Free 'n' Easy or Wild & Wonderful?
Those hard-rockin' lads from Glasgow are back with an anthology of their top tracks lovingly entitled, 'Anthfuckingology'. Arguably, one of the best things to come out of Scotland musically, The Almighty are a band I remember way back playing dirty rock'n'roll in late 80's/early 90's. This was of course when lead singer Ricky Warwick was married to Headbanger's Ball presenter Vanessa Warwick, and mainstream rock was turning from make-up wearing tranny-pop/rock, to more aggressive lumberjack wearing rock, just before a couple of small Seattle bands threw their depressing musical spanner in the works!
So back in 1989 'Blood, Fire & Love' was released which set the bar at what was likely to follow in the next few albums. The sound was very British in the dirty rock'n'blues influence, and with Ricky's deep scotch-soaked vocals, big chunky guitar riffs and thumping drums from the greatly named Stumpy Monroe. Here we have the first three songs from this album, 'Destroyed', 'Power' and the great 'Wild & Wonderful', the latter really coming to life live. Which takes us nicely to their next album in 1990, which saw them set into stone their great live performances on the live album, cunningly entitled, 'Blood, Fire & Live'.
Next album, 'Soul Destruction' was the album that introduced them to a whole new wave of fans, and made a name for themselves in America. 'Free 'n' Easy' was another song that had all of the elements of an anthem, and was another live favourite, whereas 'Devil's Toy', had the depths of a slow beginning which includes a slide guitar, before it suddenly kicks into a monster of a song, and still remains up there with one of my favourite songs from that era. The other song 'Little Lost Sometimes' is a low gentle acoustic number that could easily be one of those songs sung around a campfire, with a few beers and your best girl by your side.
1992 had The Almighty taking on Donington quite successfully, and this is shown on a live second disc on their next album in 1993, 'Powertrippin''. The album showed the shift in the music scene throughout the rock world, and saw The Almighty's music darken with a heavier sound that bordered more on bands like Metallica, Pantera, and Slayer, as opposed to the rock'n'roll fusion sound previously of groups like Motorhead and Led Zeppelin. 'Addiction' has big bad riffs that are more in line with metal, and there is some real aggression and angst flowing through. 'Over The Edge' is a little more rock, whilst 'Out Of Season' is slower with almost tribal drums beating in the background, before the acoustic 'Jesus Love You...But I Don't' takes you off to another place – although why it's a handful of tracks later on this album is a mystery to me...?!
We only have two tracks off of 1994's album, 'Crank' - 'Wrench' and 'Jonestown Mind'. Both are less dark, but still have that heavy edge and ferociousness to the guitars. The hooks are less obvious than the top-selling first couple of albums, but let's not forget that it was bands like Alice in Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine that were en vogue around this time. 'All Sussed Out' from 1996's album, 'Just Add Life' shows the band at a happier period of life, with a horn section added, gentler guitars and a more party feel. 'Do You Understand' is leaning back towards the classic sound of The Almighty and is the best song on, 'Just Add...'.
The last two songs are 'Broken Machine' from The Almighty's self-titled album of 2000, which has a mature, but solid rock sound with guitars that jump back to 93's 'Powertrippin', and 'Ruse' from 2001's 'Psycho Narco' which sees The Almighty in another slightly experimental phase which works well. With a riff that is straight from a stoner-band, and vocals that are slightly gentle, that builds up with a nice hook, it's a wonder this didn't do better than it did.
Strangely enough The Almighty released a compilation album in 2002 with half of these songs here on there, so perhaps if you have that, then there's not much point in getting this. Ricky Warwick can certainly pen a good song, and more clear evidence of this has been his solo tours. This album gives you a great idea on what The Almighty have done over the past 18 years, and this is a good introduction to the band. However, when you have bought this, do yourself a huge favour and get a couple of their other albums too. Personally I'd recommend 'Blood, Fire & Love', 'Soul Destruction' or the slight wild card of 'Just Add Water'
The Almighty are still a classic rock band that don't sound dated nor uncool, and a good reason why sometimes us English like to say we are British instead...