For diehard Nazareth fans and those that are new to the band, there’s plenty to savor on the group’s new album Surviving the Law, which will be released on April 15.

Not only do they deliver vintage Nazareth fare on the album, but they expand their repertoire with tunes like the atmospheric “Psycho Skies” and the shuffling “You Made Me,” adventurous tunes that may help draw new audiences to the band.

Throughout the record, Nazareth’s characteristic badass vibe remains, and it’s perhaps one of the band’s heaviest albums to date — correlating more in some ways with the hard-rock zeitgeist.

Whatever misgivings some Nazareth fans may have about the integrity of the Nazareth “brand” after the departure of vocalist Dan McCafferty should melt away with the ascendance of Carl Sentance as a powerhouse presence in the band. His high flying vocals and dynamic stage presence in the band reinforce his position as a top-flight rock front man.

Nazareth has all corners covered on the new record, too. The band sums up the world’s primal urge to break out of the COVID lockdown doom and gloom on “Waiting for the World to End,” which brings together some of the most blazing riffs you’ll ever hear. “Love Break” combines Nazareth’s trademark dynamics with thunderous AC/DC-styled riffs.

“Runaway” is perfectly titled, as it’s a runaway freight train with the hard-driving sound Nazareth etched into posterity with classics like “Bad Bad Boy” and “Razamanaz.”  “Mind Bomb” can best be described as bone-crunching metal rumbling in a dark alley.

A book called Loud ‘N’ Proud:  Fifty Years of Nazareth, by Martin Popoff was published last year, marking a milestone in the band’s long career. Bassist/founding member Pete Agnew, as well as other current and past band members, were interviewed for the book.

Agnew also spoke with Rock Cellar regarding the band’s longevity, the new record and more.

Rock Cellar: Surviving the Law seems imbued with more of the classic Nazareth sound than your previous album, Tattooed on My Brain.  Would that be fair to say?

Pete Agnew:  The album does have a bit more of the Nazareth sound. It’s more of a band effort, as the band was more settled. But we try to make each album different and keep things interesting. I think the album is a bit heavier than Tattooed on My Brain, and has a darker vibe overall.

But it’s every bit as melodic and will still please those fans who like a “tuneful Nazareth.”

Rock Cellar:  The new album seems to offer a wider variety of music. Were you intent on expanding the range of sounds on the record?

Pete Agnew: Well, all of us wrote material for the album, and we all have our own individual writing styles. Then we give the songs a Nazareth treatment. The material will always be diverse.  Although most people couldn’t tell who wrote each song, I could recognize right away who wrote a particular song based on the song’s style.