Greta Van Fleet – “Starcatcher” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Starcatcher is the third studio album released by Frankenmuth, Michigan, American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released on July 21, 2023, through Lava and Republic Records. This band is not Led Zeppelin, but their sound is getting closer and closer to the band that they have a great deal of respect for, and some may say sound, an awful lot like.

Their last album, The Battle at Garden’s Gate, was an amazing ride and included some of my favorite tracks they have ever written. That album was dynamite! Joshua Kiszka, said he really enjoyed using a recording studio to try to make the perfect sounding album. I agree, and I think they nearly achieved it for this band’s music. He also said that Starcatcher, was more of an album, in which the band was trying to return to their root sound. And I agree with him again, only this album is better than their first album. I believe that last album has taken them to a higher place, and they can’t return to the “garage” type of music they were making on the first album. I am happy for this. I think “Meeting the Master”, should have been included on The Battle at Garden’s Gate. It is one of their best songs ever. But thankfully, on this album is can be even more appreciated.

According to drummer Danny Wagner, “We had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe. We wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world.”

So, let’s take a closer look into the album.

The album opens with “Fate of the Fateful”, full of slow, cool, keyboards from Samuel Kiszka. Before his brother, Joshua Kiszka, let’s his vocals roar. Not the screaming we remember from past albums, but the good, clean roar of an experienced singer. He sings, “Hail, the God song. All thrill to the tune, devout reprise. Hail, the eon. We knelt on this slab, the blessed people. We fought for the fable, oh. But instead we burn. And in the end of time, oh. Left an empty urn. Hail the maker”. Yes, this album, like the last, discusses deities and respect for masters. It is not clear who or which religions he is singing about, but that is a way to leave room for reasoning, in the hands of those who are listening and interpreting. Jacob Kiszka’s electric lead guitar does sound so much like Jimmy Page’s that it just makes a Zep fan, like me want to listen, over and over again. Over 4 minutes of power…for the opening. Off to a great start.

“Waited All Your Life”, is another of the best tracks on the album. It is another non-stop vehicle of entertainment that will, like many of these songs, be an integral part of a band greatest hits album and box set, someday. This one opens with slow acoustic guitar from Jacob. Just like many early Led Zep songs I remember from the past. Joshua gently sings, “Let’s begin, oh. You’ve wandered through the door. Come on in, whoa. Have you been here before? Yeah-yeah, yeah. Waited all your life. Oh, ay, yeah”. But, then Joshua roars, “If this is what you’re looking for. You’ve been on your way! You’ve come from so far away. And do you intend to stay? Swim to shore. If this is what you’re looking for. Shout, “Oh Lord”. If this is what you’re looking for. You’ve been on your way. Please stay”. The story of this stab at a rock and roll concept album, continues to unfold. Jacob’s guitar playing will take you back to so many of Jimmy Page’s best licks. Over 4 minutes of rock intermingled within a story.

“The Falling Sky”, has a more powerful, guitar-led opening. It is another powerful track that will lift your emotions. Joshua roars, “I’ve been handed a quite demanding and hardly standing, lie to tell. Life is sorted and never thwarted, it’s just supported by being well”. Then later, “Here’s the trouble with seeing double, it’s torn down rubble that’s left behind. You can live with a pointless forte, thatsilly board game that you would know”. Jacob’s guitar playing is Page amazing. He has absolutely studied the Master well.

“Sacred the Thread”, shows, what I hope is the change in the vocal delivery of Joshua. Hopefully he has now moved beyond trying to sing so much like Bon Scott, and is now sticking closer to Robert Plant. It sounds like it. No, he is nowhere as good as Robert…yet. But on this album, he has seemed to leave the past behind. He sings, “Tripping on the light, whoa. I’ve seen it in the stars. I’ve caught the wind in a kite of dreams. And the people roar and the people soar.

Sacred the thread, sacred the thread”. This track reaches beyond the 5 minute mark, showing their growing ability to build songs that rival the band they admire. The lyrics are improving but that is the only place they need to spend more time on, in order to receive more adoration from Zeppelin’s die-hard fans

“Runaway Blues”, was a cool, live, spur of the moment idea, like some of Led Zeppelin’s quick tracks and interludes I remember from some of their best albums. This, little over 1 minute track is a nice bonus, added at the end of the album’s production. A little like a bonus. Similar to the band discussion at the beginning of “Black Country Woman”. A slice of life for the fans. Only with more live concert power. Thanks.

It keeps feeling like they are reaching for that “Stairway to Heaven”, moment or song. “The Indigo Streak”, has the lyrical story which may be the latest test of the waters. Joshua sings, “Wide-minded dreamer. From far and away. Paints pictures cleaner. With brushes, he touches the sky”, after Jacob’s best stab at the sounds I remember from Page on Presence. Joshua sings, “No child to woman. But child no less. Though mostly human. The painter, a prophet so high. Even Heaven’s hearken. Reaching, reaching, reaching, oh”. Yes, reaching indeed. But falling short of the Zep magic. However, thankfully they keep trying. Repeating some great lines is not enough. They need to really build a story. I have faith they will someday.

“Frozen Light”, is power – guitar rocker that would fit well on my favorite album’s Physical Graffiti or Presence. Some people hear “No Quarter” here, with all the reference to falling snow, but for me without the organ, I’m not with them. I think “Heat Above”, from the last album was closer to the feeling of “No Quarter”. Joshua sings, “Frozen light like falling snow. Here to guide us the long way home.
The streets are silent. The moonlight is dancing. Four brothers searching for a meal”. This is more like a childhood remembrance, closer to REO’s “Riding the Storm Out”, in intention, I believe.

“The Archer”, was a real surprise for me. One of my favorites on the album. When I saw the title, I immediately thought of the Heart classic, “Dream of the Archer”. This song is not as beautiful as the Heart classic, but how could it be without Anne and Nancy? This track starts a trilogy of songs, which I feel are the best on this album. The song starts out acoustic, but they bring the power guitar, where Heart kept it acoustic. Not a bad decision, I just like the Heart song better. Joshua sings, “Vengeance is a bow. And arrows only justice when fired. I have loved, I have lost.

I am the archer!” Although the acoustic guitar makes occasional returns throughout the song, this song is much harder. 5 minutes of well written and performed music. Kicking off a fantastic ending to this album.

“Meeting the Master”, is the song that we have all been waiting for on this album. It was the first song they debuted long before the release date. It is simply one of the best songs the band has ever written. You can actually feel the emotions of a person who has waited, maybe to see the Dalai Lama for years, and is finally going to meet him. Acoustic and power chords, and drums a plenty. The lyrics are supreme. Joshua sings, “What a day to meet the master. I’ve been waiting for so long. Final day to meet the master. It’s my time to go home. And I’m taken, whoa, oh. By the madness. And the tripping. And the touching. I have known no other master. He has been the only one. Ooh, he is the only one!” What else can you say, but, sit back and listen to pure gold. Over 5 minutes of supreme songwriting. Ten or twelve of these on the next album, and they will have everyone believing they are the new Led Zeppelin.

There are many ways to close an album. They chose the right one. Thank your fans, for all the years of support. And so they do, on “Farewell For Now”. An over 4 minute thank you, for memories, and the fans who put you there. Joshua sings, “We have shared with you, our stories. Had ourselves a really big time. Fought in battles far from the homeland. Made love, even drank from the wine. And I wish we all could stay. But I bid you a farewell. And it means the world to play. But I bid you a farewell!” He closes, “Gathered here tonight. Did it up just right. And it’s all for you. Did it up just right!” Perfect show and album closer.

So, yes, this is not as golden, in terms of having as many spectacularly recorded songs as The Battle at Garden’s Gate. The lyrics are not as powerful as that album either. But the music is consistent, and rises very close to the level of the last album. That consistency is so hard to find from some of the best bands in the world. So many have sunk, when their new albums didn’t live up to expectations. However, Greta Van Fleet is on a path to create that “Stairway to Heaven” moment, I believe. They have come darn close so far, and I like the fact that they keep trying. We don’t have Led Zeppelin anymore, other than to listen to their albums from the past. No one is playing this kind of music, as well. Starcatcher is their third studio album. These mostly brothers, have weathered many storms, and their core is strong. This album was a verification of where they have been and how strong they are now. Every piece of this band has improved, from lead guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals. I think and hope Joshua is going to try to say within the Robert Plant model of singing, and leave the hoarse yelling behind.

Starcatcher is Greta Van Fleet’s third album. Remember that “Stairway to Heaven” is on…Led Zeppelin….IV. Maybe the next one is the one. I don’t know about you, but I have enough hope, that I’ll be back to see if they do it on number 4. How about you?

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