The much anticipated second release from Greta Van Fleet is finally here. While there were some standout moments, overall as an album, it is rather disappointing and doesn’t live up to expectations. In contrast, 2018’s Anthem of the Peaceful Army was a more complete album, and it felt like a more cohesive grouping of songs.
The album begins with Heat Above, the oldest composition among the songs here, which really shines due to its catchy hook. Next is My Way, Soon, the first single off the album, this one is a rocker which is more of what was expected from a Greta Van Fleet song. The lyrics cover their experiences on tour. I’m really looking forward to hearing live performances of this song once the band gets back on the road. Broken Bells, the final single from the album, begins with a minor-sounding, acoustic intro, and slowly builds into a soaring solo with lots of Wah Wah pedal employed by Jake.
Built By Nations is derived from jam sessions during live performances of Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer), and while it contains a catchy riff, the song doesn’t have much else and ultimately falls short. It seems like it would have been better suited to remain within the Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer) medley and not here on this album in this form.
Age of Machine is next, and it feels like the opposite, in many senses, of the track Age of Man, from Anthem of the Peaceful Army, particularly due to its guitar riff, which seems almost like the inverse of the riff from Age of Man. Tears of Rain is the only acoustic song on the album, a haunting, minor piece, which, like most of the album, ultimately falls short. It’s a less satisfying version of Broken Bells.
Stardust Chords opens side 2 of the album. A little reminiscent of Brave New World from the last album, the song is unimaginative and ultimately doesn’t go anywhere of note, and seems bland and repetitive. Light My Love follows, which is based on a piano riff, odd for Greta Van Fleet to include piano instead of organ, but this is one of the better tracks on the album. Even so, it falls very short when compared to other Greta Van Fleet keyboard songs such as You’re the One and Flower Power.
Caravel contains what’s probably the album's most imaginative guitar riff, together with Age of Machine and My Way, Soon, however, strangely, there is no solo over that riff, instead there’s something similar to a breakdown followed by a section with some strings. The Barbarians opens with a guitar solo, but does little else to excite. It shows promise, but fails to deliver on expectations, and again brings back echoes of Brave New World. Trip the Light Fantastic, similarly to Stardust Chords, features a mediocre riff by Greta Van Fleet Standards, and even with the addition of piano near the end, it is also a disappointment.
The Weight of Dreams closes out the album, clocking in at almost 9 minutes. The riff comes from Black Flag Exposition, a fan favorite from live shows, with an updated melody and lyrics. While Black Flag Exposition features lyrics from Melanie’s Lay Down (Candles in the Rain), the lyrics here are rewritten with the melody slightly altered. The guitar solo is a note-for-note copy of the one from Black Flag Exposition, and while it is excellent, the track was better with the original lyrics and melody and the update here leaves a lot to be desired.
Overall, the Battle at Garden’s Gate is a new step forward in establishing Greta Van Fleet’s new sound, but it falls short of being the cohesive effort that Anthem of the Peaceful Army was. While some tracks, such as Heat Above, Broken Bells, and Light My Love shine, the album has many dull moments and many tracks that could be considered filler. Greta Van Fleet is a much better live band with improvisations and solos often exceeding the studio versions of songs, so it’s possible that some of this material may improve in concert performances. My Way, Soon, Broken Bells, and Age of Machine could benefit from longer solos and new arrangements. As an album though, it falls far short of the lofty expectations surrounding its release.
3 out of 5 stars. Standout Tracks: Heat Above, My Way, Soon, Broken Bells, Light My Love
