After two blockbuster albums, Led Zeppelin dropped Led Zeppelin III in 1970 and surprised many; the band takes a milder, British folk & acoustic-infused approach to songwriting. The lead single (Zeppelin notoriously was against singles but apparently made an exception for III), "Immigrant Song," retains some of the arena-filling aesthetic, but songs like "Friends," "Tangerine," and "That's The Way" are lead by guitar strums and lowkey arrangements that display a stark contrast to the hard rock of the English gods' previous works. This pivot, however, is what distinguishes Led Zeppelin III, and over time, the LP has gone on to be a 6 x platinum classic. Also check out "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp," and "Since I've Been Loving You."

• 180g vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• remastered
• music label: Atlantic 1970 / 2014

reviewed by nakaveli 08/2017