A review by vznsofjohanna
Hammer of the Gods by Stephen Davis

2.0

This feels like a Led Zeppelin textbook. The author can’t seem to dislodge Jimmy Page’s shaft from his throat at any given point to realize that there is an ocean of nuance flowing beneath the surface for him to tap into. The mystique of Zeppelin is tepidly interesting but is nothing in comparison to the story of four musicians who suddenly found themselves gods amongst mere men, and how they each as individuals coped with that title and the many turmoils that followed it. Some moments of genuine humanity manage to glimpse through yet the majority of it remains unexplored. 

My only real takeaways is that John Bonham unfortunately joins my pantheon of terrible, monstrous people who unfortunately happen to also be some of the best musicians to ever walk the face of the earth, and that JPJ is an absolute gigachad. Showed up, ripped the fuck out of his bass, didn’t fuck teenagers, and then left. What a legend.