Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden´s Gate

8/10
Was it going to be a Led Zeppelin Pastiche or was it going to develop into something more their own way? I will be honest and say that I was incredibly charmed by “Anthem of the Peaceful Army” and “From the Fires”. I did not get the fuss about the copying and almost hate that poor Greta got for not really being secretive with their influences.

I do say that this album moves the group one step further regarding the music. Sure, it reeks of 70’s rock music. It has got blues and swinging riffs a ´la Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton is in there as well. But as far as entertaining without being boring and outright copying this is a solid album.

What I especially like is the variety in melodies and the more sensitive music and vocals that you get served here. The album as a whole has more depth and feeling to it. It also has catchy melodies that would suit both as soundtrack in a film Like Lord of the Rings (Broken Bells), to a heavy, gripping number like “Age of Machine”, and the most complete song on the album “Caravel”. With the mighty riff and powerful lyrics mixed with delivery of emotion this song is both interesting and fantastic at the same time.

What else is there to say about this album? Well, it is a bit long, and the half-arsed guitar masturbation part that finishes the album in the last song “The Weight of Dreams” I could have lived without.

This album would have probably been graded 1-2 points higher if it would have been 45-47 minutes instead. That keeps the interest and focus together with the dynamic that is there anyway. But it gets a bit lost unfortunately.

Band: Greta Van Fleet
Title: The Battle at Garden´s Gate
Label: Republic/Universal
Date of release: 2021-04-16
Rate:8 /10
Stand out track: Caravel
Country of Origin: USA
Playing time: 63 minutes