Presence

"Recorded while the band took an extended hiatus from the UK, and in the wake of a serious car accident in Rhodes that left Robert Plant's leg shattered, Presence is an oddly cold album. Devoid of the light and shade that had highlighted the many musical facets of the band, Led Zeppelin's seventh studio album remains a difficult album to take in a single sitting. For sure, it contains some incredible individual moments - the epic opener 'Achilles Last Stand', a pulverising reading of Blind Willie McTell's 'Nobody's Fault But Mine', 'Candy Store Rock''s mutant rockabilly - but taken as a whole, its relentless delivery and metallic sheen offers very little warmth, even on the introspective electric blues of 'Tea For One'. There's a sense of boredom, loneliness and resignation that runs through the lyrics".

Read review