Live Review: Gama Bomb with Raised By Owls & Bangover at 229, London (19/04/25)

London is looking a bit thrashy! Ireland’s favourite head bangers Gama Bomb are back in town, and they’ve dragged everyone’s favourite comedic extreme metal act Raised by Owls along for the ride. Alongside local thrash maniacs, Bangover, who are fresh of announcing their brand-new album, ‘Hibernation Devastation’ (May 9th).

The 229, a venue that never quite screams ‘metal’, but always delivers quality sound, has plenty of people ready and willing to let loose to the heavy and energised ways of Bangover. Who take to the stage and deliver a raucous display of thrashy goodness. You’d have to be a bit hard of hearing to not head bang to the likes Close Encounters Of The Thrash Kind, Blood, Sweat & Beers, and The Texas Chainsaw Thrashacre. Yet, it’s extremely cool to see the new stuff, Thrashional Rail and Hibernation Devastation, go down so well too. The former is one of their best.

It’s over far too soon, but as always, they leave an impression and plenty of smiles all round. Although there might be the odd grimace on faces too as necks are clearly already aching from an abundance of head banging.

Or maybe those who are grimacing are doing so because they know who is up next? It’s Raised By Owls, and of course, not everybody appreciates their extreme style and comedic antics, even when it comes in such an immensely talented form.

This is not my first Raised By Owls rodeo, but I’ve never seen them as good as they are here. The majority of the set is taken from their latest album, Vol. 3: (The Satirical Verses), and for good reason, it’s a banger release (read the review here) and the band have these songs nailed down. However, alongside that is comedy that continues to be fresh and funny, Raised by Owls as self-deprecating as ever, and crowd interaction that has taken on a whole new form. Seeing a pit of people all trying to do their best Barney Greenway dance (if you know, you know) just to win the kind of t-shirt you would never want to wear in public, is hilarious.

Putting it simply, seeing Raised by Owls live is the most fun you have with your clothes on (maybe even off, they do have some hardcore fans), but I want to remind people that just because they are a comedy metal band does not mean they are a joke. They really do have great songs, and for 45 minutes, the 229 transforms into an orgy of extreme sights and sounds, sweat included. Strictly Come Danzig, Ainsley Harriott Advises You to Give Your Meat a Good Ol’ Rub, Going for a Pint With Corpsegrinder, I Honestly Thought OSDM Was a Sex Thing, I’m Sorry I Wore a Dying Fetus T-Shirt to Your Baby’s Gender Reveal Party, a fun cover of Napalm Death’s You Suffer, and their much-enjoyed cover of Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit. It’s one hell of a memorable show.

Also, who else would totally buy a Raised by Owls branded ‘red cap’? Imagine Break Stuff but with a sea of people wearing red caps emblazoned with the Raised by Owl logo! Come on fellas, make it happen!

Not many bands could follow that, and be just as enjoyable, but Gama Bomb are not many bands, and the Irish thrashers bring their A-game here. Fresh off the release of their new EP, ‘Necronomicon Automaton’ (read the review here), Gama Bomb are in a very lively mood, and the 229, which is nicely packed out, is up for an extensive thrashing.

Gama Bomb throw their all into this show and take us on an extensive journey across the entire Gama Bomb back catalogue. Delving into the likes of Bats and Necronomicon Automaton (the title track of the latter sounds huge live), but also giving us songs from the likes of Sea Savage (She’s Not My Mother, Todd is a personal favourite). As well as songs from Citizen Brain (O is a blast, but Zombie Blood Nightmare is downright chaotic), Tales From the Grave in Space (I love Slam Anthem), Speed Between the Lines (Bring Out the Monster sees Snowy ‘The Gamabombinable Snowman’ make an appearance on stage), and even their cover of The Pogues’ If I Should Fall From Grace With God gets an airing. There’s no feelings of being ‘short-changed, not when you get a set that has over twenty songs in it.

That’s Gama Bomb for you though, they are consummate performers, but performers who like to have fun, and just happen to be downright hilarious too. I’ve never seen anything but them at their best, and this was another outstanding showcase of their talents. What an incredible night it was.