What better way to start the New Year than with a career retrospective of one of the UK’s best, yet perhaps most under-rated bands.   

This is a 2-disc package, the first being a CD of the 13 singles they released (along with 4 bonus tracks chosen by the band) and the second being a DVD with the promo videos for the singles and a host of extras. I am only reviewing the CD portion of the package (unfortunately !!) 

The Almighty were one of the few bands I remember from the late-80s / early-90s that could write genuine fist-pumping metal anthems and this compilation brings us one after another, after another. It’s easy to forget just how good they were, so this release serves as a great reminder or an absolutely awesome introduction if you are not familiar with their material. Like Iron Maiden, I think they are one of the few bands of that era that could successfully appeal to today’s younger audience, because they had the attitude as well as the songs, and that rare combination never goes out of fashion. 

We start with “Destroyed” and “Power” from the band’s debut album, Blood, Fire and Love along with the track that has become synonymous with the band and perhaps best describes them – “Wild & Wonderful”.

I guess it was the Soul Destruction album that really propelled The Almighty to more global prominence and from that album we have the mighty triumvirate of “Free N Easy”, “Devil’s Toy” and “Little Lost Sometimes” which are as good a trio of songs as appeared on virtually any album of the time, in my humble opinion. 

The quality in no way lessens as we get “Addiction”, “Over The Edge” and “Out Of Season” from the Powertrippin’ album.  Then it’s the bone-crunching “Wrench” and “Jonestown Mind” from Crank before ending the singles part of the album with “All Susses Out” and “Do You Understand” from Just Add Life. 

The four hand-picked bonus songs are the always brilliant “Jesus Loves You…But I Don’t” plus “Ongoing and Total”, “Broken Machine” and “Ruse”. 

As with any compilation, you can never please everyone and some veritable classics – “Crucified” and “Bandaged Knees”, for example, do not make the running list, as they were never released as singles. But hey…they give you reason to dig out your studio albums again, or go buy them if you haven’t got them already.

 Overall, this is a fantastic compilation of brilliant songs from one of the UK’s best bands. I hope that this, along with their recent UK dates, heralds a new era in The Almighty’s career. There’s always room on the scene for bands of this quality.

Anthf***ingology is released via Castle on February 5th

Related Links

The Almighty - Live Review

Ricky Warwick - Interview

Ricky Warwick - Live Review

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Track List

Destroyed
Power
Wild And Wonderful
Free 'n' Easy
Devil's Toy
Little Lost Sometimes
Addiction
Over The Edge
Out Of Season
Wrench
Jonestown Mind
All Sussed Out
Do You Understand
Jesus Loves You But I Don't
Welcome To Defiance
Way Beyond Belief
Ongoing And Total
Broken Machine
Ruse

Line UP

Ricky Warwick - Vocals/Guitar
Pete Friesen - Guitars
Floyd London - Bass
Stumpy Monroe - Drums