GRETA VAN FLEET: Starcatcher (HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

It's usually difficult for a band to get rid off the label it was given in the early days. Greta Van Fleet are still being compared to Led Zeppelin, thanks to their Robert Plant-like vocals and strong 70's rock influences. However, from their second album onwards, and even more so with "The Battle Of Garden's Gate", the relationship with the aforementioned legendary band has been greatly reduced. Will "Starcatcher" finally allow them to emancipate themselves once and for all from this rather burdensome heritage?

While Greta Van Fleet's image hasn't changed, with costumes as kitschy as ever and atmospheres rooted in the 70s, the band's musical evolution continues. The highlight is, of course, the absolutely incredible vocals, which can soar to the highest notes with disconcerting ease. Josh Kiszka has an impressive technique and can do whatever he wants with his voice: vibrato, distortion, mixed vocals, he offers an almost exhaustive range of what an excellent singer is supposed to do. Just listen to 'Meeting the Master' to get a good idea of the extent of his abilities. The guitar has also taken an appreciable leap forward. The arrangements are more polished, as are the soli, which appear faster and more controlled. The rhythm section is true to form, clean and square, with the drums offering some interesting plans ('The Archer'), admittedly classic but always appropriate. The production has also improved, becoming clearer and less muffled, allowing all the instruments, including the vocals, to be perfectly audible.

Starcatcher" brings out the best in Greta Van Fleet. The blend of 70's sounds with modern production is excellent, the tracks are all very melodious, with a search for harmony between instruments and vocals that really hits the mark, and there are plenty of hits, including the languorous 'Fate of The Faithful', the melancholy 'Sacred The Thread', the superb 'Meeting The Master' and its medieval-romantic ambience, and the ballad 'Farewell For Now', which brings the album to a gentle close.

While the band's fans will obviously be delighted by this succession of suave, immediate tracks, the more cautious will find almost everything they disliked in the previous opuses. First of all, the omnipresent vocals, which take up a lot of sound space and can often be irritating, especially when forced into the high notes. Then there's the lack of energetic tracks, 'Runway Blues' being the only fast track on the album (it's a shame to have turned it into a one-minute recreation, as it would have greatly deserved better treatment). Too many sweets can lead to indigestion.

"Starcatcher" is obviously aimed at a broad audience, not necessarily rock fans, who prefer emotion to technique. The shadow of Led Zeppelin recedes ever further into the distance, allowing Greta Van Fleet to finally build her own personality. It remains to be seen what an album clearly designed for the studio will sound like live. With so many mid-tempo tracks, there's a real risk of putting the audience to sleep. One also wonders whether Josh will be able to reproduce such a performance over the long term. In the meantime, we invite you to listen carefully to "Starcatcher", if only to marvel at its singer's mastery. - Official website

GRETA VAN FLEET

STARCATCHER

LAVA

HARD ROCK