BOMBER “Sommation”

Self-released, 2018

Music: Thrash Metal

Website: https://www.facebook.com/BomberOfficialBand/

Duration: 40 minutes (11 tracks)

Country: France

I was never a Thrash Metal fan until I stumbled across the well-crafted debut album of Vektor. Even though Vektor is more Proggy and dissonant Thrash instead of In-your-face kinda thrash, I was on a roll to find some good enough bands of such category. That’s when I found Crossover Thrash. Blending Thrash metal with a small bit of Hardcore, Crossover Thrash is nothing but Thrash metal with moshable breakdowns. However, the genre itself is not aggressive like Hardcore punk yet punishing like a normal thrash metal.

However, this time around I bet the odds for me to like an original Thrash Metal record with the debut record from the French thrashers Bomber. Sommation is a punchy thrash metal record with a lot of solos and of course, thrashy thick riffs, all wrapped around the same old thrash Metal-esque singing. Starting the album with some punchy riffs and continuing the same momentum till the end of the record, Bomber make sure that nothing falls apart. As far as I’m concerned, the first half of the album is owned by the fifth track, Man with no Name. Easily the best track on the album.

However, you can not expect a truly exceptional album from a genre that sounds a bit unoriginal and less experimental. That’s the case for Sommation as well. Nothing really sounds different except for the varying riffs. Yes, I do agree Muscle Man is a bit off from stereotypical Thrash metal in terms of vocals, but I’m not getting any fresh vibes from this album. I do sense some Crossover vibes(Check the 10th track Witness Hell), if only they were predominant, Bomber would have made the best debut record. With that being the ONLY flaw in the album, I really did enjoy Sommation.

With strong early Metallica vibes on this album, Bomber might as well make name for themselves with their Old School Thrash sound. As a fan myself(Yes, this album is enough for them to earn a fan), I would love to see something experimental next time around. With an album like this to make an impact, I strongly sense that the next one might be bigger and stronger to make an everlasting impact on the Metal scene as a whole. They have earned my respect. That being said, I can’t wait till these talented musicians drop their next album.

Line-up:

Vianney D’alessandro
Romain Ircio
Hugo Belval
Jürgen Wattiez

Tracklist:

1. Bombarded
2. Damn Negative
3. Demolition
4. League For Cancer
5. The Man with no name
6. Muscle Man
7. Pride Of The Burglars
8. Provider Of Hate
9. Speeding
10. Witness Hell
11. Assembled To Thrash

Rate: 8.5/10