Whether or not you are a Nazareth fan, this DVD is well worth a viewing.

As it turns out this DVD will probably end up as a bit of a collectable, rather like an Edward VIII Coronation mug. There was much dismay when Dan McCafferty announced he was retiring due to ill health, and puzzlement as to how a vocalist with such a distinctive style could be replaced. It seemed that it was possible when they recruited Linton Osborne, however he stayed just long enough to record this documentary and live show and then departed. He's since been replaced by, to my mind, the far better choice of Carl Sentence. I suspect this was why I found the Metropolis Studio gig part pretty standard fare; Linton acquits himself pretty well but he lacked the sheer presence of McCafferty. I have to be honest and say that I saw one of the last of McCafferty's shows so I would always struggle with the change. The one thing the change of vocalist does do is direct attention to the rest of the band – there is no getting away Nazareth are great song-writers and performers and this showcases that.

By far the more interesting part of the DVD was the documentary 'Made In Scotland' and for this reason alone it is worth purchasing. This is a not just a wonderful insight into a band that have been around for over forty-five years but it is a masterclass on work ethic and band friendship. The behind the scenes preparation for the Metropolis Studios gig is fascinating, as is Pete Agnew's description of how Nazareth came to be. This is interspersed with Mcafferty's reflections on his time with the band and what it meant to him. You can see he is visibly moved when talking about the death of drummer Darrell Sweet and the band's decision to continue without him. This leads to an interesting point which I felt is very pertinent...what happens to a band when a key member dies or retires? They get across the valid point that there is the rest of the band to consider, who enjoy what they are doing and want to carry on doing it, so replacing a lost member is an acceptable option. McCafferty's grace on this subject is inspiring. Whether or not you are a Nazareth fan, this DVD is well worth a viewing.

Helen Bradley Owers