THE ALMIGHTY / Blood, Fire and Love (1989)

I discovered Blood, Fire and Love when I was sixteen and I thought it was great, believing it was the sound that would destroy hair metal. I thought it was the perfect soundtrack to a night of necking cheap cider and trying to get laid.
Hearing it again after so many years have passed made me smile guiltily and somewhat shamefully. It sounds like 1989.
In retrospect, I now know that cider is evil devil's piss (whisky is better) and that getting laid has nothing to do with The Almighty.

Songs of Note: Blood, Fire & Love; Full Force Lovin' Machine

2½ wild and (not quite as) wonderful choruses out of 5

THE ALMIGHTY / Just Add Life (1996)

If not for the distinctive sounds that come from vocalist Ricky Warwick I'd have thought this turd was labelled wrong and that I'd picked up a lame-ass trendy Pop-rock album by mistake. I didn't. It’s lame-ass trendy Pop-rock on purpose. Avoid.

Song of Least Fail: Afraid of Flying

0½ a waste of time except for the 43 second song out of 5

THE ALMIGHTY / Crank (1994)

The Almighty got heavier yet again on their fourth studio album and seemed to forget what it was that had made them interesting before. It's a competent hybrid of grunge and traditional British rock but is oh-so-very boring. They added some double kick and wanky guitar moments that really don't fit with the aesthetic they had before. I listened to it from start to finish for the first time since I got it for the purposes of this review and was left wondering why I bothered.

Songs of Note: None.

0½ because they had Andy Cairns guest out of 5

THE ALMIGHTY / Powertrippin' (1993)

New guitar player brings new sound for the 'Mightys. It's much heavier, a heck of a lot grungier and altogether less safe than before, but still finds room for the usual ballad (see below). Ricky Warwick's vocal delivery is what holds it all together, and Stump Monroe's drumming has greatly improved. It takes a while to warm to if you're used to their Soul Destruction era, and while not as good at the time it has ironically aged better. Hunt down the special edition for a bonus live disc.

Songs of Note: Possession; Jesus Loves You... But I Don’t.

3½ Marlon Brando straight razors out of 5

THE ALMIGHTY / Soul Destruction (1991)

Very cheesy early nineties rock music that'll likely make everyone that wasn't there at the time cringe. Most of the album is filler, but there are enough quality tracks to make it worth a recommendation. It has a few questionable production decisions, but the guitars are rocking and vocalist Ricky Warwick had a suitably gravelly voice, often called one of the best in 90s rock.
Soul Destruction is still good for pleasing the ladies or keeping people that still live in the nineties happy. I'm a fan. I can deal with it.

Songs of Note: Devil's Toy; Little Lost Sometimes;

3 (put your damn lighters away) out of 5