Greta Van Fleet - "Starcatcher"
Soaring 70s Rock in 2023
I’ve been hearing this band’s name pretty regularly for a few years now. I figured it’s about time to give them a listen.
And, man, I’m not disappointed.
First, this band is a must-listen for any Zeppelin fans. Apparently, even Robert Plant has acknowledged their sound as very like Zeppelin’s. And it doesn’t even seem to be wholly intentional. While they actively decided to emulate classic rock sounds, their influences and musical preferences are wide-ranging. Only guitarist Jake Kiszka actively pursued Zeppelin’s sound, as he confesses studying Jimmy Page’s licks intently; his twin brother, Josh, developed his vocal style in an effort to be heard over the rest of the band.
The band’s sound goes further, though. It’s bluesy progressive rock which, at times, is also reminiscent of early classic metal. And on this album, it’s all very dreamy and echoey, as the band opted to change up recording techniques in an effort to capture a more raw, live sound. After sampling some songs from their previous effort, 2021’s The Battle at Garden’s Gate, I can definitely confirm that there’s a distinct difference in how each of the elements come across, though the core is the same. This particular difference gives the album this cosmic, psychedelic feel that makes the title, Starcatcher, feel apt.
The guitar line is equal parts technical and high-flying. The bass line is energetic and omnipresent. And the vocals are aggressive, to say the very least; a hard-hitting, androgynous tenor, emphasized with wild screams that often finish with just a touch of vibrato. And while I don’t really know enough about the percussive arts to really talk about Danny Wagner’s contribution, the drums always feel perfect.
Their sound aside, there don’t seem to be any thematic throughlines on the album. The vocals don’t help to encourage much lyrical understanding in the moment; a quick perusal of the lyrics reveals recurring mention of divinity, faith, and loyalty, which may tie the album together more broadly, but will require a bit more time to parse and puzzle.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable listen. I’m not certain if the band is doing anything new, or just making old music with better production. Still, I’m going to give them a little more consideration.
Rating: Teal Green