LED ZEPPELIN IV

It took Led Zeppelin two shaky albums, that weren't on par with the promising debut, to reinvent themselves and once again start making some really exceptional music! Led Zeppelin IV is by every possible definition a milestone in rock music history! Hopefully everyone agrees that Stairway To Heaven is the pinnacle of this band's career and it's often even considered to be one of the top 100 best compositions ever written.

Personally I like how this album starts off with excellent Blues/Rock of Black Dog, the more straightforward, but, nonetheless magnificent, Rock And Roll and atmospheric low key performance of The Battle Of Evermore. Unfortunately some weaker material starts to show right after Stairway To Heaven. Originally I thought that I felt so because any song that follows Stairway To Heaven would feel weak, but eventually I realized that the material on the second side of the album is in fact inferior to the first side. Oh well, at least this album was definitely a step in the right direction and Led Zeppelin's true masterpiece was still in the making.

Led Zeppelin IV is a piece of rock history that should not be overlooked by the fans of the genre, but even though it's a great album I still have to admit that it's a bit overrated in comparison to many other important milestones like Black Sabbath's debut album or the pre-MKII lineup Deep Purple albums. Therefore "only" an excellent addition to any prog rock music collection.

***** star songs: Black Dog (4:56) Rock And Roll (3:41) Stairway To Heaven (8:02)

**** star songs: The Battle Of Evermore (5:52) Misty Mountain Hop (4:39) When The Levee Breaks (7:08)

*** star songs: Four Sticks (4:45) Going To California (3:32)

Total Rating: 4,20