Nazareth - 'Snaz (2LP) - Green + Orange Vinyl

Nazareth’s live set 'Snaz is one of those records that lands with a thud on the turntable and instantly turns the room into a rowdy arena. Recorded at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver in 1981 and released the same year, it catches the Scottish stalwarts at full flight in front of a big Canadian crowd that clearly knew every shout-along cue. In the UK it arrived as a double LP, a proper tour document with depth and shape. North America got a trimmed single LP. Either way, it is a punchy snapshot of a band that had toured hard through the 70s and knew exactly how to make a large venue feel like the world’s best pub.

The line-up here is a sweet spot in their story. Dan McCafferty’s sandpaper roar is the anchor, cutting through the mix with that battered yet tuneful edge only he had. Manny Charlton’s guitar still leads with steely bite, Pete Agnew keeps the low end springy and melodic, and Darrell Sweet drives the whole thing with big, unfussy drums that sound tailor-made for concrete and steel. You can also hear the added colour from Billy Rankin on guitar, plus John Locke’s keys, which had come into the fold around The Fool Circle. That extra guitar and keyboard detail lets Nazareth lean into their hard rock stomp without losing the swing or the sly hooks.

What makes 'Snaz sing is the way it balances big hits with deep-cut attitude. “Razamanaz” arrives like the doors blown off the hinges, riffs bouncing between guitarists while the crowd answers every line. “Hair of the Dog” is pure thunder, the famous taunt turned into a communal chant that rattles the seats. “This Flight Tonight,” their Joni Mitchell rework, is sharpened for the stage, all chug and snap, with McCafferty phrasing like a street poet. “Love Hurts” becomes a mass singalong, tender but tough, and you can hear how much the audience owns it. There is room too for newer material from that 1981 period, which sits neatly beside the 70s staples and shows how the band could still freshen the formula without losing the grit.

Live albums from this era often get accused of polish, or of being half studio creations. 'Snaz feels more lived-in. The guitars have just enough hair on them, the vocals are upfront without crushing the band, and the rhythm section breathes. You can tell the night was loud. There is headroom though, so those dynamic lifts hit harder. The crowd is present, not smothering the music, and the pacing of the full UK version lets the set build like a real gig rather than a quick highlight reel. It is the kind of mix that flatters a good system and still feels dangerous on a cheap one.

Part of the charm is cultural as well as musical. Nazareth were huge across Canada and big in Australia’s pub rock imagination, and you can sense that shared language in the cheers, in the timing of the call and response, in the between-song swagger. If you collect Nazareth vinyl, 'Snaz is the record you put on when you want friends to understand why this band mattered beyond a couple of radio staples. It is also the one that proves they could take a hit and make it meaner or take a deep cut and make it bigger.

If you are hunting for 'Snaz vinyl, the UK double remains the prize. Later reissues restore the full track list that some territories lost, so there is no need to settle for an abbreviated set. Spin it loud and you will hear why this period still resonates with fans who swear by loud rooms and gallows humour. For crate diggers, it turns up often enough that patience pays off. For everyone else, it is easy to buy Nazareth records online through reputable sellers, and most decent Melbourne record store counters know to keep a copy handy. It sits neatly beside other Nazareth albums on vinyl, and holds its own next to live staples from the era.

Four decades on, 'Snaz still plays like a victory lap for a band that earned its stripes the hard way, city by city, night by night. The recording is tough, the performances are lean, and the songs work the crowd like old friends. If your shelves lean towards classic hard rock and your heart leans towards big rooms and bigger choruses, this is a keeper. And if you are building a collection of vinyl records Australia punters actually put on rather than just file away, start here, volume knob well past halfway.