A few years back I wrote a review - no, more like a book - in a failed
attempt at somehow trying to regenerate interest in a band whose
fortunes, once measured in gold, were then weighted with lead. "Just
Add Life" was a case of too little too late for what at that time was
"Almighty," and then they were gone. To this day I can still crank up
"Blood Fire & Love," which first sent shock waves through the heavy music
industry (Metallica meets The Cult-I remember it well!) back in 1989, now
seemingly a million years ago. They were different, unique, and primed to
grab the bull by his balls and really make a difference. They did for a
while, but their problem was that instead of maintaining their edge and
staying one step ahead of the pack, they grew content just to run with
them and in the process seemed to lose their own identity - "La Chispa De
La Muerte" maybe? What they did, was allow themselves to get
beaten to the punch and arrived too late to capitalize on the success
others enjoyed.
Along the way, "The Almighty" made some incredible
music, and with each album, in its own way, there was something for
everyone. Their welcome comeback sees the return of the "The" prefix in
their name, as well as their old logo (originally one of the finest
illustrations ever in creation), and the right moves on both
counts. Simply, this album has to be great, because if this possesses anything
less than the impact they originally made, it's over. To do that,
they need to rediscover that fire, that desire from early on. It's not
that hard, they're already halfway there.
Wholly, this album sounds
like a combination of their last two studio records, "Crank" and "Just
Add Life," or back when they were going through their hardcore, punk,
ska phases. The sound here falls somewhere in between and is undeniably
heavy - at times quite thunderous. A new guitar player by the name of
Nick Parsons joins the Warwick-led crew, which also finds mainstays
Floyd London and Stumpy bringin' up the rear.
The first song, "Broken Machine," flaunts a bomb of a guitar riff and the
signature chorus
that's always been at the core of their strong points. Warwick, ever the
master orator, is terrific at presenting a point and taking the most
circuitous route to arrive there. "Let's go and burn down the fucking
world!" Well, not exactly.
"I'm In Love With Revenge" is another of
those rants against the evils of society in whatever shape or form they
may be. "Big Black Automatic," with a title like that, should be better.
As is it's a bust. However, "For Fuck's Sake" and "White Anger
Comedown" flash some of that past melody they'd always put to good
use, but here still a little too clean, since the mix really could be
loosened up
a little.
"The Almighty's" finest moments have always been based around
power chords, a few hooks, melody, group chorus and anger! Back in the
day, even the occasional ballad reeked of disgust - yes, beauty in
darkness! "TNT" follows up "White Anger Comedown" and has some gritty
guitar work. This is a guitar dominant album without question. The
production's just too restrictive.
"The Almighty" needed to shake the
world with their second coming, but they probably won't. This album should
make
some waves, since it does have some very explosive moments. It finishes up
very
strongly, after a fairly anti-climactic beginning, and enough variety
between songs to keep it interesting without reinventing their own style
from one to the next!
