Disco de Nazareth: “Rampant [Digipak]”

that's right, i think that this album belongs to same class with Hair of the Dog, Expect no Mercy and Razamanaz. i think every song is great - especially "Silver Dollar Forger", "Shanghai'd in Shanghai", "Jet Lag", "Sunshine" and the scorching "Shapes of Things/Space Safari". this album sounds overally very tongue-in-cheek-made. Dan McGafferty's loud vocals do the job in this album too, as well as Manny Charlton's guitarwork and of course the others. this album is not as heavy as "Hair of the Dog" or "Razamanaz", and not too pure Nazareth like "Expect No Mercy", it is like a mix of them all, and is a pure listening enjoyment that I'd recommend to everyone who likes rock

So pressed for time was Nazareth, that "Rampant", their third record released in little more than a year was hardly in the record stores, when the band had to hit the road for their North American tour in June 1974. Pressure to produce actually helped Nazareth forge their unique brand of hard rock and 1974's "Rampant" helped set the stage for their break out success, "Hair of the Dog", a year later. And what of "Rampant"? All who listened to it, agreed that it rocked as hard as "Loud `N' Proud", but wait, something's different here. Nazareth experimented with weird sound effects including vocal box guitar, time changes and their song writing definitely showed improvement ("Silver Dollar Forger", "Loved and Lost" and "Light My Way"). They did a rocking, spaced out version of which some consider the definitive cover of The Yardbird's "Shapes of Things". The Southern boogie style trend of the time was nicely melded into "Shanghai'd in Shanghai" and "Jet Lag". The Bad Company power ballad style can be heard in "Loved and Lost". Roger glover's production is crisp and on "Rampant" he helped to unleash a sonic boom from a band that was nearing the top of its' game. When playing "Rampant" loud on headphones one can experience the tricks and effects done with stereo by many bands in the 70's. Big in Canada and the UK, but attaining only cult status in the United States, Nazareth still sounds as tight and as raucous now as they did back in the summer of 1974. This Castle Essential re-issue is the better than other re-issues of "Rampant" as the sound quality is terrific. The bonus tracks are nice additions for the cultist, and the liner notes are informative. A personal favorite, "Rampant" is an essential addition to any hard rock enthusiast's collection.

I consider this to be the best album Nazareth ever released. Brings back some very good partying memories every time I play it. It will never grow old in this household, that's for sure.

When a band puts out an album every six months, you can only expect so much and this effort is solid, but not required by the casual fan. The best known tunes "Shanghai.." "Shapes Of Things" and "Sunshine" are available on a number of the greatest hits packages.

"Jet Lag" is a cool rocker, sort of a primitive prototype of the classic mini-epic "Telegram" which was to come a few years later. Also excellent is the hyper-boogie of "Glad When You're Gone". Both of these tracks are hidden gems not found on other collections so if you are a fan it is worth your while to add this CD to your collection.

Other tunes such as "Silver Dollar Forger" and "Light MY Way" demonstrate over use of the once popular fuzz box guitar sound, and do not hold up today.

Even though "Sunshine" is on a lot of greatest hits, this is a mediocre ballad, the band has done many better, such as "Star"(No Mean City) "Games" (2XS) "Heart's Grown Cold" (Malice In Wonderland)and "Every Time It Rains" (No Jive)

"Cat's Eye.." is a wierd but upbeat country tune form the second album "Exercises" and is a nice little bonus but rather out of place with this collection of rockers.

All in all a good addition for the serious fan.