definative history of one of the best underrated rock n roll machines to come along in the past 30+ years...great history and liner notes from 2 of the original band members, and even a "family tree" of how the band started and progressed thru the years and oh yes the music! all tracks are live, avd even some twice to show the band's many changes. a few, tho are in mono! but dont let that stop you from immersing yourself in great rock n roll as you know it should be!

Back to the Trenches is a pure, unadulterated document of what Nazareth really sounded like in concert throughout various stages of their career. The listener is treated to previously unreleased live recordings of the band from its' early days up until 1984. The liner notes say the music was "professionally recorded", which I don't doubt. However, I also don't doubt that there was no overdubbing or cleaning up done on these recordings. After all, several of the musicians who played in these concerts have long since departed the band (or the earth, in the case of Darryl Sweet, rest his soul). This presents a double edged sword: On one hand, the sound quality gets a bit rough, even approaching bootleg quality in some places. On the other hand the listener feels as though he is being transported back in time to acual Nazareth concerts of the past. Anyone who has been to a rock concert knows that the sound quality is never as clear as on an album, and oftentimes is quite horrible.

I have to admit that I'm the type of guy that likes to listen to live bootlegs of his favorite bands. There is an authenticity to them that just can't be found anywhere else. If they're good, all the energy that makes live music so powerful comes across very well, and a band can prove if they can really pull it off without all the studio gimmicks. This is certainly the case with Back to the Trenches. I find myself cranking up the volume on many songs from the sheer thrill of being a witness of this great bands' power.

It has to be said that many of the tracks on this release are already available on Snaz and Live at the Beeb, which booth have smoother production. But overall, Back to the Trenches is a better career retrospective than these because it represents a wider range of their music. The tracks from the Malice in Wonderland tour of 1980 showcase the tremendous boost that second guitarist Zal Cleminson gave to the band, and are available nowhere else. The material from '82 through '84 gives a taste of what I think was a major high point for the band. 2XS and Sound Elixir are among the best albums Nazareth ever recorded, and I love having some live materiel from these classics. With music this good, you can't help but want to hear what it sounded like in concert.

A bonus included here is a booklet that tells in detail the story of Nazareth. This is hardly a twice told tale, seeing as it has nothing to do with groupies or dope.

One word of caution: It's probably not a good idea to get this one if you're not a fan of Nazareth already. Not that too many people would shell out more than $30 just to check out a band that they don't know much about. It's just that this is the sort of album that makes some demands on the listener due to it's unrefined sound quality. As Dan Mcafferty sings on Showdown at the Border, "this is no business for the weak at heart".

The reason I say 'almost' is the misleading description on the back side. "...professionaly recorded..." is true for most of the album except for the 2nd disc's last 4 songs from Slough 1984. They sound like a bad audience bootleg or the band is in a tunnel. I am sure we could have had more of the Hammersmith stuff or something of better quality thrown in there. Overall I like the set though. Never can get enough good live music from this type of band. The write ups and interviews are interesting. Would like more info on the venues, dates, and the like.