I'd say I've seen 5 amazing action movies in the last 15 years, compare that to the 80s when they couldn't stop making classics. Computer games are generally rubbish too. Remember when completing a game was nearly impossible? You can clear most new games in a couple of days. Any man who can beat Contra or 1942 is a true hero and I salute you.

CR: The record was very well received by the media, many are comparing it to Anthrax, Nuclear Assault even Exodus; from what bands do Gama Bomb draws more inspiration or tendencies from in your opinion?
Domo Dixon: It's really hard to say to be honest. We're five different people who all love thrash and all have our favorite bands. There's not too many we haven't heard. The way we write our music is just our idea of exactly what we want to hear in a thrash band. There's no one band we draw inspiration from, there's hundreds!

	Pic courtesy of: Nera-K.com "I don't know about anybody surprising me, maybe more than that I was surprised that they were human. I know that sounds weird but meeting your heroes and finding out they're just normal dudes IS a bit weird. I can tell you who didn't surprise me; that was Tankard. They were beer swilling maniacs! That suited us right down to the ground. Man, I could tell you some stories..."

CR: Some reviews (And I think I have repeated this cliché also) has qualify or better said describe the album lyrics as dumb… do you think this is a fair description of the lyrics? Dumb because of the topics and thrash clichés on it. Are we missing the true genius of those 80’s culture based lyrics?
Domo Dixon: No, our lyrics aren't dumb, they are in fact quite clever. Journalists for some reason won't complain if lyrics are completely generic, which baffles me. We write lyrics to please ourselves. I can pick up the album sleeve any time I want and still get a laugh. As far as the topics go, look around and find one that hasn't been covered, don't hold your breath though. It's the way we treat the ideas that's different. I mean, who writes lyrics like the chorus of Zombie Bloody Nightmare? Nobody, that's who! Come to think of it, how many bands have lyrics about fucking with time and pulling out Shakespeare's eyes?

CR: There is however one recent topic on the album who’s lyrics are more serious than the rest, “Global Warming”, is this a topic that worries you? How much do you recycle?
Domo Dixon: The weather is fucked up. When I was a kid it was different. I mean in Ireland now, we're getting our summer in early April. April! And nobody gives a shit, they really don't. I recycle everything except food waste, and if the whole world did the same it still wouldn't be nearly enough. Not even slightly. Even if we get our act together tomorrow we've still probably gone too far. Basically we're fucked. I'm building a space ship and getting the fuck out of here. I wonder if John Cyrus will come with me...

CR: The record was produced by Scott Atkins, did you get in touch with him or this was done by the label? What do you think was the aspect of the album that Scott “fixed” during the recording of it, what part of the album you would have not guess had a problem and he helped you out with it?
Domo Dixon: We did a track for the Thrashing Like A Maniac compilation near the end of '07 and we were really happy with him. The man has an insanely good ear. He didn't fix anything with the album, it was completely written before we'd gone to the studio. His biggest contributions were his ear for engineering and his work ethic. He was a fucking slave driver! The atmosphere was great to, we got along like a house on fire.

CR: Do you think that in the late 90’s and earlier this century, thrash metal was been forgotten by the new generation of fans and thus it was more than needed for a comeback from other bands than the same old creators of it… seen how Metallica has fallen out of grace from the metal scene.
Domo Dixon: I don't think it was forgotten by the new generation, I think they just didn't know what it was. Look at the era you're talking about, everyone and his dog claimed to be thrash, albeit black thrash or death thrash or whatever. It doesn't resemble what thrash actually is or what it's about or even what it sounds like, not one bit! Then they heard us and bands like us, then they went back to the source of the music and their faces have been lasered off ever since. And that's where we are today.

CR: The album comes with a bonus DVD, is pretty much you guys recording and travelling to gigs and stuff, there is a part where I see someone playing Prince of Persia… I mean do you guys really play that game very often… I was just stunned by it!!!
Domo Dixon: Yeah, that was me. That game is amazing. I still remember seeing it for my first time in my local computer shop 'Computer City' which is long closed down now. The fella at the counter was playing it on a Commodore Amiga. Kids today couldn't possibly know how good the animation was for it's time. In fact, it still stands up today. Same with Another World and Flashback. I can clear that game in 30 minutes. That's nothing though, there are dudes that can do it in less than 20.

CR: Regarding the topics on the album, every “respectable” thrash band talks about zombies, war and beer, what is so surprising on Gama Bomb is the inclusion of video games and cartoons on its lyrics, perhaps that’s why some call you guys “not very serious”. Why was video games and cartoons so important that you needed to add lyrics about this topics?
Domo Dixon: So many metal bands spout on about stuff they have no idea about or just try to be shocking and it honestly makes me cringe hearing it. It's like listening to a small child telling you a story that they're making up as they're going along. The stuff we talk about means something to us and we write it for ourselves. And fuck what other people think, you know? At least we're not naive idiots. Besides, I love cartoons, I watched a whole series of The Tick this morning. It's class!

CR: What’s your fascination with General Zod? (what do you think of the new Superman flick)
Domo Dixon: First things first, get the Richard Donner cut of Superman 2. Zod is the business in it. The smiling machine gun bit is hilarious. We're not really all that big of fans of Superman himself but Zod is amazing. He's pretty much space Hitler. And he's camp and wears a jump suit. And all he wants is for every living thing to bow before him. Whoever came up with him is probably from idea city or concept island.

		Pic courtesy of: Gama Bomb "Gama Bomb was around long before there was any word of a revival, it just kind of happened around us. It definitely helped us gain more recognition but we had people coming to see us before it and journalists writing about us in pretty much every magazine before it."

CR: Checking the album booklet, reading the lyrics for Final Fight (man I had that game for SNES, I played the shit out of it!) in the booklet next to the lyrics, the pics are from Contra I think… did you notice that? Am I been to “anal” about it hahhahhaha, I loved Contra too by the way! And worshipped Double Dagron on the NES!!! Man I could just talk about Nintendo but I have to get back to the music. Do the kids these days realize that that song was about an old arcade or Nintendo game, how many songs about video games do you think you can write without getting bored?
Domo Dixon: All amazing and extremely difficult games you mentioned. Have you seen the Double Dragon movie? About the pictures, yes you're being too anal! Even the songs chorus is "Streets Of Rage!". It's not really a homage to Final Fight specifically but more to classic beat em ups. Don't forget about Renegade!

CR: Speaking of your first release, “Survival Of The Fastest”, how would you compare the songs for that record to the ones in “Citizen Brain”, the first album sounds not as fast as “Citizen…” was that due to the songwriting or the production?
Domo Dixon: About the speed of the album, basically Paul didn't record the drums. It's not easy finding drummers that fast in Ireland or anywhere I'd imagine. He's a machine. He's still only twenty as well! The fucker.

CR: Has any other “contemporary” music genre has inspired you guys, I don’t know grunge, salsa…who knows, but do you have any other musical taste that diverges from heavy metal?
Domo Dixon: Oh yeah sure, we're all massive 60's and 70's rock 'n' roll merchants. Creedence, The Allman Brothers, Foghat, Hendrix, Zeppelin and so on. You get the idea. 80's inspiro music too. Listen to The Karate Kid or Teen Wolf soundtracks and you'll know what I mean. In fact we'll listen to anything if it's good.

CR: What’s the best Irish band in your opinion… don’t say U2 man please!
Domo Dixon: Thin Lizzy! There's no two ways about it. One of the greatest bands of all time. Almost everyone who was in that band (and there was a loads!) is a hero of mine.

CR: Speaking of Irish music I can only point at the following bands as hailing from your country Cruachan, Primordial, Thin Lizzy, what bands other than Gama Bomb are worthy of people’s time and money? How close would you say the Irish, Scottish and English metal scenes really are?
Domo Dixon: Irish metal is a strange one. There are countless great metal bands here but they don't seem to like travelling. Some bands even think going from Dublin to Belfast is far away (about 2 hours in your car!)! They'll just come up with an excuse and not travel across the water. So if you want to hear them you better get a plane ticket booked. We've gone hungry and not had enough money for new guitar strings and bummed all our equipment to play in the back arse of nowhere in front of two people. You have to serve your apprenticeship or you can just forget about it. So the Irish metal scene seems a bit detached from the UK one but I can see it improving in the next while.

CR: I guess you are pretty much conscious that Gama Bomb is part of this huge thrash revival, having that in mind, I want to ask you, do you think that because of the huge amount of young bands coming out with an old school thrash sound that the genre might get saturated by this and then it could cause a feeling that thrash is becoming more a trend than an actual genre, and sort of lose its identity, when the big labels realize just how much money they can make? (I’m been a little paranoid here, hope you indulge me on this)
Domo Dixon: Unfortunately that's just the way music works. A couple of people get famous then everybody else wants a piece for themselves and the whole thing just goes stagnant. It's been happening with music since Bachs time and even further back. I'd say the only difference with thrash is that's already happened in the 90s. Therefore we can all learn from the mistakes of the past. It'll be very interesting to see what the future holds. But yeah, it's going to happen. Maybe in two years, maybe twenty, it's just the natural way.

CR: Are you guys planning or at least thinking about a USA tour, or there are still too many places in Europe to be conquered?
Domo Dixon: We're going to the states for sure, but at the moment we're just getting through Europe. It's a big place! We want to do South America too, maybe even everything in the one go! I don't want to say too much at the moment but rest assured we'll be there.

CR: How much has your life changed since the release of “Citizen Brain”?
Domo Dixon: A large portion of it. Being at home is the same as ever but it's constantly interrupted by touring! We've been working our asses off. Not that that's a bad thing, playing guitar in a rocking band is just about the coolest thing in the world and making this record means we can do it all the time.

CR: What does thrash mean to you? And name the best 3 thrash albums of all time?
Domo Dixon: Fuck, philosophy too? At the end of the day it's just music but I wouldn't know any other way of living my life, what else is there? As for the best three albums, there's no such thing. I suppose Skeptics Apocalyse, Peace Sells and Alien, why not?

CR: Well man thank you so much for the time and patient, please if you have anything else to add, feel free to do so… and congrats in the beginning of what seems as a brilliant career!
Domo Dixon: See you on the road dudes! Bring beer and weed! Oh and watch Bruno Mattei movies!