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The Battle at Garden's Gate

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The Battle at Garden's Gate
Studio album by
Greta Van Fleet
ReleasedApril 16, 2021
Recorded2019–2020
StudioHenson Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
No Expectations Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Length63:32
Label
ProducerGreg Kurstin
Greta Van Fleet chronology
Anthem of the Peaceful Army
(2018) 		The Battle at Garden's Gate
(2021) 		Starcatcher
(2023)
Singles from The Battle at Garden's Gate
  1. "My Way, Soon"
    Released: October 9, 2020
  2. "Age of Machine"
    Released: December 4, 2020
  3. "Heat Above"
    Released: February 10, 2021
  4. "Broken Bells"
    Released: March 19, 2021
  5. "Built by Nations"
    Released: April 16, 2021

The Battle at Garden's Gate is the second studio album by American rock band Greta Van Fleet, released on April 16, 2021.[1] The album's first single, "My Way, Soon", was released on October 9, 2020[2] and topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in January 2021.

The album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums and Top Rock Albums charts with first week sales of 43,000.[3]

Background and recording

[edit]

The band commenced on writing material for a second studio album directly after finishing their debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, which released in October 2018.[4] As early as January 2019, bassist Sam Kiszka indicated that the album was scheduled for sometime in 2019 as well.[5] Recording sessions occurred in a concentrated 2-month period in mid-2019.[6] The album was recorded with musical producer Greg Kurstin, who at the time had worked with Foo Fighters on Concrete and Gold and Medicine at Midnight.[7]

Themes and composition

[edit]

Early 2019 commentary from the band on the album noted that it would thematically have a "more worldly" feel than their prior work, inspired by the band's seeing the world through touring.[8] Additionally, they aimed to create "an evolution to their sound" after their prior album received a lot of commentary, both positive and negative, of being very similar to the work of other bands such as Led Zeppelin.[6] Upon the reveal of the album's name of The Battle at Garden's Gate in late 2020, they expanded on the themes, noting that it was "definitely a biblical reference" but that the album expanded well beyond that, into the idea of "ancient civilizations" and "parallel universe[s]".[9] The band explores the human experience, and how religion and war affect it.[7][9] The album was described as more dark, cinematic, and complicated than their prior album.[10] Seeing dark instances of poverty and famine while touring inspired its more dire sound.[11]

Release and promotion

[edit]

The band released their first single from the album, "My Way, Soon", in October 2020.[7][12] The song was debuted and performed live on December 8 on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, complete with costumes and stage setup similar to 1970s' music programs.[12] A second song, "Age of Machine", was released in December 2020.[13] In January, "My Way, Soon" topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, their fifth song to top the chart.[14]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic64/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[16]
Classic Rock[17]
Consequence of SoundB[18]
Exclaim!7/10[19]
Kerrang!4/5[20]
NME[21]
The Observer[22]
PopMatters3/10[23]
Rolling Stone[24]
Sputnikmusic4.0/5[25]

The album was featured in multiple "Most Anticipated Albums of 2021" lists, including from publications Rolling Stone,[26] Vulture,[27] and Ultimate Classic Rock.[28]

The guitar solo of "Age of Machine" was elected by Guitar World's readers as the best of 2021.[29]

A reader's poll conducted by Total Guitar magazine ranked the guitar solo from the album's concluding 9-minute epic "The Weight of Dreams" as the greatest guitar solo of the 21st century.[30]

The album was also named the 2022 Clio Music Bronze award winner.[31]

Track listing

[edit]
The Battle at Garden's Gate track listing[32]
No.TitleLength
1."Heat Above"5:40
2."My Way, Soon"4:15
3."Broken Bells"5:50
4."Built by Nations"3:58
5."Age of Machine"6:53
6."Tears of Rain"3:50
7."Stardust Chords"4:58
8."Light My Love"4:30
9."Caravel"4:55
10."The Barbarians"5:20
11."Trip the Light Fantastic"4:33
12."The Weight of Dreams"8:51
Total length:63:33
Japanese edition bonus tracks [33][34]
No.TitleLength
13."Heat Above" (Live version)5:48
14."Stardust Chords" (Live version)5:22
Total length:74:49

Personnel

[edit]

Greta Van Fleet

  • Joshua Kiszka – lead and backing vocals
  • Jacob Kiszka – guitar, backing vocals
  • Samuel Kiszka – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Daniel Wagner – drums, backing vocals

Additional musicians

  • Jacob Braun – cello (1, 3, 7, 8, 12)
  • Alma Fernandez – viola (1, 3, 7, 8, 12)
  • Charlie Bisharat – violin (1, 3, 7, 8, 12)
  • Songa Lee – violin (1, 3, 7, 8, 12)

Technical

Charts

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Reilly, Nick (December 4, 2020). "Greta Van Fleet announce new album 'The Battle At Garden's Gate'". NME. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "Greta Van Fleet return with new song 'My Way, Soon'". www.nme.com. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Greta van Fleet Debuts at No. 1 on Top Rock Albums Chart with 'The Battle at Garden's Gate'". Billboard. 28 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Promise New Music In 2019, Talk Dream Grammy Collaboration". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Greta Van Fleet: Fans can "definitely expect" another new album in 2019". January 29, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Greta Van Fleet eye early 2020 release for new album". Consequence of Sound. November 29, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "Greta Van Fleet Announce New LP 'The Battle at Garden's Gate', Share 'Age of Machine' Single". Spin. December 4, 2020.
  8. ^ COS2
  9. ^ a b "Greta Van Fleet Announce New Album 'The Battle at Garden's Gate'". Ultimate Classic Rock. 4 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Explain Sonic Change on Upcoming Album". Loudwire. 18 December 2020.
  11. ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (December 4, 2020). "Greta Van Fleet on the Cosmic Journey to Their Upcoming Album, 'The Battle at Garden's Gate'". Rolling Stone.
  12. ^ a b Blistein, Jon (December 9, 2020). "Greta Van Fleet Rip Through New Song 'My Way, Soon' on 'Colbert'". Rolling Stone.
  13. ^ December 2020, Michael Astley-Brown 04 (4 December 2020). "Greta Van Fleet announce new album, The Battle at Garden's Gate". Guitar World.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Adds Fifth Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 With 'My Way, Soon'". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Reviews and Tracks for The Battle at Garden's Gate by Greta Van Fleet". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (April 16, 2021). "Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  17. ^ Sharp, Johnny (April 16, 2021). "Review: Greta Van Fleet Come Into Their Own During The Battle at Garden's Gate". Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  18. ^ Hadusek, Jon (April 16, 2021). "Greta Van Fleet Broaden Their Sonic Palette on The Battle at Garden's Gate: Review". Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Hughes, Josiah (April 14, 2021). "Greta Van Fleet's '70s Rock Cosplay Is Pretty Damn Sick on 'The Battle at Garden's Gate'". Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  20. ^ Law, Sam (April 19, 2021). "Album Review: Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  21. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (April 15, 2021). "Greta Van Fleet – 'The Battle at Garden's Gate' Review: Technically Impressive (And That's About It)". NME. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  22. ^ Mongredien, Phil (April 18, 2021). "Greta Van Fleet: The Battle at Garden's Gate Review – More Shades of Led Zeppelin?". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  23. ^ Kearney, Kevin (April 14, 2021). "Greta Van Fleet Are Unaware and Unexciting on 'The Battle at Garden's Gate'". Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  24. ^ Dolan, Jon (April 14, 2021). "Greta Van Fleet Erect a Cathedral of Neo-Zeppelin Overkill on 'The Battle at Garden's Gate'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  25. ^ "Review: Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  26. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Jonathan Bernstein, Jon Blistein, David Browne, Jon Dolan, Patrick Doyle, Brenna Ehrlich, Andrew Firriolo, Andy Greene, Kory Grow, Samantha Hissong, Joseph Hudak, Jeff Ihaza, Angie Martoccio, Jerry Portwood, Isabela Raygoza, Claire Shaffer, Hank Shteamer, Simon; Bernstein, Jonathan; Blistein, Jon; Browne, David; Dolan, Jon; Doyle, Patrick; Ehrlich, Brenna; Firriolo, Andrew; Greene, Andy; Grow, Kory; Hissong, Samantha; Hudak, Joseph; Ihaza, Jeff; Martoccio, Angie; Portwood, Jerry; Raygoza, Isabela; Shaffer, Claire; Shteamer, Hank; Vozick-Levinson, Simon (January 13, 2021). "54 Most Anticipated Albums of 2021". Rolling Stone.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Sanchez, Justin Curto, Gabrielle (January 7, 2021). "28 Albums We Can't Wait to Hear in 2021". Vulture.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "30 Most Anticipated Rock Albums of 2021". Ultimate Classic Rock. 2 January 2021.
  29. ^ Horsley, Jonathan (December 16, 2021). "The 10 best guitar solos of 2021". Guitar World. Future plc. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  30. ^ "Here's what you voted the best guitar solo of the 21st century". 5 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Greta Van Fleet - Greta Van Fleet - The Battle At Garden's Gate". Clios. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  32. ^ "Greta van Fleet Search for Love Amid War on New Song 'Heat Above'". Rolling Stone. 10 February 2021.
  33. ^ "ザ・バトル・アット・ガーデンズ・ゲート [CD]" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  34. ^ "The Battle At Garden's Gate [Japan Bonus Track]" (in Japanese). CD Japan. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  35. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  36. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  37. ^ "Ultratop.be – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  38. ^ "Ultratop.be – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  39. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  40. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 16.Týden 2021 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  41. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  42. ^ "Albumit 16/2021" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  43. ^ "Top Albums (Week 16, 2021)". SNEP. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  44. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  45. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Greta Van Fleet". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  46. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  47. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021-04-26" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  48. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  49. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  50. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  51. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  52. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  53. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  54. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden's Gate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  55. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  56. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  57. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  58. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  59. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  60. ^ "Rapports annuels 2021". Ultratop. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  61. ^ "Jahrescharts 2021 Album". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  62. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
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