They were signed to Lava Records in March 2017 and a month later the band released their debut studio EP, "Black Smoke Rising". Their debut single, "Highway Tune", topped the Billboard US Mainstream Rock and Active Rock Rock stations in September 2017 for four weeks in a row. A second EP "From the Fires", containing the four songs from Black Smoke Rising and four new songs, was released on November 10, 2017, alongside a second single, "Safari Song".
GRETA VAN FLEET's debut LP, "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army", was released in 2018 to countless accolades including No. 1 Billboard Rock Album and Top 3 on the Billboard 200. Their "From The Fires" EP, released in 2017, won "Best Rock Album" at the 61st Grammy Awards.
Their 3rd studio album, "Starcatcher" (2023) follows GRETA VAN FLEET's second album "The Battle At Garden's Gate", released in 2021 to extensive chart and critical success. In the US, the album debuted at No. 1 Billboard Rock Album, No. 1 Billboard Hard Rock Album, No. 1 Billboard Vinyl Album, No. 2 Billboard Top Album Sales and in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. It was a Top 10 album in the U.K. and a major hit around the world.
GRETA VAN FLEET is best known for its renowned live performances, selling over one million tickets worldwide. They sold out their entire 2022 arena tour, holding a special energy between them and their devoted fans. With "Starcatcher" the band aims to capture that energy in the recording studio.
The band's heavy rock sound is influenced by the work of Led Zeppelin and many other rock and blues acts, with lead vocalist Josh Kiszka having a voice that has been compared to Robert Plant's "husky howl.
Greta Van Fleet's music has been categorized as hard rock and blues rock. Although all four members bonded over blues, each does have their own music tastes; Jake gravitates towards rock and roll, Sam likes jazz, Danny prefers folk, and Josh likes world music. Sam stated that "It's not like we set out to be a rock and roll band, it's just that sound that comes out [when] we get together and play." Songwriting is done by the band as a whole after one of the four members finds the concept for a song. Danny said a lot of their songs are first written in a "folk set up" before evolving into something else.
Greta Van Fleet are often compared to Led Zeppelin. Jake related that he "... went through a year of really intensely studying what [Jimmy] Page did ...", but he has studied other virtuoso rock guitarists in a similar manner, specifically mentioning Pete Townshend. Likewise, on his voice being compared to Robert Plant's, Josh said that Plant has certainly been an influence, "though it's not what I was going for." Stating that he did not even know who Led Zeppelin was until high school, he explained that his singing style came out naturally one day while struggling to be heard over the rest of the band. In a March 2018 interview, Plant cited Greta Van Fleet as one of his favorite young bands, saying "they are Led Zeppelin I" and describing Josh as "a beautiful little singer."
Some of Jake's guitar influences include John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, Bert Jansch, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards. Some of the drummers that inspired Danny are Carmine Appice, John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell and Michael Shrieve. Sam's favorite bass player is Motown session bassist James Jamerson.
Black Smoke Rising
Greta Van Fleet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where they look out to the land
To see the people quickly passing by
This is for their own desire
As they spit down to the earth
To feel the power
Boiling in their veins
Yeah
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh, yeah
Yeah
And the black smoke rises
From the fires, we've been told
It's the new age crisis
And we will stand up in the cold
Stand up in the cold
Many people are dividing
And a world apart with just one heart
Is bound to keel and fade away
None of us will be deciding
And the fate of man is in the hands
Of he who stands and heeds the call
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh, yeah
Yeah
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh, yeah
Yeah
And the black smoke rises
From the fires, we've been told
It's the new age crisis
And we will stand up in the cold
Stand up in the cold
Oh oh, whoa
Oh oh, whoa
We will stand alone, we will stand up in the cold
(Oh-oh) we will stand alone, we will stand up in the cold (stand up in the cold)
We will stand alone, we will stand up in the cold (we won't stand)
Yeah
And the black smoke rises
From the fires we've been told
It's the new age crisis
And we will stand up in the cold
And the black smoke rises
From the fires we've been told
It's the new age crisis
And we will stand up in the cold
Stand up in the cold
The song "Black Smoke Rising" by Greta Van Fleet appears to be an ode to justice, unity, and strength. In the first verse, the singer reveals his/her ignorance of a tower from which people observe their surroundings. The view includes people who are moving quickly across the land, implying that the singer is suggesting the fleeting nature of human existence. Meanwhile, the people in the tower assume a higher status as they "spit down to the earth" and feel the power "boiling in their veins" - this could be a metaphor for people in power looking down on those without power. The chorus introduces the idea of a "new age crisis," which is represented by black smoke rising from fires. This could symbolize strife or conflict, a theme that is explored later in the song. However, the singer emphasizes the resolve of humanity to stand up in the cold - this suggests that even in the face of crises or challenges, we must unite and take a stand.
The second verse speaks of division and the need for a common goal. With just one heart, we can work together to achieve great things, while a world divided is destined to "keel and fade away." The fate of humankind is in the hands of those who heed the call and stand up for what is right. Overall, the song feels like an anthem for those who believe in social justice and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't know there was a tower
I was unaware of the existence of a tower
Where they look out to the land
From which people survey the land
To see the people quickly passing by
Observing those who pass by in a hurry
This is for their own desire
Their motivation is selfish
As they spit down to the earth
They express their disdain by spitting on the ground
To feel the power
To experience a sense of control
Boiling in their veins
Which is coursing through their veins
And the black smoke rises
Smoke emerges and is visible
From the fires we've been told
The source of the smoke is according to common knowledge
It's the new age crisis
This is a crisis of the modern era
And we will stand up in the cold
And we will stand up in difficult times
Many people are dividing
A lot of people are separating
And a world apart
And this separation will create a fractured world
With just one heart
Without unity
Is bound to keel and fade away
This world will certainly crumble and perish
None of us will be deciding
No one individual will have autonomy
And the fate of man is in the hands
The destiny of humanity is the responsibility
Of he who stands and heeds the call
Of the person who rises and follows the call to action
We won't stand alone, we will stand up in the cold
We won't endure struggle by ourselves
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing
Written by: Daniel Robert Wagner, Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind