The airship had already exploded a year ago, but?
The definition of the genre called Hard-Rock is encapsulated in just 41 minutes engraved in an album that has become a legend, just like the band that performed it.
A year after releasing their first album bearing their name, the group led by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant seeks to establish itself as the leading exponent of the newly born genre with 'Led Zeppelin II', producing an absolute masterpiece. Perfect guitar riffs, a perfect blend of rock and blues, exceptional musicians, and the warm and sensual voice of the evergreen Robert Plant like never before.
Even before you put the CD in your player, you can tell from the cover that this is a work above the average level, where we find a photo of the German Jasta Division from World War I (the same that used the Zeppelin airship), modified to include the four members of the English band.
Nine tracks make up the LP, and the first is one of the most famous songs of all time, 'Whole Lotta Love', thanks to its hard riff that runs through most of the piece, interrupted at the end by the vocal part of the great singer. A classic. This track will become the band’s manifesto, and the sounds displayed at the beginning will reappear in the subsequent 'The Lemon Song', 'Heartbreaker', 'Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)'. Similar structure but of great quality.
What Is And What Should Never Be is delicate and aggressive at the same time, thanks to the aggressive accelerations of guitar and drums in the chorus, which then make way for sonic caresses in the verses. 'Thank You' the group gives us a very romantic acoustic slow song, far from the more exciting atmospheres of the other tracks, yet still enriching an album so full of music. Initially, this piece was supposed to be composed by Plant alone, but Page did not yet believe in the compositional abilities of the group's voice. But just two years later, he had to change his mind because the singer wrote alone a piece considered the most beautiful ever in the history of music (for those who still haven’t figured it out, the piece in question is 'Stairway To Heaven'). 'Ramble On' is perhaps the only track not as worthy as the other eight but remains good nonetheless. Instead, 'Moby Dick' is the famous piece played by the late John 'Bonzo' Bonham on percussion, where he also has the opportunity to take center stage and prove himself an excellent percussionist even in the group's live shows, playing for up to half an hour in a unique and inimitable improvisation.
'Bring It On Home' closes beautifully, mixing typically blues sounds in the first part, then blending them with rock in the second, making it another classic for the group. From here on, music would never be the same again. You have to listen to understand what will happen next.
It will live on forever.
This record marks the beginning of hard rock and will surely be the hardest rock record of Led Zeppelin’s career.
"Whole Lotta Love" features one of the best drumming performances ever and a psychedelic shift that mesmerizes the listener.
The music world stood still: the 'Brown Zeppelin' was about to storm the record market.
'Whole Lotta Love' would drag into an orgasmic vortex, rich in adulterous passions and adolescent disturbances.
"Led Zeppelin II is the unique and true manifesto of hard rock."
"Bonham’s power mixed with creativity would influence the next generation of heavy drummers."
The album opens in a shocking way, with tracks never taken to such a granitic power.
Whole Lotta Love… has entered the list of the most beautiful riffs in rock history.
Whole lotta love, famous for its catchy and insistent guitar riff, will mark the history of rock.
Led Zeppelin II is an anthem for those who live for rock.