Greta Van Fleet’s first song in 3 years is here — is it good? (Review)

Following the disastrous Starcatcher album from Greta Van Fleet and the equally underwhelming support tour, the band is back with their first song in three years, “Play Your Games.”

To be clear, before Starcatcher, Greta Van Fleet was on a fast rise to stardom. Their From the Fires EP and debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, were amazing. For its flaws, their second album, The Battle at Garden’s Gate, looks like Abbey Road compared to Starcatcher.

At this point, it’s low-hanging fruit to criticize Starcatcher. The album took all the wrong lessons from the praise the band received earlier in their career. Yes, they sounded a lot like Led Zeppelin; that wasn’t said to suggest they become a glorified cover band. Starcatcher was 43 minutes of indistinguishable mush, headlined by the band’s worst lead single, “Meet the Master.”

“Play Your Games” appears to be a return to the Anthem of the Peaceful Army version of Greta Van Fleet that made them feel like the saviors of rock & roll.

It’s far from perfect — Josh Kiszka’s wailing screams aren’t much better in the finished product than in the teasers for the track — but it shows the band might finally be back on track. That’s the best thing that can be said about a band that took a hard right on their route to stardom.

A review of Greta Van Fleet’s new song, “Play Your Games”

“Play Your Games” begins with a quick guitar riff from Jake Kiszka. It’s somewhat reminiscent of something like “You’re the One” from their debut album.

After a few measures, the whole band comes in. Danny Wagner’s pounding drums and a groovy Sam Kiszka bass line pour in as Josh begins the verse.

“Pour me another round / Just one for the road / I’m drinking the barrel dry / To lighten this load,” he begins, before again requesting another drink before he hits the road.

The verses are catchy, and the song gets into gear when Josh belts, “Play your games / Dance in the flames / And feel alright.” For as grinding as his voice was on Starcatcher, he found some restraint early in “Play Your Games.”

Now, he couldn’t go the whole song without a full-chested wail. As the song reaches its crescendo, he adds a little more oomph to the “play your games” refrain before vocalizing as the song concludes. He hits notes, sure, but it’d be disingenuous to act like they weren’t the tiniest bit annoying.

Why the song works

But, besides the harsh screaming at the end, “Play Your Games” works really well. Assuming it’s the lead single for their next album, it signifies a positive change for the group.

Elements from Greta Van Fleet’s best songs, like “You’re the One,” “When the Curtain Falls,” and “Mountain of the Sun,” are present in “Play Your Games.”

It’s rock-and-roll without trying too hard. Starcatcher felt like a group that was lost, ultimately succumbing to Gen X fans’ idea that they had to be the next Led Zeppelin.

“Play Your Games” shows Greta Van Fleet’s four members in harmony, something rarely heard on their last album. For the first time since “Heat Above,” this feels like an impassioned band. Better yet, there aren’t any self-indulgent guitar solos in the song.

Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come in their next album. Greta Van Fleet is too good to be dismissed as a wannabe Led Zeppelin or Guns N’ Roses.

If all goes well with the next batch of songs they release, Greta Van Fleet’s Starcatcher can become more of a non-canon, forgotten side quest for the band.

To their credit, Greta Van Fleet appears to be a band that has risen from the fires to meet the moment. They could’ve become content. Instead, they’re back and maybe, just maybe, better than ever.

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