Greta Van Fleet is a band that has been trashed a lot over the years. Whether it’s their look, their songwriting or the classic “they copied Led Zeppelin” line, you will always get those critics. Good for you guys, this is a pro-Greta Van Fleet website, and any hate will not be tolerated! By now, GVF has been around for quite a bit and are no longer the newbies on the scene. They’ve come into their own as artists and are exploring more than they have ever explored before. Their early work – think 2017’s From The Fires or 2018’s Anthem Of The Peaceful Army – is a lot more raw and blues oriented, with some folk sprinkled in and a big heaping helping of rock ‘n’ roll. 2021’s The Battle at Garden’s Gate took a more fantastical route with epic anthems and experimental sounds.
GVF announced through their socials that there will be another album out on July 21st called Starcatcher, and also that the first single off the record, “Meeting The Master,” would be released on April 6th at midnight. Well, it’s here! You will see some GVF fans take one of two sides nowadays. They either love the new, trippy and artful direction the band has been taking in recent years or they are more in to the older, bare-bones gritty rock style from when they first burst on the scene. There is obviously nothing wrong with having an opinion one way or another, but I think both camps will enjoy this newest single.
“Meeting The Master” is interesting. While you do get the wide open, airy aesthetic and booming vocals, you’re also delivered some killer guitar solos and some simple rock structure that will please anybody. What makes me excited about this song and what we are going to hear on Starcatcher is a possibility of a whole new sound. On the surface, you may think this could’ve been taken right off The Battle at Garden’s Gate, and you may be right, but this is different to me. Before the halfway point, there is a lot of Beatle-esque psychedelic noodling that is just so fresh for GVF. Read into it all you want, but I honestly think they’re going to go above and beyond on the upcoming record if this song is any kind of preview of what’s to come.
When it comes to the song’s meaning, the band posted this on Instagram:
“Meeting The Master peers into an esoteric world heeded by the word of a wise teacher. Sung in the voice of a devout believer, and eventual group exclamation, the song details the love these fervent followers have for their teacher and their firm belief in his vision.”
Listen to “Meeting The Master” below!
Cover Photo from Greta Van Fleet on Instagram.