Top tracks — play these first
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Tattooed on My Brain — The title track encapsulates the album's theme of resilience and self-identity, featuring a catchy chorus that reflects the band's signature style.
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Never Dance With the Devil Start here — This opening track sets a powerful tone for the album with its driving rhythm and compelling lyrics about temptation and consequences.
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State of Emergency — With its urgent message and dynamic instrumentation, this track resonates with contemporary issues while showcasing the band's hard rock roots.
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Crazy Molly — This song delivers a more playful side of Nazareth, blending humor with hard-hitting riffs that exemplify their musical versatility.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and energetic performances but lacks standout cohesion across its length.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks maintain a high-energy tempo with driving guitar riffs and powerful vocals, setting a strong opening.
- Several tracks feature layered harmonies and call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the dynamic between the lead singer and backing vocals.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo engagement
- gritty nostalgia for past
- urgent anthems for reflection
- acoustic interlude for calmness
Maybe skip if you
- seeking rapid-fire excitement
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Marks a strong return after lineup changes, showcasing the band's enduring sound.
- Themes
- self-identity struggle· contemporary urgency· temptation and consequences
- Career context
- Released in 2018, Tattooed on My Brain is Nazareth's first studio album in nearly a decade, following the departure of longtime guitarist Manny Charlton. This album marks a significant moment as it showcases the band's resilience and ability to adapt to modern sounds while remaining true to their classic roots.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Deep Purple· UFO· Blue Öyster Cult
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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State of Emergency
The verse shifts to address societal chaos directly through vivid imagery of unrest and personal reflection.
This direct engagement with current events marks a notable turn in the writing, connecting personal experience to broader societal themes.
Tracklist
- 1 Never Dance With the Devil Start here 3:00
- 2 Tattooed on My Brain 2:50
- 3 State of Emergency 3:42
- 4 Rubik’s Romance 4:06
- 5 Pole to Pole 4:19
- 6 Push 3:49
- 7 The Secret Is Out 5:31
- 8 Don’t Throw Your Love Away 3:37
- 9 Crazy Molly 3:03
- 10 Silent Symphony 3:48
- 11 What Goes Around 4:01
- 12 Change 3:56
- 13 You Call Me 6:10
- 14 Rubik’s Romance... (Acoustic Version) 4:06
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Grimmest Hits
Black Label Society
Shares a gritty hard rock sound with themes of resilience and personal struggle.
Feral Roots
Rival Sons
Combines rock influences with modern urgency, exploring identity and temptation.
Vicious
Halestorm
Delivers powerful hard rock with a focus on personal battles and contemporary emotional depth.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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