An artist’s second album is often a make-it-or-break-it situation. It either validates longevity or demonstrates the success of the first album was a fluke, based on years of development. In the case of Greta Van Fleet, who initially gained recognition with two 2017 EPs — Black Smoke Rising and the Grammy-winning From The Fires — before they released their official debut album, 2019’s Anthem Of The Peaceful Army, the challenge was two-fold: Could they carry on with a pandemic wreaking havoc on the world, and would they be able to transcend the labels and comparisons to those who came before. On The Battle At Garden’s Gate, they’ve managed to overcome any and all obstacles and have come into their own as a band with a distinctive sound, image and style.
Perhaps having producer Greg Kurstin, who’s worked on records with Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters, and Adele, on board helped push the band forward. Or maybe they’ve naturally grown and matured into a formidable rock and roll unit with the necessary chops and attitude to prove they’re more than just another retro act. The gospel-flavored organ work of Sam Kiszka and easy flow of “Heat Above” is a strong indicator that the four-piece consciously crafted a record ripe with dimension and fortitude. It would have been simple to dress up the music with Jake Kiszka’s accessible riffs that drive songs like “Build By Nations” and “Caravel.” For the most part, however, the record boosts full-form compositions with tight arrangements, orchestrated keyboards, and Josh Kiszka’s banshee vocals, which, despite the occasional yodel, sound less like Robert Plant and more like a unique instrument contributing to the band’s ambitions for originality.
The Kiszka brothers and drummer Danny Wagner have definitely developed a chemistry and feel without the derivatives and emblematic formulas of their modern rock peers. Lyrically, the group is intent on expressing their views on more pressing issues than teenage angst and aspirations. “Broken Bells,” awash in light strings and ear-tingling wah-wahs, offers hope in light of despair. “Age Of Machine” is an epic leap that questions “superficial institutions,” while “Stardust Clouds” with its ethereal shroud of keys and stomping rhythm, asserts, in a roundabout way, salvation for saints and sinners. Likewise, “The Barbarians” builds on a spiritual theme before evolving into a full-on tour de force worthy of a world-class rock and roll band from any era. Winding down with a strident “The Weight Of Dreams,” The Battle At Garden’s Gate doesn’t cater to tastes or trends; rather, it’s a staunch, sometimes unsettling statement with muscle and might — something the world desperately needs in these strange, uncertain times. Not exactly the kind of vigilant, predictable affair you would expect from a sophomore album.
~ Shawn Perry
