Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden’s Gate

Review

With The Battle at Garden’s Gate, Greta Van Fleet step out of the shadow of their influences and into a grander, more cinematic vision of rock. Released in 2021, the album expands their sound beyond the Zeppelin comparisons that dogged their early work, leaning into sprawling arrangements, spiritual themes, and a newfound sense of purpose. Produced by Greg Kurstin, it’s a record drenched in classic rock grandeur — all soaring vocals, shimmering guitars, and mythic ambition.

Tracks like “Heat Above” and “Broken Bells” showcase the band’s ability to pair big, theatrical sounds with moments of real emotional weight. Josh Kiszka’s vocals still reach for the heavens, but there’s a tenderness in his delivery that grounds the album’s cosmic ideals. Meanwhile, “Built by Nations” and “Age of Machine” flex the band’s heavier side, pairing thunderous riffs with messages about freedom, technology, and faith.

The Battle at Garden’s Gate feels like a coming-of-age for Greta Van Fleet — a statement that they’re no longer content to simply echo rock’s past but to carve out their own mythology. It’s lush, confident, and occasionally over-the-top, but that’s exactly what makes it so alive. - Lena