Staff Writer
Greta Van Fleet’s debut album,
“Anthem of the Peaceful Army,” has
left some people wondering if they have their own sound or if they’re just Led
Zeppelin clones.
Greta Van Fleet (GVF) is a new, young band of the Kiszka Brothers: Josh,
Jake, Sam and their friend Danny Wagner from Michigan. The band was founded in
2012 and since then they have risen to the top of the rock music charts.
However, even though they are hugely successful, they have been
criticized for not having their own sound. Several reviewers claim that they
sound too similar to the popular 70’s band, Led Zeppelin. This is easily
identifiable as, the lead singer of GVF, Josh Kiszka, has a similar voice to
that of Zep’s lead singer Robert Plant.
Their music has also been criticized for having a similar soulful sound
much like that of Zeppelin’s, which begs the question: Is Greta Van Fleet the
savior of Rock? Or are they going to burn out too quickly?
GVF has some really good tracks in their newest album, some of which are
rising to the top of the charts, like their newest song, “When The Curtain
Falls” which currently ranks at the number 9 spot on Billboard's Top Rock Songs
chart. Greta Van Fleet is not unaware of the fact that they sound similar
to Led Zeppelin. In GVF’s song “Age Of
Man” two lines of the song sound like
the opening lines to Zeppelin's “Immigrant Song.” This was included as a nod towards the legendary
band. Compare them: The “Age of Man” by Greta
Van Fleet: “To
wonderlands of ice and snow/In the desert heat where nothing grows.” Here is
the opening to the “Immigrant Song,” by Led Zeppelin: “We come from the land of
the ice and snow/From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow.”
Rolling Stone said it best. “But what’s a point of reference for many
acts can become a career-long label or even millstone for a few, particularly
artists whose music exudes undeniable similarity to a previous artist’s sound.”
GVF is going to sound like Zeppelin to some people, and that's fine; they need
time to perfect their craft and get a style down that is their own. Their new
album is still very good, but it just needs an actual tone to it which doesn't
sound like a Led Zeppelin rip-off.
