The Road to Hell is the tenth studio album by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1989.

[6][7] The album demonstrates a thematic cohesion previously absent from Rea's work, with the majority of the tracks containing strong elements of social commentary, addressing alienation, violence and redemption.

The album built on the upswing Rea had experienced in the previous few years, starting with a surge of popularity in Ireland.

[10] Throughout the album there are repeated references to increasing social dissolution and rising violence, including riots, murder and their irresponsible depiction on television news (You Must Be Evil), and "the perverted fear of violence" on city streets (The Road to Hell (Part 2)), where "it's all gone crazy" amid fears that "someone's gonna get killed out there" (Texas).

[11] In an interview for the deluxe edition of the album (2019), Rea said You Must Be Evil was inspired by a journalistic friend of his recounting that a report on someone having been necklaced in riots in South Africa would only make the television news if footage of the horrific event was obtained.

Creative Director John Carver personally handled the project, and commissioned and art directed the illustrator, Adrian Chesterman.

In 2019 the album, along with others in Rea's back catalogue, was remastered and reissued with a second CD of B-Sides, remixes and live tracks.