Nazareth

Nazareth – Tattooed On My Brain (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 51:50 minutes | 641 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Frontiers Records s.r.l.

It is difficult to sum up in few words the history and influence in the history of rock music that an act like Nazareth has had. Celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year, the release of their brand new album, “Tattooed On My Brain” is their 24th full-length studio release. It is also the beginning of a new chapter a sit is the first one to feature new vocalist Carl Sentance (ex-Persian Risk, Don Airey). In 2014, original singer Dan McCafferty had to leave the band for health reasons and with his blessing, Sentance is now fronting the legendary band who are rejuvenated and back with a stunning new album that has all the ingredients that make this band so great in the first place.The current line-up of the band consists of Jimmy Murrison (longest serving guitarist in the band’s history), Lee Agnew (drummer since Darrel Sweet’s death in 1999), Pete Agnew (founding member, on bass) and new singer Carl Sentence.Pete Agnew says, “[w]ith Carl as our brand new singer and Frontiers as our brand new record company, the buzz surrounding us right now is the same as it was when we went in to record our very first album. Can’t wait for the sparks to fly!”Nazareth originally formed in Dumferline, Scotland in 1968, releasing their eponymous debut album in 1971. The band broke big when, after supporting Deep Purple on tour, they released the Roger Glover-produced “Razamanaz” album in early 1973 to critical and fan acclaim. They then released an impeccable string of hit records, including “Loud ‘N’ Proud”, “Rampant”, and the smash hit “Hair of the Dog”, which was released in April 1975. The album included evergreen songs such as the title track (later covered by Guns N’Roses on their “The Spaghetti Incident?” album) and “Love Hurts”. The band has continued to release albums and tour the globe since and now prepares to embark on their 50th Anniversary Tour and release their new studio album, “Tattooed On My Brain”!FOR FANS OF: Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, UFO, Thin Lizzy, Saxon

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Nazareth – Rock ‘n’ Roll Telephone (2014/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 43:53 minutes | 530 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Union Square Music

Rock ‘n’ Roll Telephone is the twenty-third album by Scottish rock band Nazareth, released in June 2014 by Union Square Music. It is their last album with original singer Dan McCafferty who left the group before its release.

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Nazareth – Razamanaz (1973/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 36:17 minutes | 859 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © A&M

Razamanaz is the third studio album by the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, released in 1973. It was the band’s first LP record to break the charts and was produced by Roger Glover of Deep Purple, who the band was on tour with at the time. “Woke Up This Morning” was re-recorded for this album.

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Nazareth – Hair Of The Dog (1975/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 40:35 minutes | 849 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Salvo

After slowly but surely building a fanbase around the world with albums like Razamanaz and Loud ‘N’ Proud, Nazareth finally hit the big time in 1975 with Hair of the Dog. The title track sets the mood for this stark album of hard rock with its combination of relentless guitar riffs, a throbbing, cowbell-driven beat, and an angry vocal from Dan McCafferty that denounces a “heart-breaker, soul-shaker.” The end result is a memorably ferocious rocker that has become a staple of hard rock radio stations. The remainder of the album divides its time between similarly pulverizing hard rock fare and some intriguing experiments with the group’s sound. In the rocker category, notable tracks include “Miss Misery,” a bad romance lament driven by a doomy riff worthy of Black Sabbath, and “Changin’ Times,” a throbbing hard rock tune driven by a hypnotic, circular-sounding guitar riff. In the experimental category, the big highlight is “Please Don’t Judas Me,” an epic tune about paranoia that trades heavy metal riffs for a spooky, synthesizer-dominated atmosphere that is further enhanced by some light, Pink Floyd-styled slide guitar work. The American edition of this album also included a surprise hit for the group with their power ballad reinterpretation of the Everly Brothers classic “Love Hurts.” However, the album’s surprise highlight is a song that bridges the gap between the straight hard rock and experimental songs, “Beggars Day/Rose in Heather”; it starts out as a stomping rocker but smoothly transforms itself midway through into a gentle and spacey instrumental where soaring synthesizer lines support some moody guitar work. All in all, Hair of the Dog is the finest album in the Nazareth catalog. It is a necessity for both the group’s fans and anyone who loves 1970s hard rock. – Donald A. Guarisco

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Nazareth – Expect No Mercy (1977/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 35:33 minutes | 777 MB | Genre: Rock, Hard Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © A&M Records

On this 1977 album, Nazareth makes a full-blooded return to the hard rock sound they had neglected since their success with Hair of the Dog. The result is a potent, driving slab of hard rock that will please Nazareth fans and devotees of 1970s hard rock alike. The album sets its frenzied tone right off the bat with its title track, a blistering rocker that features Dan McCafferty spitting out a sharp-edged vocal about life’s cruelty over a series of fast and relentless guitar riffs. The remainder of the album prominently features a similarly brutal string of rockers: standouts include “Revenge Is Sweet,” a paean to getting even that combines chugging guitar riffs with a stomping beat, and “Gimme What’s Mine,” a fierce declaration of dominance that layers Southern rock-styled riffs over a churning bassline. Despite this preponderance of hard rocking tunes, Expect No Mercy isn’t just a guitar-fest. It also takes time to explore country-rock (there is an excellent, rocked-up cover of the country standard “Busted” as well as a honky tonk-style original called “Place in Your Heart”) and even a little bit of funk (a hard-grooving slice of funk-rock fusion called “New York Broken Toy”). The album never takes the daring stylistic chance within the hard rock formula that distinguished Razamanaz or Hair of the Dog, but this is minor quibble in light of the album’s high levels of consistency and quality. In short, Expect No Mercy is a treat for Nazareth fans and a solid listen for any hard rock fan who wants a good indication of the group’s style. – Donald A. Guarisco

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Nazareth – Close Enough For Rock ‘N’ Roll (1976/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 37:52 minutes | 788 MB | Genre: Rock, Hard Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © A&M Records

After cornering the hard rock market in 1975 with the international success of Hair of the Dog, Nazareth surprised fans and listeners alike the next year when they traded that style for a softer, more AOR approach on Close Enough for Rock & Roll. The resulting album isn’t as successful as their previous one, but is a tuneful affair that offers plenty of highlights for the Nazareth fan. This time out, they go for an across-the-board experimental approach that covers everything from their traditional hard rock to country-rock and even straight pop tunes. The ultimate example of this experimentation is “Telegram,” a four-part rock opera about life on tour for a rock band that starts as a frenzied rocker and ends a piano-led sing-along. Other strong tracks include “You’re the Violin,” a hard rocking love song that includes plenty of inventive guitar work to bring its music as love metaphors to life, and “Carry Out Feelings,” a poppy love lament that successfully incorporates a reggae groove into the band’s sound. Although hard rock is downplayed in general on this album, Close Enough for Rock & Roll does sport a few sharp rockers: “Born Under the Wrong Side” uses driving voice box guitar riffs to create a menacing atmosphere, and “Lift the Lid” is an effective slice of boogie rock. All in all, Close Enough for Rock & Roll is too unfocused to fully succeed as an album but offers solid tunes and the quality musicianship necessary to back them up. Casual fans may want to pick up the album’s radio hits on a compilation, but this album is a worthwhile listen for the hardcore Nazareth addict. – Donald A. Guarisco

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Nazareth – Surviving the Law (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 48:09 minutes | 613 MB | Genre: Hard Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Frontiers Records s.r.l.

It is difficult to sum up in few words the history and influence in the history of rock music that an act like Nazareth has had. Having celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2018 with the release of their 24th studio album, “Tattooed On My Brain”, the long-running UK hard rockers will enter their 54th year of existence in 2022 with the release of their 25th studio album, “Surviving The Law”. The line-up for “Surviving The Law” is the same as the previous release, consisting of Jimmy Murrison (longest serving guitarist in the band’s history), Lee Agnew (drummer since Darrel Sweet’s death in 1999), Pete Agnew (founding member, on bass) and vocalist Carl Sentance.
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