Artist: Led Zeppelin
Label: Atlantic
Release Date: 1971
Rating: 4 Skulls
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Title: Led Zeppelin IV Artist: Led Zeppelin Label: Atlantic Release Date: 1971
Rating: 4 Skulls |
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Reviewed by Solomon:
Using the term "heavy metal" is probably inappropriate for most rock bands playing during the early 70's, and Led Zep were certainly too diverse to confine them to that phrase. However, Led Zep certainly influenced more than one generation of metal/rock acts and their open-minded creative approach is more at home with metal than you might think. There are certainly heavy moments on IV ("When The Levee Breaks," no doubt), but there's a lot more to ingest. "Going To California," for example, is something my mother would probably enjoy, but what metal act from the late 80's didn't have an acoustic number or two? In fact, all the great metal acts, from Iron Maiden to Metallica, were great because they didn't play full blast every second. They knew how to bring more subtle elements into their songwriting to make the music as a whole more exciting and interesting to listen to. Actually, IV doesn't contain my favorite Zep songs, and I wouldn't call it their best record, but it's a testament to the the band's diversity as a rock group. These guys were not afraid to play what they wanted and still fly it under the "Led Zeppelin, the rock band" banner. The first four songs off IV are prime examples of this diversity: the first half of the album runs the gamut from heavy, blues-orientated rock ("Black Dog"), to driving 50's-type rock ("Rock 'N' Roll), to celtic/folk overtones ("Battle of Evermore"), all the way to the seminal power ballad "Stairway To Heaven." Even if it's snubbed nowadays, "Stairway" is a beautiful and well-arranged tune, anyway. For me, the album's more traditional rock riffs ("Black Dog," "Rock 'n' Roll") play second fiddle to the more exotic tracks on the record. "Battle of Evermore" is the album's shinning moment with its wicked mandolin riff. "Four Sticks" is interesting with its Latin rhythms, synth solo, and layered, atmospheric chorus section. Plant is certainly a dynamic vocalist, but sometimes his whiney croon can be a bit much. I think his voice is more at home on the mid-ranged material in "Evermore" and "California." All in all, a classic "sorta" metal record from a "sorta" metal band.
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