Anthem of the Peaceful Army
by Greta Van Fleet
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Oct 19, 2018
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 107 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 107
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 107
  3. Negative: 32 out of 107
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  1. heisenbergsfan
    Oct 23, 2018
    0
    If this is what is "saving rock music," then it deserves to die a painful death.
  2. jboogie95
    Oct 22, 2018
    3
    I'm not just reviewing based on the obvious similarities with Led Zeppelin, but rather based on their actual sound and performance. Overall this album is just ok. There is nothing special or truly original about it. Their singer displays some impressive vocals, but too often goes into these over the top shrieks in a contrived sort of way. Where Robert Plant felt genuine, Josh Kiszka comesI'm not just reviewing based on the obvious similarities with Led Zeppelin, but rather based on their actual sound and performance. Overall this album is just ok. There is nothing special or truly original about it. Their singer displays some impressive vocals, but too often goes into these over the top shrieks in a contrived sort of way. Where Robert Plant felt genuine, Josh Kiszka comes off as an impressionist that lacks genuine emotion. The guitar riffs and solos are just mediocre. I would have loved to hear some more original and complex guitar work and songwriting. They have potential, but unfortunately need to change a lot of the way they approach writing music. Too much of the album feels corny, cliche (just look at the album title) and contrived. I do appreciate the return to a 70's type of sound, but Anthem of the Peaceful Army comes off as a generic compilation of bands that are better.… Expand
  3. fede01_8
    Oct 23, 2018
    0
    A Led Zeppelin tribute act but with "original" songs. GVF was put together by someone who read the Youtube comment section of classic rock videos. "Rock is dead!". "I was born in the wrong generation"
  4. Doowop666
    Oct 24, 2018
    0
    Rock music has evolved from the 50s thru to today. These kids have decided to do a throwback to the 70s sound of Led Zep. Everything from their drum kit, to dress code, to vocals, to classic rocker "talking points" - about what good music is, what inspired them, and where they want music to go - is completely played out. They're a carbon copy without anything remotely novel trying to dupeRock music has evolved from the 50s thru to today. These kids have decided to do a throwback to the 70s sound of Led Zep. Everything from their drum kit, to dress code, to vocals, to classic rocker "talking points" - about what good music is, what inspired them, and where they want music to go - is completely played out. They're a carbon copy without anything remotely novel trying to dupe a today's audience into thinking their sound is new and that they're blazing some trail in music. Everything thing they're doing was done before and done better. They're a fad that may get a cult following but there is nothing more to see here.… Expand
  5. endorstoi
    Oct 19, 2018
    1
    i just want to start by saying that i'm not reviewing this on the basis of it being a led zeppelin rip-off or whatever, i'm reviewing the music and well, its poor. respect to these lads for having a go and doing what they want to do, if there happy with it then good for them but overall the record is just another cop-out wuss rock album, my main problem with this album is the production isi just want to start by saying that i'm not reviewing this on the basis of it being a led zeppelin rip-off or whatever, i'm reviewing the music and well, its poor. respect to these lads for having a go and doing what they want to do, if there happy with it then good for them but overall the record is just another cop-out wuss rock album, my main problem with this album is the production is awful!,
    this is suppose to be a hard rock album and it comes off so bland and one dimensional, the lack of a memorable tune (for me at least) is also pretty annoying, even on these types of dumbed-down flat rock albums you can at least expect some tunes that you repeat to yourself.
    Overall like most albums in this vain, some will like it and find it fun and others will despise it, bottom line is Greta Van Fleet make "hard rock" for there audience and don't care in the slightest who there influences are or if you have a problem with them doing what they do which is admirable but good songs and production would have made it a success and in my opinion this album does not have either.    … Expand
  6. Asura_14
    Oct 25, 2018
    1
    Copyright infringement detected.
    Music should never go stale, these kids need to understand that ripping something off is not ok. Have your own personality, being influenced is ok but this is disgusting.
  7. Scraper
    Mar 13, 2019
    0
    Completely unoriginal band hoards album/ticket sales from braindead fans. I'd say it's an amazing turn of culture but with the rise of the Kardashians, Cage the Elephant, Nickleback, etcetera, is it really that surprising? People love the legend then they love the watery copy of the legend. The public follows the Grammy's. The freakin' Grammy's. Real culture will continue to live undefinedCompletely unoriginal band hoards album/ticket sales from braindead fans. I'd say it's an amazing turn of culture but with the rise of the Kardashians, Cage the Elephant, Nickleback, etcetera, is it really that surprising? People love the legend then they love the watery copy of the legend. The public follows the Grammy's. The freakin' Grammy's. Real culture will continue to live undefined in the cracks of our society. Greta Van Fleet is the mold head of something that died a long time ago.… Expand
  8. Heywoody
    Aug 27, 2023
    0
    This reminds me of why after hearing every Led Zeppelin song 400 times, I desperately long for something unique to come out. This is regurgitated, bland trash. Classic rock is done to death. It was hardly original back then, but now it's 50 year old, microwave reheated, cheap lasagna. Gross...

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. Q Magazine
    Nov 20, 2018
    40
    It's not completely without merit--Brave New World has a certain swagger--nut this does stray bafflingly close to tribute band territory. [Jan 2019, p.114]
  2. PopMatters
    Oct 30, 2018
    30
    For those keeping track of the hits and misses, Anthem of the Peaceful Army has a handful of truly memorable moments. ... The rest of the record is a Zeppeliny hard rock mush, the kind that happens with young people that love a thing too much haven't yet put in enough work to truly make something their own.
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  3. Chicago Tribune
    Oct 25, 2018
    50
    Greta Van Fleet now adds its name to the list of Zep disciples who have made albums that sound kinda, sorta and sometimes exactly like its primary influence. If nothing else, the quartet has demonstrated that guitar-rock can still be popular with a young audience that either hasn’t heard of Led Zeppelin, or prefers Greta’s version to their grandparents’ original.
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