Ever since Greta Van Fleet released their first EP, Black Smoke Rising, in 2017, the band’s inevitable comparisons to Led Zeppelin have continued to eclipse their career. Yes they’ve been hugely successful and sold albums by the bucketload. But critics have been strongly divided over the band’s musical output and the fact that they so unashamedly aligned themselves with Zeppelin in the first place. And rightly so.
While Greta Van Fleet’s 2018 debut album Anthem Of The Peaceful Army and 2021 follow up The Battle At Garden’s Gate showed flashes of promise, too many of their tracks sounded like a second-rate homage to their heroes. On album number three, the cosmically titled Starcatcher, the Michigan four-piece haven’t exactly ditched their trademark 70s rock’n’roll sound. Instead, with the help of producer Dave Cobb, they’ve sharpened the sonics and produced a record that finally fleshes out their burgeoning talent.
Psychedelic opener undoubtedly hitches a ride on Zeppelin’s airship as frontman Josh Kiszka shrieks powerfully: ‘We over his twin brother Jake’s meandering Page-like guitar solo. Yet it’s such a brilliant track that the band can be forgiven for channelling their forefathers on it. Similarly, wouldn’t sound out of place on or as epic guitar licks are paired with chopping harmonica. But again the band have used that sound to create a bulldozing beast of their own. Elsewhere, the uplifting comes on like Fleetwoodwith its rousing harmonies and Buckingham-style guitar line, as does an infectious number peppered with Jake’s swirling riffs. The excellent meanwhile, is one of the strongest tracks on It opens with a gentle intro which allows Josh’s vocals to breathe with the powerful emotion the song deserves, before it opens up into a full-on rock behemoth.
