PRESENCE

Presence came from a dark time in Led Zeppelin's history. Robert Plant was involved in a serious car accident that left him in a wheelchair for the recording of this album and much of the subsequent tour. Due to Plant's injuries, Jimmy Page is the main creative force behind this album, which stands as Zeppelin's darkest. "Achilles' Last Stand" is one of the greatest Zep tunes with its incredible drumming and complex fretwork from the master. "For Your Life" is a decent tune, though not memorable at all. "Nobody's Fault But Mine" is a classic with Plant's scream in the forefront. Royal Orleans is a fun track that recalls the whimsy of Christmas past on tunes like The Lemon Song. "Candy Store Rock" and "Hots On For Nowhere" are lackluster tunes, but the album ends on every high note with the gorgeous Tea For One, featuring one of Page's most inspired solos.

Led Zeppelin has no bad album, but this is below the standard they set for themselves. Still, any fan of hard rock or heavy metal should own all of their studio albums as well as How the West Was Won and the eponymous DVD.

Grade: C