Greta Van Fleet, “Anthem of the Peaceful Army”

By Olivia Hultgren

 Guitar riffs abound in the six-minute long “Age of Man,” the first song on Greta Van Fleet’s highly anticipated debut album and follow up to their EP, “From the Fires.” Then Greta launches into a series of vintage jams, spitting electric guitar solos accompanied by lead singer Josh Kizska’s Zeppelin-esque voice. The first five songs echo the unique classic rock sound that put Greta Van Fleet at the top of the charts last year. The band weaves with ease through head bangers like “When the Curtain Falls” and more experimental tunes like “Watching Over,” bringing a new energy to their trademark rock ‘n’ roll vibe. However, the remainder of their album is curiously absent of this hard rocker aura. Its second half is tamer, diving into more acoustic guitar sounds and slower melodies. “You’re the One” echoes the styles of powerful ‘70s ballads of yore while “Anthem” exudes a delicate care of which one might not think rock ‘n’ roll is capable. “The New Day” inches a bit further into the pop zone, though, and is a little flouncy in comparison to the roaring melodies of Greta’s first songs like “Highway Tune” and “Black Smoke Rising.” While these new sounds are no doubt executed brilliantly, they invoke a slight fear that Greta Van Fleet will eventually abandon their distinct sound for a more modern flair. But, leave it to the Fleet to conclude with an extended version of “Lover, Leaver,” a full-blown guitar shredder that cements their newfound status as the modern kings of classic rock.