On Oct. 19, the Michigan-native band Greta Van Fleet released its first full-length album titled “Anthem of the Peaceful Army.” This follows two EPs collectively released later as an album called “From The Fires.” With hits like “Highway Tune” and “Safari Song,” Greta Van Fleet was instantly branded the new Led Zeppelin of the generation. Sporting a voice much like Robert Plant, the band has had quite the time breaking away from that stigma. The band consists of brothers Josh, Jake and Sam Kiszka and friend Danny Wagner. While having tried with past songs like “Flower Power,” the band uses the album “Anthem of the Peaceful Army” to break away from the stigma. It has also mingled with covers like “A Change is Gonna Come” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”
Easing into the 11-track album, “Age of Man” is an ode to enlightenment and the course of nature. Heavily referencing Christian beliefs and the mythologies that intertwine with nature, the first song is soft rock and has a beautiful arrangement that stirs the soul for a nostalgia that has yet to even form. “And as we came into the clear / To find ourselves where we are here / Who is the wiser to help us steer? / And will we know when the end is near?” The progressions throughout the song showcase different elements within the lead’s voice that is unlike his typically howl, at least until the final verse.
One of the first released singles from the album “When The Curtain Falls” leans back on what Greta Van Fleet is known for: melding rock ‘n’ roll with today’s music scene. Other than The Struts, there are not many that can do it quite like Greta Van Fleet, especially with its signature Led Zeppelin-like guitar and vocals: “When the curtain falls / Walk the hollow halls, babe / Once a valley doll / Now you’re not at all, no.” Telling the story of a young star struggling in the limelight, “When The Curtain Falls” is definitely one of the more rock-heavy tracks. With the lead’s distinct vocals and range, he allows there to be a lot explored within the absence of lyrics.
“You’re the One” is one of the few stripped-back songs. Reminiscing much with “Flower Power,” “You’re The One” pulls from the roots of ’70s rock, using the likes of electric keyboard and gentler tones on the guitar. Kiszka also exhibits a different side of his voice that is nearly unrecognizable compared to his Plant-esque edge, which peaks with the chorus. A simple yet predictable love ballad, this song is one that pulls at the heartstrings and is a refreshing sound for the young band, describing a fresh love but with the heart of an old soul.
Mimicking the title of another song off the album, “Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer)” delivers a new take on the earlier track “Lover, Leaver,” a short-lived yet fiery song of merely three and a half minutes. With the final track, Greta Van Fleet extends the original track by two and a half minutes and inflates the tune with a series of guitar solo instrumental filled with lulling vocal murmurs. It adds falling vocals that parallel the scales of the guitar, which only build and execute the piece to a peak until it echoes in conclusion, leaving it the perfect song with which to close the debut album.
In the words of the artists, “Our music is based on nature. I think that’s really what inspires it all. I think that’s what the universe is, and I think that’s what brings us all together.” Greta Van Fleet embraces the natural harmony of rock ‘n’ roll throughout all of its phases and experiments with its strengths and weaknesses, making it a worthwhile listen. More so a band one would rather see live, its discography is growing for the better as the members develop further as musicians and find their own unique voice.
Image from Greta Van Fleet via YouTube
