Review: Greta Van Fleet spread their wings gloriously

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Greta Van Fleet, “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” (Lava/Republic)

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/04/2021 (2001 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Greta Van Fleet, “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” (Lava/Republic)

Greta Van Fleet are back and they’re doubling down. The young Michigan rockers whose sound and classic look is reminiscent of Led Zeppelin have returned with “The Battle at Garden’s Gate,” an album not just rooted in classic 1970s rock but gloriously pounded into it.

This sophomore full-length effort from the Grammy winners marks an evolution to a more expansive approach, with progressive, mystical and psychedelic elements. Many songs roar past the three-minute mark, as the band jams and doodles unrushed. There’s a bit more Rush this time in with the Zeppelin.

This cover image released by Lava/Republic shows “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” by Greta Van Fleet. (Lava/Republic via AP)
This cover image released by Lava/Republic shows “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” by Greta Van Fleet. (Lava/Republic via AP)

The band has teamed up with super-producer Greg Kurstin and under his guidance this collection has more elaborate arrangements, layers and chord progressions, lots of instrumental sections and strings. It goes right to the edge of bombastic without falling over, with lyrics about nature, armies massing and weird medieval imagery.

The Kiszka brothers — singer Josh, guitarist Jake, bassist Sam — and drummer Danny Wagner sound strong this time around, their musicianship deeper, their confidence high. This is music that will inspire you to put on some bell bottoms, grow your hair long and go barefoot into the forest at twilight.

“Built By Nations” uses a Zeppelin ”Black Dog”-like riff as a spine but then opens up into something else entirely. “Broken Bells” allows the band to breathe, jamming for more than three glorious minutes in a “Stairway to Heaven” way that seems like a respectful nod rather than theft.

The ballad “Tears of Rain” allows Josh Kiszka the chance to turn his voice into a hurricane and “Stardust Chords” is more than a little Jethro Tull-ish. The album’s second half drags a bit, especially with the messy, indulgent “The Barbarians.” But it shows a new path forward for the band, less and less aping their musical heroes.

The album ends with “The Weight of Dreams,” which is Greta Van Fleet at its most prog-rock, a gut-busting eight-minute rollercoaster of ambition that’s near operatic. “We stole from her a cloak of studded majesty/The queen is dead we robbed her grave,” go the lyrics.

Perhaps that’s a nod to the band generating criticism for sonic robbery, but that sniping is more than a little snobby and misguided. “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” may not change anyone’s mind and Greta Van Fleet will remain polarizing. But dismissing them has never made much sense. You love the sound of classic ’70s rock? Then why hate a band steeped in it and celebrating it? Give the album a spin and try not to rock out.

_______

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Norway's Ruud wins Olympic gold year after father's death

Jake Seiner, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Norway's Ruud wins Olympic gold year after father's death

Jake Seiner, The Associated Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022

The decorated alpine athlete was disqualified from her first two races in Beijing, but still has plenty of events to come.

Read
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022

Klein vows city ombudsman would bring transparency

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

Klein vows city ombudsman would bring transparency

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read 5:27 PM CDT

Mayoral candidate Kevin Klein is promising to build public trust in city hall, if elected, with a new municipal ombudsman.

Klein expects the change would ramp up transparency and ensure complaints are thoroughly reviewed.

An independent municipal ombudsman would receive reports from whistleblowers and the public, then publish findings. That person would not answer to city staff or the mayor, Klein said.

“It will make hiding a bad file much harder. And it will make having meetings behind closed doors very difficult,” he said.

Read
5:27 PM CDT

Figure skating coach Callaghan banned by SafeSport

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Figure skating coach Callaghan banned by SafeSport

The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019

Richard Callaghan, who coached Tara Lipinski to Olympic gold, has been banned from figure skating by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for sexual misconduct.

Callaghan, who also coached six-time U.S. champion Todd Eldredge, was ruled "permanently ineligible" on Wednesday for actions involving a minor. Callaghan was accused by a former student, Adam Schmidt, in a lawsuit. Schmidt alleged that Callaghan sexually abused him from 1999-2001. Schmidt was 14 in 1999.

Also in 1999, Callaghan was investigated for sexual misconduct involving another coach, Craig Maurizi, but U.S. Figure Skating dismissed those charges. Maurizi said the incidents began in 1976 when he was 13, and continued for years.

Now 73, Callaghan was suspended in March 2018 by SafeSport and by the federation. He sued SafeSport, but the lawsuit was dismissed.

Read
Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019

Tokyo Olympic aftermath still being untangled a year later

Stephen Wade, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Tokyo Olympic aftermath still being untangled a year later

Stephen Wade, The Associated Press 7 minute read Thursday, Jul. 21, 2022

TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo Olympics survived the COVID-19 postponement, soaring expenses and some public opposition. A year later, the costs and benefits remain as difficult to untangle as the Games were to pull off.

In his speech at the closing ceremony, IOC President Thomas Bach said a major accomplishment of the Games was simply reaching the end.

“We did it,” Bach said. “We did it together," he repeated, crediting the athletes, Japanese government officials, and deep-pocketed broadcasters for refashioning the Games despite no fans, disappointed sponsors, and no buzz around the city.

Organizers said the Games would drive tourism, showcase Japan's technological prowess, and create memories similar to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The pandemic erased that.

Read
Thursday, Jul. 21, 2022

Mayoral candidates Klein, Vogiatzakis continue to snipe over inducement allegations

Chris Kitching and Joyanne Pursaga 7 minute read Preview

Mayoral candidates Klein, Vogiatzakis continue to snipe over inducement allegations

Chris Kitching and Joyanne Pursaga 7 minute read Updated: 5:50 PM CDT

Winnipeg mayoral candidate Mike Vogiatzakis told reporters Monday he will contact the city clerk to report his allegation that rival Kevin Klein offered him a job to drop out of the race.

Vogiatzakis and Klein both doubled down a day after accusing each other of offering the other a position at city hall, if they were victorious in the Oct. 28 election, in exchange for a withdrawal.

“Do I want to get him charged? Not really. I don’t want to destroy anybody’s life,” Vogiatzakis told reporters.

“Kevin’s a good guy. I thought he was a friend of mine, but he’s not. Kevin uses leverage to get ahead, and he tried to use me as leverage.”

Read
Updated: 5:50 PM CDT

Record participation, funds raised in 2026 breast cancer awareness race

Maggie Macintosh 5 minute read Preview

Record participation, funds raised in 2026 breast cancer awareness race

Maggie Macintosh 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:23 PM CDT

It’s become a tradition for the West End Legends to gather, get dressed up in hot pink and gab about their late girlfriend on the first Sunday of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Mary was a beauty, a brain, an athlete and a friend,” said Linda Opalko, a 67-year-old member of the fundraising team founded in honour of Mary Stawychny.

Stawychny’s last breath was taken the same day the group — made up of friends the career teacher maintained since she grew up on Ingersoll Street more than 50 years ago — got together for the 2022 CIBC Run for the Cure.

“We were walking as she was leaving us four years ago,” Opalko said as she and fellow fundraisers strolled down Wellington Crescent on Sunday morning.

Read
Yesterday at 2:23 PM CDT