The Fleet Is In...The Studio

MIDWEST RETRO-ROCKERS GRETA VAN FLEET LOOK TO THE DEBUT ALBUMS OF THEIR HEROES IN VAN HALEN, ZEPPELIN AND THE BLACK CROWES FOR INSPIRATION AS THEY RECORD THEIR ANXIOUSLY AWAITED FULL-LENGTH.

- Joe Bosso

“THIS IS GOING to be a definitive statement,” says Greta Van Fleet guitarist Jake Kiszka, discussing the fulllength debut album that the hard-rocking Midwestern quartet is busy recording. “Our first studio EP, Black Smoke Rising, was kind of a snapshot of where we were at the time, but the full album is going to be the real deal. I see it as a big-picture look at where we are now and where we’re headed.”

Few industry insiders would have predicted that a young group of upstarts from Frankenmuth, Michigan, with nary a turntable or sampler in sight, stood a chance in today’s musical climate. But Greta Van Fleet’s infectious brand of high-octane rock, deeply influenced by bands such as Van Halen, Led Zeppelin and Cream, ambushed streaming services and radio with rip-snortin’ riffers “Highway Tune” and “Safari Song.” Following up such a big splash with an even bigger wave is a tall order, but Kiszka says the band (which includes his brothers Josh on vocals and Sam on bass, as well as drummer Danny Wagner) is aiming high.