They say third time’s the charm, and those packed into O2 Forum Kentish Town seemed to heartily agree, this reconvening of Glasgow rockers The Almighty, the third time since originally splitting up in 1996.
The Almighty
O2 Forum Kentish Town – 2 December 2023
Words: Paul Monkhouse
Photography: Steve Ritchie
When the founding quartet of Ricky Warwick, Andy ‘Tantrum’ McCafferty, Floyd London and Stump Monroe got together at a swanky London hotel in late February this year to announce they were back for three Winter dates, their camaraderie was infectious.
Known for the full-blooded support of their fans as well as their titanic shows, few bands have captured the spirit of dirty rock ‘n’ roll in the way that The Almighty have. The outfit has something of the same ethos as the late, great Lemmy and his wrecking crew. 
With shows at Glasgow and Manchester already under their belts, this trip to London saw the band back in the groove and firing on all cylinders.
The O2 Forum is rammed, and when the lights dim and a voice announces, “From Glasgow, Scotland, the All-Fucking-Mighty,” the place rightly loses it as the band tears into the apt roar of Resurrection.
It seems like every single soul in the place is singing every word back as the band attacks the set with the same vigour they did some thirty or so years previously. The punchy Over The Edge and brutal swagger of Power are a tidal wave of sound and emotion.
Whilst the audience clearly worships the band, this is very much a two-way love affair, the house lights coming on more than once to allow the quartet to see the faces of everyone there. 
First single Destroyed sees a hearty singalong and the sludgy riff of Wrench causes the mass of bodies in front of the stage to jump and writhe with its irresistible rhythms, London and Monroe providing the thunderous drive.
Whilst the band may be crushingly heavy and the riffs rampant, they also pack everything with an undoubted mountain of melody. Little Lost Sometimes and Bandaged Knees clearly illustrate subtle touches and soul. 
What The Almighty are most about is heart, a gritty and honest passion for the music they play, and it’s this that drives them. Warwick intimated that this was more than just a one-off but, instead, the opening salvo of a new chapter. 
The interplay between the singer and Tantrum adds real heft, their guitars used to demolish and the solos flipping from bluesy to brutal as Blood, Fire & Love soars, filling the hall. A rumbunctious Jonestown Mind and the punk mayhem of Crank & Deceit threaten to tear the place before a crowd chant of “All-Fucking-Mighty” leads into the sledgehammer swerve of Free & Easy, the already wild crowd positively feral in their enthusiasm. 
A three-song encore ends in the maelstrom of Wild & Wonderful, the one last chance of the night to sing until hoarse, grabbed with both hands by the audience, the celebration reaching its unstoppable climax. 
Whilst on the other side of the Atlantic, KISS were taking their final bows at Madison Square Gardens in London. The Almighty were just getting started on this next journey, and it looks to be a rocket-fuelled ride.
