Ten years after the instant success of their unnamed debut, Led Zeppelin's position as lord and master of rock began to wane. Not only had pompous seventies rock made way for the more efficient and song-oriented new wave in 1979, but one setback after another ravaged the British supergroup. Singer Robert Plant mourned the death of his son Karac while guitarist Jimmy Page battled a heroin addiction
… and drummer John Bonham was barely able to control his alcoholism. In addition, the group could no longer enter England for tax reasons. It was like looking for an entrance at the exit, Plant once sighed and on this the title of the last studio album was based. Due to the frequent absence of Page and Bonham, it was mainly a record by Plant and bassist / keyboardist John Paul Jones. The latter dominates on keys in seven melodic songs in which the mesmerizing rock of yesteryear has been pushed somewhat to the background and culminating in the catchy stomp All My Love. In Through The Out Door doesn't sound bad, but the powerful sound that Led Zeppelin once produced as a collective is sadly lacking. In 1980 Bonham died and with it, almost symbolically the greatest rock group of the 1970s. (MR) almost symbolically the largest rock group of the seventies. (MR) almost symbolically the largest rock group of the seventies. (MR)more
