Rockin. Nothing like most of their stuff. Innovative for its time. Many bands that came after this wrote music like this. Sounds a lot like Heart's Barracuda. 

Painful, I hope this ends soon. 

Does this thing ever end?

This is probably my favorite piece from Zep. Not many people like it I guess. But seeing as people commented on its likeness to Yes (my favorite band) and Rush, it's perfectly understandable that I like it so much.

Too long, really?  Grow an attention span people, this song has one of the best martial inspired rock drum tracks ever laid down, an army of swirling, snarling guitars punctuated by a solo torn from Page's soul, a relentless, galloping bass line that would leave most players whimpering in submission and a tempo that builds to speed metal territory before there was even a musical category to describe it.  All in one song no less!

Painful. And seemingly never-endingly so.

 westslope wrote:  Interestingly enough, in 1981 Page joined with Yes bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White to form a supergroup called XYZ (for ex-Yes-Zeppelin). They rehearsed several times, but the project was shelved. Bootlegs of these sessions revealed that some of the material emerged on later projects, notably The Firm's "Fortune Hunter" and Yes songs "Mind Drive" and "Can You Imagine?". Page joined Yes on stage in 1984 at Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany, playing "I'm Down".

When Yes meets Rush

not their best indeed, about to hit mute!

Some of the riffs remind me of Yes.

 helgigermany wrote: 
Thats what Mrs Poacher says. I always remind her its the width that is important too and not the least, what one does with it. 

not there best

What a way to start a work day!!!! 

To long!

Ugh.  Please make it stop already
 

I must have discovered Led Zep in '76 when this album came out. I must have worn out the vinyl on the record.  Listened to the rest of the catalog later, but the album Presence and this song in particular are the real Zep to me.

One of the most intense drum beats that I have ever tried to play.  Amazing talent, John Bonham. What a loss.

Thank you for playing this, Bill!

 BikeCoachDave wrote: 

Dave - I'm with you on some of this but this is not a typical Zep song, not just the radio songs but even a typical deep album cut.

I still stand by my statement that Geddy Lee, Neal Peart and Alex Lifeson had this record on repeat play while they were writing and recording.

 BikeCoachDave wrote: 
No kidding!  This is a rock classic!!

 Bosami wrote: 
Word²!

I'm suprised others are suprised by the low ratings. Led Zeppelin was never a critical success outside of its loyal fans. When a friend brought some Zep to a grade school "dance" everyone, including me, hated it. I did not begin to enjoy them until much later in life (30's) and then mostly for JPJ's bass and JB's drums. And the occasional Tolkien refererence ;-)

 BikeCoachDave wrote: 

Word!

 TomFromPoland wrote: 

Not only that, but this song is the genesis of Metallica
(not to be confused with the Genesis of Metallica).
 

Wow, the comments on this thread are amazing. People trying to say this sounds like Rush? People admitting they hadnt heard this track before but claiming to be Zep fans? Eluding that it might be a rip off of Heart? Complaining about the run time? You folks need to take some R&R 101 classes before you continue to post. 

One of my favorite solos put to vinyl by Jimmy. Classic, understated, full of emotion.

For some strange reason I've always thought this was the jammin'est song they ever cut. Length be damned.

Okay, it is about three-times too long, but the musicianship is farging amazing. Drums, bass, guitar, even the vocals, just stunning. Hard to imagine anyone else who could pull this off.

I thought for a sec that I was going to have to admit to liking a Rush song, then my brain slapped itself and said "you fool, this is Zeppelin!" Whew, that was close.

I still stand by the statement that the pic by the word "rock'n'roll" in the dictionary should be a photo of Led rocking in 73. Pinnacle of pure rock.