Philly Byrne

Musician

Philly co-founded Irish thrash metal band Gama Bomb in 2002. Following the release of their debut album Survival of the Fastest a few years later, Philly and his bandmates have been staples of the metal scene ever since and have toured the world, played countless festival stages and released seven more studio albums

Latest articles by Philly Byrne

Gama Bomb in 2025

I sing anti-fascist songs in a thrash band – why aren’t more metal musicians angry about the state of the world?

By Philly Byrne published

Hardcore and thrash still pride themselves on being politically conscious: we should all follow these ballsy bands’ examples

Culture
70,000 Tons Of Metal

70,000 Tons Of Metal: What Happens When You Put 5000 Metalheads On A Boat?

By Philly Byrne published

We sent Gama Bomb frontman and festival sceptic Philly Byrne to hang out on the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise ship with 5000 other metalheads. Here's what happened next...

Music Festivals
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Metal is being killed by cliches – I know because I am one

By Philly Byrne published

Metal is defined by its musical and visual tics – but in 2016 it seems they’re strangling the genre into irrelevance. Gama Bomb’s Philly Byrne asks: is it time to ditch our comfort blanket?

Culture