Like a flash out of the blue, Greta Van Fleet hit the already tired rock 'n' roll scene a year ago with the double EP From The Fires. The four young rockers, brothers Josh (vocals), Jake (guitar) and Sam Bass) Kiszka and their friend Danny Wagner on drums now prove during fifty minutes on the album Anthem Of The Peaceful Army Uni that this short album was not a fluke. It does not take too much imagination to recognize the strong affinity of the hardrock titles banned on this album to early Led Zeppelin works. Yes, one even thinks in the voice of Josh Kiszka to recognize the famous rock tube of Led Zeppelins Robert Plant. The relationship of the voices is very striking. The same can be said of Jake Kiska, whose guitar riffs are reminiscent of Jimmy Page. However strongly Greta Van Fleet orient at Led Zeppelin, they do their job excellently. And on some foundations, in the twenty-first century, after over fifty years of hard rock history, you have to work out your own style. And with Led Zeppelin, the youngsters of Greta Van Fleet have not really chosen the worst role model.
Instead of falling into the house with the door letting it rock the hard way, the album starts with the epically long, quietly laid out, slow-moving, slowly gaining in momentum, vocalist-inspired "Age Of Man". Guitar, bass and drums hold back, but demonstrate their competence in finely crafted details. It goes on in the best Led Zeppelin 70's style and with increased pulse in "The Cold Wind" and with almost raging pulse in "When The Curtain Falls". As the first of the songs descends on the Blues Rock track, the second song of steep guitar riffs and contagious groove of the drums animates at high speed as a real hard rock contribution of the band. Being a highlight of the album "Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer)" features a stunning drum beat supporting a real blues from Josh Kiszka's rough throat, that is quite something. This song too proves the creative power and the songwriting potential of the band.
"You're The One" proves to be the central resting point of the album. This romantic dreamy song with acoustic guitar in the foreground was Greta Van Fleet's contribution to the last Aids Foundation Oscar Party. Right up until the end of the album, Greta Van Fleet demonstrates in “Mountain Of The Sun” their obvious attachment to the country and its people, to create in "Brave New World" a darkening twilight mood which urgently needs the brighter view of the world provided by the subsequent song "Anthem".
It will be interesting to see how Greta Van Fleet will continue to develop, if and when they will break away from the big role model Led Zeppelin and which butterfly will peel out of the now-glittering caterpillar of the Hard Rock universe. Anyway, they've made a promising start with Anthem Of The Peaceful Army.
Josh Kiszka, vocals
Jake Kiszka, guitars
Sam Kiszka, bass, keyboards
Danny Wagner, drums