Led Zeppelin is a band that is constantly praised and worshiped in the music world, and it is well deserved. Presence was Led Zeppelin’s seventh studio album, released in 1976, and was their slowest grossing album, initially released to lukewarm reviews. When I first read about the albums reception I was surprised because, for me, this stands as one of the groups most impressive and exciting works. When I talk about Led Zeppelin with fellow musicians this album rarely comes up in conversation and I really think it deserves to be. For me this album seems to stand to people who like the technicalities in Zeppelins work and not just the songs on classic rock radio.
The album opens with “Achilles Last Stand” which is one of the most intense song every recorded by the band. The track is a monstrous ten minutes long, but it never quits. John Boham’s drums push the track along, while Jimmy Page shows off some of his most impressive guitar work ever recorded. Page and Boham lock in riff and rhythms, with Boham matching his snare fills with the guitar riff. Boham also has some amazing snare rolls that fit in between his driving bass foot oriented drum playing. The highlight of this track is the harmonies that Page composed for the song, adding to the intensity of the track. The harmonies are all over the place and adds a whole new dimension to the song and Page utilizes his great skill of slide guitar playing. Page rips a minor key solo that really shows his command of the guitar and once his solo begins the band does a sort of breakdown where Zeppelin again locks in rhythms. The track is a great start to the album and showcases how Zeppelin could create songs that sound so large in scale.
“For Your Life” is one of my favorite Zeppelin songs mostly because of Boham’s drums. The bass foot on this song is just great and 
Boham had a knack for fitting in extra accents here and there. Around the two minute mark there is a breakdown of sorts, where he moves to the offbeat while Page plays a great descending riff. It amazes me how they never lost track of time and this song proves how tight of a band they were. Page and Boham again lock in with Boham;s bass foot matching Pages riff. The song also features a great solo from Page, with him again utilizing the minor key. “Royal Orleans” is a track where the group brings a more funk type element. Page plays a classic funk sounding riff while Boham follows with his bass foot following in doubles. Boham also shifts into full time at parts really diversifying the song.
“Nobody’s Fault But Mine” has a kind of irritating opening but it is totally worth it once the song kicks in. It is my favorite Plant vocal on the album and he has a killer harmonica solo three minutes into the song. The band repeats the into once again except this time John Paul Jones and Boham lock in providing some really intricate off beat and obscure rhythms. “Candy Store Rock” is a great rockabilly influenced song that I often find myself playing on guitar. Page’s riff perfectly mirrors Plants vocal and the song really grooves. “Hots On For Nowhere” is another cool song and Boham owns the chorus, keeping his high hat in full time while he delays he bass foot for the offbeats.
“Tea For No One” Starts with classic Boham halftime before turning into a slow blues of sorts. Page has some amazing licks but it’s not really much of a song. Presence is not really an album that boasts Zeppelin’s songwriting but more of their technical virtuosity. It’s an album that I can listen to over and over again hearing more and more musical choices that blow my mind. Anyone who considers themselves a fan has to listen to this album.
Chris' Albums Revisited 