Six different scorers shared the fun as Shrewsbury registered a 7-0 triumph to blast out a huge message of intent to the rest of the division.
Following an even opening 25 minutes, central defender Michael Jackson opened the scoring and from there Paul Simpson's men never looked back.
Dave Hibbert, skipper Ben Davies and Graham Coughlin were also on target as the home side established a 4-0 half-time lead.
But any thoughts they would declare were quickly forgotten as Shane Sherriff, Grant Holt with a penalty and Davies with his second, added to the tally as Shrewsbury recorded their biggest league win since a 7-1 thrashing of Rochdale in February 2001.
There had been near misses at both ends during the first 25 minutes and a closely-fought encounter looked in prospect.
But the match changed dramatically in the 27th minute when Jackson headed home a Davies corner.
Three minutes later the Gills defence backed off Hibbert who increased the lead with a fine curling shot from 20 yards.
The game was effectively over as a contest three minutes before the break when a Davies free-kick deceived everyone, including Gillingham keeper Simon Royce and swerved into the net.
There was still time for Shrewsbury's other centre-half, Coughlin, to add his name to the scoresheet after nodding home on the stroke of half-time.
Seven minutes after the restart, Sherriff knocked in the fifth with the Gillingham defence in disarray.
In the 58th minute, Holt was sent crashing in the box but then smashed home the ensuing penalty kick himself and it was a surprise that no more goals arrived until the 87th minute when Davies curled in an exquisite free-kick to complete the most emphatic of victories.