“Delightfully slated”: The 1970 album Robert Plant saw as Led Zeppelin’s turning point

Robert Plant regarded Led Zeppelin III as a turning point because it took the band beyond their established electric blues-rock sound. Its acoustic songs gave Plant new ways to express himself, while the album showed that Zeppelin could remain compelling without relying on volume and distortion.

Plant recalled that the band began developing material beyond their usual four-piece rehearsal approach, calling the shift “a breakaway” that took them somewhere new. Tracks such as “That’s the Way” foregrounded voice and acoustic guitar, while “Friends” paired an unusual guitar tuning with strings. “Gallows Pole” and “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” brought energy through rhythm and momentum; despite the album’s later importance to the band, Plant said the media “delightfully slated” it.