Nowadays, many music fans argue that rock and roll is dead. While rock music is not quite what it used to be, all is not yet lost. There are still bands trying to keep the spirit of the genre alive, pulling inspiration from their forebears and infusing it into their own music. The real question is: are these groups successful in their attempts? Is their music unique enough to hold up under the careful scrutiny of classic rock devotees? Many of today’s popular rock bands have a more subdued sound, falling into modern, pop-leaning subgenres like indie folk and bedroom rock/pop. For those who love classic rock and the hard-hitting blues, psychedelic, and glam influences from the late ‘60s through the ‘90s, today’s softer take on rock and roll – as lovely as it may be – simply isn’t cutting it. Fear not – there are still bands out there with the familiar, explosive sound classic rock fans have been missing. There's one current group with a sound that may even hit a bit too close to home. Is rock band Greta Van Fleet a carbon copy of the late and great Led Zeppelin? Led Zeppelin is held in extremely high regard in the world of rock and roll, considered by many as one of the greatest bands to walk the earth. They were extremely prolific from the late ‘60s to the early ‘80s, releasing nine studio albums. Eight of these records topped the charts in the United Kingdom and seven in the United States, making them one of the most commercially successful rock bands of all time. By the mid-70s, they were outselling The Rolling Stones. Even today, you would have to be hard-pressed to find someone who is ignorant of this legendary group. There are a plethora of aspects that set Led Zeppelin apart from the other rock bands of their era. Robert Plant’s lyrics were mythological and haunting. Jimmy Page’s mastery of the guitar, his ability to compose and mix unconventional textures, gave the band a soundscape that was entirely unique. John Bonham was a powerhouse on drums, letting it rip with intricate extended solos – he was one of the most influential percussionists of all time. John Paul Jones plays some of the most iconic and recognizable bass lines in rock and roll. They knew the immensity of their talent –– as individuals and as a unit –– and how to use it effectively. They understood the power of restraint, letting their intensity ebb and flow. Their albums shift from heavy electric to folksy acoustics seamlessly, depicting their remarkable versatility as a group. Mystical, bluesy, rhythmic, emotion-driven – they embodied everything a rock band should be. Plant’s incredible range – and his impressive control over it – was the crowning jewel of the band. His voice could be gravelly and earthy, but it could also soar to staggering heights – way up in the stratosphere, just shy of shrill. Robert Plant’s unmatched vocals are perhaps what pushed the band past the mundane and into the realm of greatness. The unique quality of his voice makes comparisons to other artists virtually unheard of, leading some fans to believe Greta Van Fleet’s lead singer Josh Kiska has purposefully hijacked Plant’s iconic sound. And the similarities don’t stop there. Greta Van Fleet was formed circa 2012 by three brothers –twins Josh and Jake Kiska on lead vocals and guitar, respectively, and Sam Kiska on bass and keyboard. They later added their childhood friend Danny Wagner on drums. The band was named after a longtime resident of the group’s hometown of Frankenmuth, Michigan: an elderly woman named Gretna Van Fleet. The boys thought her name had a nice ring to it and, with her permission, tweaked it slightly and used it as their moniker. The band released their debut EP, Black Smoke Rising, in 2017. Their second EP, From the Fires, was released two years later and won the Grammy for Best Rock Album. They have also made three full-length studio albums as of this writing, earning a mixed critical reception and a very loyal (and fast-growing) fan base. The world was quick to point out the band’s Zeppelin-esque sound. In a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, Josh Kiska claims he had not intended to evoke Plant through his vocals. During garage band rehearsals in their early years, Josh had to scream the lyrics in order to be heard over the instruments. The band (rightly) thought he sounded pretty awesome, so he decided to continue singing in that style indefinitely. Jake Kiska, on the other hand, does cite Jimmy Page as a major influence on his guitar playing, along with Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards. There are traces of all of these guitar legends within Jake’s playing, but it can definitely be argued that Page’s influence trumps the others. Robert Plant has made some decidedly snarky comments about the Michigan-based band, saying of frontman Josh Kiska (with some level of sarcasm) “I hate him. He borrowed [his voice] from someone I know very well. What are you gonna do?” Clearly, Plant does not agree with the old adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. On GVF tracks such as “Black Smoke Rising," “Meeting The Master," and “Age Of Man," themes of spirituality and mysticism are abundant. This is very reminiscent of Zeppelin’s music, as Plant's lyrics were often inspired by Welsh mythology and popular fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien (what’s up, LOTR fans?) Mythology and mysticism are, of course, not trademarked by any band in particular – these topics are fair game for whoever feels the pull to explore them. That being said, some of these lyrics are eerily similar, and not just because of the imagery they evoke. For example, take these lyrics from Led Zeppelin’s track “The Battle of Evermore” : “The dark Lord rides in force tonight/ And time will tell us all/ Oh, throw down your plow and hoe/ Rest not to lock your homes.” Now compare them to these lyrics from Greta Van Fleet’s “Built By Nations” (from their album The Battle at Garden’s Gate, by the way): “When a man must walk the Devil's road, oh/ Churning up the earth below / He is bound to brothers built by nations/ With no pride to call his own.” Aside from the nearly identical song/album titles, both of these lyric stanzas mention the Devil and also the tilling/churning of the earth.