Nazareth - Cinema (1996)

In the mid-'80s, while big hair and flashy light shows were taking over what was then being called heavy metal, bands like Nazareth -- who had helped to define that genre in the '70s -- found it harder and harder to maintain an audience. Released in 1986, Cinema did little to stifle that decline, but the disc is nonetheless a solid offering from the veteran hard rockers. There had been many lineup changes by the time this record hit the stores, so capturing any of the elusive early-career magic probably wasn't impossible, but Dan McCafferty's voice is in decent form on Cinema and songs like "Just Another Heartache," "Other Side of You," "One From the Heart," and "A Veteran's Song" are quality songs, enhanced by the vocalist's signature rasp. Certainly a healthy enough recording to interest serious fans of the band, Cinema doesn't quite hold up to Nazareth's best mid- to late-'70s releases, but might just surprise listeners curious about the group's evolution.