Built by Nations
{{Infobox song
| name =
| type = single
| artist = Greta Van Fleet
| album = The Battle at Garden's Gate
| released = {{Start date|2021|04|16}}
| recorded = 2019
| genre = Hard rock
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=58}}.
| label = Republic
| writer = {{hlist|Jake Kiszka|Josh Kiszka|Sam Kiszka|Danny Wagner}}
| prev_title = Broken Bells
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Meeting the Master
| next_year = 2023
}}
"Built By Nations" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It is the fifth and final single from their second album, The Battle at Garden's Gate. The song reached number six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.{{Cite magazine |title=Greta Van Fleet |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/greta-van-fleet/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
Background
The song was written and recorded during The Battle at Garden's Gates sessions in 2019. On April 16, the band released the song as the final single off their sophomore album. The song was also played on July 27, when it was released as a live recording of the band playing the song.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Editorial |date=2021-07-27 |title=GRETA VAN FLEET Releases New 'Built By Nations' Performance Video |url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/greta-van-fleet-releases-new-built-by-nations-performance-video/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Sonic Perspectives |language=en-US}}
Composition
In an interview with the band, they stated that the song is about "when boys go to war", adding: "A mutiny that chronicles a unit of bewildered, young renegade soldiers, as they march into the mouth of hell. “Built by Nations” delves into challenging themes such as military moguls, the manufacturing of killing machines, and the spirit of a warrior."{{Cite web |last=Hadusek |first=Jon |date=2021-04-16 |title=Battle at the Garden's Gate Track by Track: Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2021/04/greta-van-fleet-the-battle-at-gardens-gate-track-by-track-stream/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Consequence.net}}
Reception
The single was met with mostly positive reviews.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-27 |title=Public Reviews of Built By Nations |url=https://www.albumoftheyear.org/song/9417-built-by-nations/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Album of the Year}} Variety described the song as "A slower song, with a quasi-philosophical titles"{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2021-04-16 |title=Greta Van Fleet Channels Spinal Tap in Epic Fashion on 'The Battle at Garden's Gate': Album Review |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/greta-van-fleet-battle-at-gardens-gate-album-review-1234953268/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} RiffMagazine said "Guitarist Jake Kiszka still seems to be paying homage to Page, both with his delicately strummed with his scorching lead work on songs like "Built by Nations"".{{Cite web |date=2021-04-12 |title=ALBUM REVIEW: Greta Van Fleet rushes things on 'The Battle at Garden's Gate' |url=https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/greta-van-fleet-the-battle-at-gardens-gate/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=RIFF Magazine |language=en-US}}
Personnel
Greta Van Fleet
- Joshua Kiszka – vocals, background vocals
- Jacob Kiszka – guitar, backing vocals
- Samuel Kiszka – bass, keyboards, background vocals
- Daniel Wagner – drums, background vocals
Technical
- Greg Kurstin – production, engineering
- Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
- Julian Burg – engineering
- Alex Pasco – engineering
- Matt Wolach – mixing assistance
- Matt Tuggle – recording assistance
- Peter Luretig – recording assistance
- Brian Rajaratnam – recording assistance
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2021)
!Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Hot Hard Rock Songs (Billboard){{Cite magazine |title=Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Hot Hard Rock Songs) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/greta-van-fleet/chart-history/hsg/ |access-date=June 21, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
|align="center"|10 |
| {{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|13|artist=Greta Van Fleet|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|6|artist=Greta Van Fleet|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadarock|45|artist=Greta Van Fleet|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2023}} |