Anthem Of The Peaceful Army
If you missed Led Zeppelin the first time around and wondered what all the fuss was about, well, you’re in luck: A band of (mostly) brothers from Frankenmuth, Michigan, is here to carry the torch for blues-based howling, loud guitars, and tight pants as mass entertainment. “Rock ’n’ roll is a lost ideology,” bassist Sam Kiszka tells Apple Music in the group\'s *Up Next* interview. “It turned into a niche thing. You’ve got to hit the roots again.” That’s exactly what the band does on their debut album, which feels of another time. Swirling together the techniques and textures of rock and blues greats—The Allman Brothers Band, Cream, B.B. King, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, and most recognizably Zep, among others—*Anthem of the Peaceful Army* delivers monstrous riffs (“When the Curtain Falls”), jangly strummers (“The New Day”), and earnest acoustic ballads (“Anthem”). The end result is a nostalgia rush for those who know the references and a thrilling point of entry for those who may not. It helps that frontman Josh Kiszka, born with an engine of a tenor, has perfectly mastered Robert Plant’s shrill yelps and yowls (\"Watching Over”) and rock ’n’ roll attitude—which covers everything from wardrobe and stage presence to the album as a stand-alone experience in the streaming era. “We’d like people to listen to this all the way through,” Kiszka says. “And f\*\*king loud.”
The debut from the young Michigan rock band is stiff, hackneyed, overly precious retro-fetishism.
Greta Van Fleet's debut album 'Anthem Of The Peaceful Army' too often leans on familiar tropes. Get the NME verdict
Struts' 'Young and Dangerous,' Greta Van Fleet's 'Anthem of the Peaceful Army': new albums take different paths to 1970s-style good times
Greta Van Fleet hail from Frankenmuth, Michigan, home of Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, the store that keeps the holiday spirit alive nearly every day of the year.
Greta Van Fleet have been making headlines here and there since 2017 when they released a pair of EP's that announced their presence.
Greta Van Fleet move beyond their amazing influences in our review of the lively and infectious 'Anthem Of The Peaceful Army'