When old bands get back together, I’m wary of pinning it on nostalgia. It suggests that they sound out of time and place. This is a nostalgic evening, there’s no denying, but they certainly don’t sound past it. The Almighty were never really darlings of a scene. More outsiders that were underrated in the 90s like The Wildhearts. There were some big hitting songs though, that would soundtrack any rock night of the decade, but that early string of albums hid much more than just the hits. It’s these records that they stick to tonight as they go for the jugular. It’s been 20 plus years since I last saw them and I’ve clearly forgotten how good they are live. It’s sold out and I can’t be arsed pushing down the front, so I’m midway into the Academy surrounded by I think it’s fair to say mostly older gentlemen. There’s not much hair. Theres not much movement to start either. Although I can see feet flaying in the pit as someone attempts some early doors surfing to ‘Over The Edge’. The fella in front of me starts yawning. Oddly contagious yaws aren’t they and soon it comically spreads to those around me. ‘Addiction’ wakes me up though. Even with its slower pace, those chugging guitars pack a punch and that bass is brutal. Warwick it has to be said sounds amazing too. His voice has lost none of its power. It feels like the first real moment, perhaps Warwick senses it too as he takes the opportunity to thank us and introduce ‘Destroyed’. This first single release goes right back to the start and gets played with the sort of joy from a band clearly happy for still getting to do this. ‘Wrench’ sounds like a sledgehammer rhythmically belting the shit out of your skull while an angry Scot shouts at you. It’s like a melodic Ministry. I mean, brilliant right!! Nobodies yawning now! Now I’ll admit I’m not so keen on the acoustic lead songs. They just get a little bit yeehaw Americana, but ‘Little Lost Sometimes’ is okay. That said, you could say a lot of their sound has hints from across the pond. ‘Devils Toy’ has its blues licks and anthemic chorus. Guitar solos and even the lyrics. It could be Alice Cooper up there. And with song titles like ‘Full Force Lovin’ Machine’ it’s clear where the influences are. Warwick and London work the stage, trading places, laying it on as thick as the riffs. It’s pure rock n roll, bandanas, studded guitar straps and Marshall stacks. The crowd are surprisingly very pleasant though, no ladish bullshit, lots of original band shirts and hardly any annoying videoing. Younger audiences take note. I’m amazed how fast the time goes, the first hour flys by as they rip into the bouncy blues banger ‘Sin Against the Light’. Not a song I’d expect to enjoy so much, but it’s infectious and has me jumping around like my feet are on fire. The acoustic is back out for ‘Blood, Fire & Love’. Maybe it’s desert soaked vibes aren’t the ideal soundtrack to a frosty Manchester night, but that drum stomp is huge and they fill the room and take over the senses. We’re getting to the business end, mass crowd hand claps explode for ‘Jonestown Mind’ before it goes absolutely batshit for ‘Free ‘n’ Easy’. Pints are raised or flung, heads bang, everyone sings and those feet are flying in the pit once more, as those Marshall’s cling on for dear life. It’ll take some following, but as the drums pound the intro to ‘Crucify’ it’s clear they’ve found the accelerator are not going to let up. Or so I thought. I know ‘Jesus Loves You… But I Don’t’ is a crowd favourite, but it’s better placed earlier in the set in my humble opinion. Don’t get me wrong, it sounds great, but I’d just got used to jumping around and you can’t jump to this. You can to ‘Wild & Wonderful’ though. They’re clocking nearly 2 hours, but barely break a sweat, they make this look easy, but sets like this don’t happen by magic, especially after so long. Some serious work has gone into this and it’s pays off wonderfully. “Maybe we should do this again” suggests Warwick. Not a bad idea.
