From the Fires

From the Fires was first announced on October 25, 2017, to be released on November 10, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/greta-van-fleet-to-release-from-the-fires-double-ep/|title=GRETA VAN FLEET To Release 'From The Fires'|date=25 October 2017|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=19 November 2017}} The release consists of eight songs; four being newly recorded by the band, four songs originally found from their EP, Black Smoke Rising.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/greta-van-fleet-double-ep-from-the-fires/|title=Greta Van Fleet Announce Double EP 'From the Fires'|website=Loudwire|access-date=19 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/meet-alice-cooper%E2%80%93approved-kids-bringing-riff-rock-back-charts|title=Meet Alice Cooper–Approved Kids Bringing Riff Rock Back on the Charts|date=13 November 2017|website=Revolvermag.com|access-date=16 January 2018}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.govenuemagazine.com/interview-jake-kiszka-and-danny-wagner-of-greta-van-fleet/|title=INTERVIEW: Jake Kiszka and Danny Wagner of Greta Van Fleet|work=Go Venue Magazine|date=December 8, 2017|access-date=March 17, 2018}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.antiheromagazine.com/interview-jake-kiszka-of-greta-van-fleet/|title=Interview: Jake Kiszka of GRETA VAN FLEET|work=AntiHero Magazine|date=December 17, 2017|access-date=March 17, 2018}}

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. The song "Highway Tune" topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Active Rock charts in 2017,{{cite web|url=https://www.axs.com/greta-van-fleet-to-release-double-ep-from-the-fires-in-november-124649|title=Greta Van Fleet to release double EP 'From The Fires' in November|website=Axs.com|access-date=19 November 2017}} while "Safari Song" had peaked at number 1 on the same chart in February 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/greta-van-fleet/chart-history/rtt/|title=Greta Van Fleet Chart History|website=Billboard.com|access-date=19 November 2017}}

Lyrically, all eight songs across this album and their EP all relate to the theme of basic humanity.{{cite web|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2017-10-26/rising-stars-greta-van-fleet-announce-from-the-fires-double-ep|title=Rising stars Greta Van Fleet announce From The Fires double EP|date=26 October 2017|website=Teamrock.com|access-date=19 November 2017}} Specifically, vocalist Josh Kiszka explained that the album’s name and cover art were inspired by the band's camping trips of their childhood:

{{blockquote|"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.}}

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. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.socialmagazine.us/interview-jake-kiszka-of-greta-van-fleet/|title=Interview: Jake Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet|work=Social Magazine|date=February 20, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2018}} Herschel Boone and his wife recorded multiple chorus parts to give it the effect of a choir. From the Fires{{'}} two original songs, "Edge of Darkness" and "Talk on the Street," were written about nine months before its release.{{cite web|url=https://glidemagazine.com/197281/greta-van-fleet-leads-must-needed-hard-rock-revival-interview/|title=Greta Van Fleet Fronts Much Needed Hard Rock Revival (INTERVIEW)|work=Glide Magazine|date=November 20, 2017|access-date=March 17, 2018}} Jake briefly referred to the former as "pure rock and roll" and the latter as having a "catchy fun" element to it.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/greta-van-fleet-interview-2523362610.html|title="As Brothers We Stand": An Interview with Greta Van Fleet|work=PopMatters|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2018}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 64/100{{cite web|title=From the Fires by Greta Van Fleet|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/from-the-fires/greta-van-fleet|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=February 21, 2018}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/from-the-fires-mw0003118532 |title= From the Fires - Greta Van Fleet | first=James | last=Monger |publisher=AllMusic | access-date=February 21, 2018}}

| rev2 = AntiHero Magazine

| rev2Score = 10/10{{cite news|url=http://www.antiheromagazine.com/album-review-greta-van-fleet-from-the-fires-ep/ |title= Greta Van Fleet - From The Fires EP | first=James | last=Geiser |work=AntiHero Magazine | access-date=February 21, 2018}}

| rev3 = PopMatters

| rev3Score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite news|url=https://www.popmatters.com/greta-van-fleet-from-the-fires-2516622883.html |title= Greta Van Fleet: From the Fires| first=William | last=Nesbitt |work=PopMatters | access-date=February 21, 2018}}

| rev4 = The Spill Magazine

| rev4Score = 4/5{{cite news|url=http://spillmagazine.com/spill-album-review-greta-van-fleet-fires/ |title= Greta Van Fleet - From the Fires | first=Gerrod | last=Harris |work=The Spill Magazine | access-date=February 21, 2018}}

}}

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. As of August 30, 2019, the EP has sold 500,000 copies in the U.S., giving it a gold certification by the RIAA.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8215165/greta-van-fleet-safari-song-mainstream-rock-songs-number-one|title=Greta Van Fleet Lands Second Straight Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 with 'Safari Song'|magazine=Billboard |publisher=}}

Musically, the release was described as "Led Zeppelin for Generation Z",{{cite web|url=http://uproxx.com/music/greta-van-fleet-from-the-fires-review/|title=Greta Van Fleet Wants To Be Led Zeppelin For Generation Z|date=7 November 2017|website=Uproxx.com|access-date=19 November 2017}} an influence the band mentioned in the past, specifically Robert Plant's wailing vocals and Jimmy Page's guitar riffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/greta-van-fires|title=Greta Van Fleet Announce New EP, 'From the Fires'|website=Guitarworld.com|access-date=19 November 2017}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Joshua Michael Kiszka, Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka, and Daniel Robert Wagner, except where noted

| title1 = Safari Song

| length1 = 3:56

| title2 = Edge of Darkness

| length2 = 4:28

| title3 = Flower Power

| length3 = 5:13

| title4 = A Change Is Gonna Come

| note4 = Sam Cooke cover

| length4 = 3:17

| title5 = Highway Tune

| length5 = 3:01

| title6 = Meet on the Ledge

| note6 = Fairport Convention cover

| length6 = 3:50

| title7 = Talk on the Street

| length7 = 4:09

| title8 = Black Smoke Rising

| length8 = 4:21

| total_length = 32:15

}}

Greta Van Fleet

• Joshua Kiszka – vocals
• Jacob Kiszka – guitar, mandolin on "Flower Power"
• Samuel Kiszka – bass, organ on "Flower Power"
• 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

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{{certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=From the Fires|award=Platinum|relyear=2017|certyear=2019|access-date=June 20, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=From the Fires|award=Gold|relyear=2017|certyear=2022|access-date=June 20, 2022|id=9911}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=From the Fires|award=Gold|relyear=2017|source=radioscope|access-date=January 6, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=From the Fires|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=April 19, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=From The Fires|award=Silver|relyear=2017|certyear=2024|access-date=February 23, 2024|id=19725-6670-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=From the Fires|award=Gold|relyear=2017|certyear=2019|access-date=August 30, 2019}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{Greta Van Fleet}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Album}}

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Category:2017 EPs

Category:Greta Van Fleet albums

Category:Republic Records EPs

Category:EPs by American artists

Category:Rock EPs

Category:Grammy Award for Best Rock Album