An album where the declining phase (already hinted at in various less successful tracks of "Graffiti..." but justifiable due to the fairly common double album syndrome) makes its presence felt forcefully for the first time. Moreover, it was recorded at a terrible time for the mental and physical conditions of all the band members (except perhaps John Paul? Who knows). Yet in some tracks, the dragging suffering and gloom of the moment, even Plant's hoarse voice, combined with the obvious craftsmanship of such a band, becomes almost an added value for songs like "For Your Life," "Nobody's Fault But Mine," and the slow, sluggish blues of "Tea For One," all more than valid tracks. Then there's "Achilles Last Stand," which is a crazy last hurrah, "mature" hard rock with an extraordinary Page (the whole band, to be honest, including the voice crack effect of Robert) that encapsulates the "mood" of "Presence" and is naturally also its qualitative peak. The rest is pure filler, three songs of which the most enjoyable is definitely "Royal Orleans," while the other two are honestly less than "one type" and quite forgettable. Notice how they played it safe here, abandoning the experiments and eclecticism of the previous two albums (especially) and focusing on Rock-Hard-Blues as a secure landing. With all its flaws, "Presence" is an album with some very valid elements.
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