My first taste of Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter”, believe it or not, was the Crowbar version which graced their self-titled record in 1993. That said, I’m obviously a huge Led Zeppelin fan.
But I digress.
Where the New Orleans metallers’ version of the track stayed down in the Sludge and accented the Doom, Boston’s Set Fire take the tune to new heights with a cover that practically soars beyond the stratosphere. The moment Jess Collins’ keys, synonymous with the Set Fire sound, create a spacious atmosphere is pure bliss. From there, it’s like zen incarnate with Collin’ lush vocal delivery channeling Robert Plant but never mimicking as Jim Healey’s vibrant guitars create this bridge between the Heavy and the Heartfelt.
And you can’t get more heartfelt than when Healey delivers his verses which carry this emotional heft as he cries out with a soulful longing before entwining with Collins’ own voice to make more Set Fire magic. Throughout, drummer Josh Cronin brings a subtle intensity, ferociously lambasting appropriately especially when mixed with Healey’s gnarly solo towards the conclusion that’d cause even Mr. Page to get a little green with envy.
Cover or no, “No Quarter” adds another scope and depth to the Set Fire mystique and will surely continue to enrapture and enthrall listeners of all styles of Rawk.
Recorded by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios with cover art by Adam O’Day, “No Quarter” is your first taste of Set Fire’s upcoming as-yet-untitled EP due before the end of 2020 and is available now by clicking here. For more on Set Fire, follow them through their socials by clicking here, here, or here.