After the previous post reviewing the new Uriah Heep, now it’s time to review the new Nazareth offering Rock n Roll Telephone. Has been a bit of a week in Utopia with both of them to listen to. So what can one say about RNRT – tales two or three spins to wake up to it and then BAM! Proper classic Nazareth and what a way for Dan McCafferty to sign off if health problems do mean the end of recording after all these fine years. Best since No Jive. Full of crunching, gut wrenching chord structures for the big rock unmistakably Naz sound and a couple of deftly done ballads too. The boys are really on form here. Consistently strong throughout.
Boom Bang Bang hardly a subtle opener in sound or subject matter though (minor gripe) the chorus is a tad Eurovision. One Set of Bones rocks along nice and heavy with a spot of growling riffola from Jimmy Murrison who then ups the riffage on the heavier stuff such as the title track in particular. Thumping bluesy-tinged work and nify soloing all backed up by the massive rhythm section of a booming Pete Agnew on bass and solid kit work from Lee. All overlaid of course by a towering vocal showing from Dan. The unique voice still there and he hits the high stuff as well as the gravelly stuff too.
The big powerful sound is mellowed to give us a break with a couple of quieter ones and the closing trio of Not Today (massive, massive guitar – mean and dirty. Shakes the gut), Speakeasy (a fine rocker with a heck of a catchy sing-along chorus – single material?) and God of the Mountain (more huge meaty Murrison riffage) are as close to rock nirvana as one might realistically get.
And that’s it…..unless you have the expanded double disc version with a couple more studio tracks and five live cuts which are similarly storming displays of Naz classics such as Sunshine and Expect No Mercy. Awesome indeed.
Such a pleasure to listen to a band who have had their ups and downs through the years and (not unlike Uriah Heep’s last three albums) hit back squarely between the eyes with a knockout like Rock n Roll Telephone.
The four members gel well. It’s a towering, tight performance from each though for me it’s Jimmy Murrison who “owns” it. Huge growling guitar work which is nicely gut wrenching in depth of sound, dextrous solo breaks and sympathetic throughout the ballads (check out Winter Sunlight). Dan – if this is to be your last then what a way to sign off. Rock n Roll Telephone’s right up there with Hair of the Dog as a proper Naz classic.
Now, wouldn’t it be something of a very special treat if, with new albums out at the same time, Nazareth and Heep toured together…….Potentially unlikely as that may be, would be nice to catch Naz touring here in the UK and hearing the new stuff belted out with perhaps Dan being able to come out for a tune or two.
In the meantime – enjoy a proper hard/heavy rock album from a band who know how to do it right.
MORE REVIEWS OF ROCK N ROLL TELEPHONE HERE
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