Led Zeppelin IV review

One of the biggest, heaviest, best-selling and most legendary rock albums of all time. And it doesn't even have a name! This untitled album, usually known as Led Zeppelin IV, is generally regarded as Led Zeppelin's greatest album and includes some of their signature tunes.

Tracks:

1. Black Dog: 9/10 fantastically entertaining and featuring one brilliant guitar riff after another, this fully deserves its status as one of Led Zeppelin's most well known songs even if it's occasionally a bit confusing.

2. Rock and Roll: 9/10 this one's got very little substance and is all about the style. Blisteringly intense, adrenaline fuelled and brilliantly heavy, this is the closest Led Zeppelin's music has ever come to replicating a war-zone.

3. The Battle of Evermore: 8/10 a delightful folk song which is another enjoyable excursion into the Lord of the Rings universe. Underrated.  

4. Stairway to Heaven: 10/10 it's been overplayed to death, trivialized and I still don't know exactly what the lyrics mean. But, as a musical masterpiece it has few, if any, equals. With amazing lyrics, an ingenious structure and a beyond brilliant instrumental, this euphoric, enthralling and exhilarating magnum opus is one of the most beautiful sounds in the world and one of the best songs I've ever heard. A true stairway to heaven.

5. Misty Mountain Hop: 7/10 the weak link of the album, with a catchy beat and plenty of enthusiasm but on the whole it isn't especially compelling.

6. Four Sticks: 8/10 technically complex and hugely enjoyable, this may get overshadowed by the bigger songs on the album but it's really good and shouldn't be forgotten.

7. Going to California: 9/10 another wonderful folk song which stands tall among Led Zeppelin's discography as one of their most touching songs.

8. When the Levee Breaks: 10/10 this tsunami of a rock song is intense, thrilling and genuinely mesmerising. And that's just the intro. More epic than a Hans Zimmer soundtrack and so entertaining it's utterly ludicrous, this is a true classic.

Best song: Stairway to Heaven
Worst song: Misty Mountain Hop

Summary: All in all, I can't praise this album enough. Led Zeppelin's masterpiece without question, this is more intense than a white-knuckle amusement park attraction and more explosive than a ballistic missile lighting up an oil rig, this is just one of the best albums ever recorded by anyone. The music and lyrics have never been better, and it's an album which just refuses to get old. It's hard to find another an album that's much more accomplished and ridiculously entertaining than this, since all involved are at the top of their game and it truly has some of Led Zeppelin's finest material all in one place.



Final rating: 10/10