From the Fires

2017 EP by Greta Van Fleet
From the Fires
EP by
Greta Van Fleet
ReleasedNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
Recorded2016–2017
StudioRustbelt Studios,
Royal Oak, Michigan
Genre
  • Hard rock[1]
  • blues rock
Length32:11
Label
  • Lava
  • Republic
Producer
  • Marlon Young
  • Al Sutton
Greta Van Fleet chronology
Black Smoke Rising
(2017) 		From the Fires
(2017) 		Anthem of the Peaceful Army
(2018)
Singles from From the Fires
  1. "Highway Tune"
    Released: March 31, 2017
  2. "Safari Song"
    Released: October 15, 2017

From the Fires is the second EP by American rock band Greta Van Fleet.[2] It was released on November 10, 2017 through Lava and Republic Records. From the Fires won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 61st Grammy Awards.[3]

Background and release

From the Fires was first announced on October 25, 2017, to be released on November 10, 2017.[4] The release consists of eight songs; four being newly recorded by the band, four songs originally found from their EP, Black Smoke Rising.[5][6]

Having chosen songs for Black Smoke Rising that would demonstrate their range and variety, the band felt that it was "simply just not finished." As a result, they compiled four more songs that they felt tied up loose ends for From the Fires.[7] Too busy to design the cover art like they did for Black Smoke Rising, they hired an artist for From the Fires and made suggestions.[8]

The album was released physically and digitally, the latter being available for a discount on iTunes if the account has already purchased Black Smoke Rising.[5] The song "Highway Tune" topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Active Rock charts in 2017,[9] while "Safari Song" had peaked at number 1 on the same chart in February 2018.[10]

Themes and composition

Lyrically, all eight songs across this album and their EP all relate to the theme of basic humanity.[11] Specifically, vocalist Josh Kiszka explained that the album’s name and cover art were inspired by the band's camping trips of their childhood:

"Our extended families and friends spent part of every summer together at a place called Yankee Springs," says Josh. "We were out in the middle of the woods, and every night, we’d sit around a campfire, play music and tell stories. I always loved that as it reminded me of ancient times when people would gather around the fires with the tribes’ elders telling fables of wisdom and courage, passing down human history. That concept is where the cover art and title come from.[11]

The album contains two covers; a cover of Sam Cooke's 1964 song "A Change Is Gonna Come", and Fairport Convention's 1968 song "Meet on the Ledge". The former was to show the band's soul influences and the latter to have a folk song.[8] Josh and guitarist Jake had always wanted to cover "A Change Is Gonna Come", and felt that its political importance was relevant to today and therefore time to finally do it.[12] Herschel Boone and his wife recorded multiple chorus parts to give it the effect of a choir.[7] From the Fires' two original songs, "Edge of Darkness" and "Talk on the Street," were written about nine months before its release.[13] Jake briefly referred to the former as "pure rock and roll" and the latter as having a "catchy fun" element to it.[14]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic64/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
AntiHero Magazine10/10[17]
PopMatters[18]
The Spill Magazine4/5[19]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the EP received an average score of 64, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 4 reviews.[15] As of August 30, 2019, the EP has sold 500,000 copies in the U.S., giving it a gold certification by the RIAA.[20]

Musically, the release was described as "Led Zeppelin for Generation Z",[21] an influence the band mentioned in the past, specifically Robert Plant's wailing vocals and Jimmy Page's guitar riffs.[22]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joshua Michael Kiszka, Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka, and Daniel Robert Wagner, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Safari Song"3:56
2."Edge of Darkness"4:28
3."Flower Power"5:13
4."A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke cover)3:17
5."Highway Tune"3:01
6."Meet on the Ledge" (Fairport Convention cover)3:50
7."Talk on the Street"4:09
8."Black Smoke Rising"4:21
Total length:32:15

Personnel

Greta Van Fleet

  • Joshua Kiszka – vocals
  • Jacob Kiszka – guitar, mandolin on "Flower Power"[13]
  • Samuel Kiszka – bass, organ on "Flower Power"[13]
  • Daniel Wagner – drums, percussion

Production

  • Marlon Young – producer, recorder and mixer
  • Al Sutton – producer, recorder and mixer
  • Herschel Boone – vocals producer
  • Ashley Pawlak – cover artwork, art direction and design
  • Kyledidthis – art direction and design

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017–18) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] 75
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24] 102
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 31
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[26] 23
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[27] 86
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28] 87
French Albums (SNEP)[29] 100
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 84
Italian Albums (FIMI)[31] 60
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[32] 4
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[33] 25
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] 95
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[35] 73
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 95
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[37] 1
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[38] 7
US Billboard 200[39] 36
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[40] 4
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[41] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2018) Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[42] 128
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[43] 44
US Billboard 200[44] 152
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[45] 18
Chart (2019) Position
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[46] 95

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[47] Platinum 80,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[48] Gold 25,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[49] Platinum 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Silver 60,000‡
United States (RIAA)[51] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Nesbitt, William (December 14, 2017). "Greta Van Fleet: From the Fires". PopMatters. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  2. ^ "Trivium Leads Hard Rock Albums Chart, Greta Van Fleet Debuts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Wins Best Rock Album For 'From The Fires' 2019 GRAMMYs". Grammys.com.
  4. ^ "GRETA VAN FLEET To Release 'From The Fires'". Blabbermouth.net. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Greta Van Fleet Announce Double EP 'From the Fires'". Loudwire. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Meet Alice Cooper–Approved Kids Bringing Riff Rock Back on the Charts". Revolvermag.com. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b "INTERVIEW: Jake Kiszka and Danny Wagner of Greta Van Fleet". Go Venue Magazine. December 8, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Interview: Jake Kiszka of GRETA VAN FLEET". AntiHero Magazine. December 17, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  9. ^ "Greta Van Fleet to release double EP 'From The Fires' in November". Axs.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Rising stars Greta Van Fleet announce From The Fires double EP". Teamrock.com. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Interview: Jake Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet". Social Magazine. February 20, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Greta Van Fleet Fronts Much Needed Hard Rock Revival (INTERVIEW)". Glide Magazine. November 20, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  14. ^ ""As Brothers We Stand": An Interview with Greta Van Fleet". PopMatters. January 18, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "From the Fires by Greta Van Fleet". Metacritic. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  16. ^ Monger, James. "From the Fires - Greta Van Fleet". AllMusic. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  17. ^ Geiser, James. "Greta Van Fleet - From The Fires EP". AntiHero Magazine. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  18. ^ Nesbitt, William. "Greta Van Fleet: From the Fires". PopMatters. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  19. ^ Harris, Gerrod. "Greta Van Fleet - From the Fires". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  20. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Lands Second Straight Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 with 'Safari Song'". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Wants To Be Led Zeppelin For Generation Z". Uproxx.com. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Announce New EP, 'From the Fires'". Guitarworld.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  23. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #485". auspOp. August 11, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  24. ^ "Ultratop.be – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  26. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  27. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 38.Týden 2018 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  28. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  29. ^ "Lescharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  30. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  31. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 42 (dal 2018-10-12 al 2018-10-18)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  32. ^ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  33. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  35. ^ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 43: del 19.10.2018 al 25.10.2018" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  36. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  37. ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  38. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  39. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  40. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  41. ^ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  42. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2018". Ultratop. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  43. ^ "Canadian Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  44. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  45. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  46. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  47. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires". Music Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  48. ^ "Italian album certifications – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  49. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 19, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter From the Fires in the search box.
  50. ^ "British album certifications – Greta Van Fleet – From The Fires". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  51. ^ "American album certifications – Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
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