Music review: Greta Van Fleet – 鈥楢nthem of the Peaceful Army鈥�
Classic rock is alive and well.
For those of us who yearn for the glory days of the 1970s when groups like Deep Purple, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Rush ruled rock radio and area arenas and stadiums, a band of young, energetic lads from Michigan deliver the goods with an electrifying new album overflowing with tracks designed to shake the rafters and rattle the windows.
I haven鈥檛 been this excited about an emerging young rock band since Wolfmother鈥檚 self-titled debut dropped back in 2005.
Greta Van Fleet鈥檚 鈥淎nthem of the Peaceful Army鈥� is the quartet鈥檚 full-length debut that captures the blood, sweat and tears of pure guitar rock at its intense best.
Within minutes of listening to Greta Van Fleet, the comparison to Led Zeppelin is obvious. Jake Kiszka鈥檚 blazing guitar riffs echo of Jimmy Page鈥檚 wizardry and frontman Josh Kiszka鈥檚 vocals mirror Robert Plant鈥檚 charismatic voice.
鈥淎ge of Man鈥� opens the album in the atmospheric progressive rock style of classic Yes with Kiszka offering up Jon Anderson-like vocals describing our universal responsibilities as he declares, 鈥淎 beauty lives in every soul/The more you love the more you know/They pass the torch and it still burns/Once children then it鈥檚 now our turn.鈥�
Reminiscent of something off Rush鈥檚 鈥淔ly by Night,鈥� 鈥淭he Cold Wind鈥� follows with a great opening guitar riff and a Geddy Lee screech before transitioning into a full-fledged Zeppelin experience with Danny Wagner鈥檚 thunderous drumming matching Kiszka鈥檚 wailing intensity.
鈥淲hen the Curtain Falls鈥� is a scorching track about dealing with fleeting fame and fortune as Kiszka sings, 鈥淲hen the curtain falls/Walk the hollow halls, babe/Once a valley doll/Now you鈥檙e not at all.鈥�
鈥淟over, Leaver鈥� is the standout track for me as it is fueled with the same intensity of Led Zeppelin鈥檚 鈥淲hole Lotta Love.鈥� In fact, if you crank it up and close your eyes, you will be instantly transported back to 1969 and 鈥淟ed Zeppelin II,鈥� the iconic group鈥檚 second release that has been used by countless up-and-coming bands as a blueprint on how to successfully combine rock, blues and heavy metal.
In addition to the hard-hitting numbers, the band proves it can also construct a pretty good ballad with plenty of muscle without compromising the band鈥檚 rock reputation on 鈥淵ou鈥檙e the One鈥� and 鈥淭he New Day.鈥�
鈥淎nthem of the Peaceful Army鈥� was made loud to be played loud. Enjoy the next generation of classic rock at full volume.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.