It is a fresh evening as MetalTalk enter the famous Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. The air is thick with anticipation as Glasgow prepares to welcome home their heroes, The Almighty.
The Almighty – Wolfsbane
Barrowland, Glasgow – 30 November 2025
Words: Robert Adams
Photography: Jim Brown
Tamworth Terrors, Wolfsbane get proceedings off to a flying start with a raucous set. MetalTalk managed to catch around half the set and were suitably impressed, not least by bassist Jeff Hateley’s bottle of Buckfast tonic wine perched proudly atop his amp.
Blaze Bayley is ringmaster extraordinaire and is in fine voice. Guitarist Jase Edwards’ health issues have been well documented, but that does not stop him casually throwing out powerful riffs and blistering solos from his seated position stage right. Steve Danger cuts a fine figure behind the kit with his stetson hat.
The Almighty
As is customary for The Almighty’s St. Andrew’s Day gigs in Glasgow, this being the third year in a row the band have played Barrowland on this most Scottish of days, a lone piper leads the rabid crowd in a spine-tingling rendition of Flower Of Scotland.
This time, there is footage of Scott McTominay’s incredible overhead kick goal against Denmark projected on the rear screen.
The sound of helicopters soon fills the PA, and then the unmistakable sound of Paul “Bomber” Jackson’s introduction has the Glasgow crowd at fever pitch. “Will you please welcome, from Glasgow, Scotland, the all wild, the all loud, the All fucking Mighty.”
The band come on to an almighty roar from the crowd (sorry, couldn’t help myself with that), and we are off to a flying start with Takin’ Hold.
The Almighty sound absolutely incredible. It’s loud, but not ear-bleedingly so, unlike the last time I saw The Almighty in this venue 30 years ago on the Crank tour.
I had the privilege of reviewing The Almighty at The Cambridge Corn Exchange last year and was blown away by how tight and energetic they were. Tonight is more of the same, if not better.
The Almighty really are like a fine wine. They just get better with age.
Jonestown Mind and Over The Edge follow in quick succession, and the Glasgow crowd are loving every second.
Finally, Ricky Warwick pauses for breath and a quick guitar change before addressing the crowd and then straight into Love Religion. The Barras is literally bouncing, and it is clear The Almighty can do no wrong tonight.
Power, Full Force Lovin’ Machine, Addiction and Welcome To Defiance fly by in a flurry of energy, style and positive rock ‘n’ roll. This is how every rock band should sound.
Ricky Warwick is a complete force of nature. He has got the look, the attitude, the voice and the passion that, if he bottled it, would make him a fortune. Floyd London’s bass playing is off the scale good. Holding the bottom end down like only he can, while covering every inch of the Barrowland stage. His beard is also a wonderful addition.
Andy McCafferty throws out licks and tasteful solos from his Epiphone Explorer like confetti at a wedding, while Stumpy Monroe holds the beat like a grand master. The combination of all four make The Almighty what they are, one of the finest rock bands to ever come out of Scotland.
The past three years of limited gigs, three in 2023, four in 2024 and five in 2025, have proved beyond any doubt that The Almighty are still a force to be reckoned with. I genuinely believe you will struggle to find a rock band that is tighter than The Almighty.
Out Of Season, from the Powertrippin’ album, gets its live debut on these November shows and sounds great. Two songs from Crank follow, Wrench and Crank And Deceit, and yet again prove beyond any doubt just how tight and energetic The Almighty are.
Ricky straps on his Gretsch acoustic guitar for an impassioned run through Bandaged Knees. Devil’s Toy, a raucous Thunderbird, Destroyed, Jesus Loves You…..But I Don’t, and an incendiary Wild And Wonderful, with obligatory crowd participation, brings the set to a close, and the Glasgow crowd once more salute their heroes.
Of course, there is an encore, and we get the hit that should have been, Little Lost Sometimes, and Free And Easy before the band takes their final bows, all resplendent in Glasgow Barrowland t-shirts.
What a show, what a band and what a venue. This was everything that is right about a rock show. Same time next year, please, gents.
