Irish thrashers GAMA BOMB are currently writing new material for their as-yet untitled new album. The follow-up to 2009's Tales From The Grave In Space will be Gama Bomb's fourth album and is tentatively due to be released early next year.

Gama Bomb frontman Philly Byrne comments: "We're about to enter a studio in central Dublin to work on demos for our new album, which we're hoping to release in early 2012. In terms of songwriting, we're writing much 'tougher' or meaner songs now. We want to make music that street gangs could listen to before a fight, songs you can sharpen a switchblade to. I've been looking a lot to Phil Lynott for inspiration, which can never be a bad thing. He's always been a big inspiration for us, even if you can't always hear it.

"Mind you, we're also about everything from our history of underage drinking and theoretical physics to drag racing and (of course) cannibalism, so there's no knowing where this one is going to take us. We're hopefully going to record here in Ireland and we'll pull no punches on either the speed of the riffs or the attitude of the songwriting. That's the only plan right now."

Gama Bomb are also gearing up for a string of summer festival dates, but have had to bring in a temporary stand-in for lead guitarist Domo Dixon for the live shows due to a hand injury.

The band have released the following statement: "As you may have heard, our guitarist Domo Dixon has suffered a tendon injury to his left hand and will be unable to play with us for the coming period. Domo severed a tendon in a bizarre trouser accident - that's not a joke - so will have to sit out gigs for the next three months. We're all very perplexed and upset about it, but are ploughing on with our upcoming European festival appearances. Playing guitar is Domo's passion and his life, and we're sure all our fans will join us in wishing him a full and speedy recovery. Until he's back up to shredding speed, we'll be joined on the road by our good friend Kevy Canavan on lead guitar."

See Gama Bomb live this summer at the following shows:

July 15 - Anyksciai, Lithuania - Devilstone Open Air

July 16 - Aalborg, Denmark - Day of Decay Festival

July 29 - Brande-Hornerkirchen, Germany - Headbangers Open Air

July 30 - San Giacomo degli Schiavoni, Italy - Armageddon In The Park

Watch Gama Bomb's video diary from their recent US tour below: