Greta Van Fleet recording new album with producer of Adele, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney
Brian McCollum | Detroit Free Press

Greta Van Fleet is hitting the studio with a producer well known for his work with hit-makers such as Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Pink and Sia, sources tell the Detroit Free Press.

Greg Kurstin, based in L.A., is working with the Michigan hard-rock band as it embarks on its second full-length album, expected to be released by year's end.

The information was confirmed to the Free Press by several people, including Marlon Young, who has co-produced much of Greta Van Fleet's work up to this point.

"I support them and hope it all works out great for them," said Young.

Kurstin has a wide-ranging body of work as a songwriter and producer: In addition to the pop acts named above, he's worked closely with the likes of the Foo Fighters, Beck, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar.

"Greg is a (profanity) genius," the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl said of Kurstin. "He’s a brilliant producer and he has this sonic intuition that I have never seen in anybody else."

Greta Van Fleet's official spokesperson declined to comment about recording activity or album plans. The Free Press has also reached out to Kurstin's manager.

Greta Van Fleet broke big in 2017 with the roaring, Zeppelin-esque sound of "From the Fires," an EP that featured hits such as "Highway Tune" and "Safari Song." Recorded at Royal Oak's Rustbelt Studios with Young and Al Sutton, it went on to win a Grammy Award for best rock album.

The band's full-length Republic Records debut, "Anthem of the Peaceful Army," landed in October and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 while dividing critics and receiving some harsh reviews. While much it was tracked in Nashville, the music was once again overseen by Young and Sutton, the Detroit-area producers who worked with the young group since its early forays beyond Frankenmuth.

The enlisting of Kurstin may signal a shift in musical direction for Greta — and band members have hinted at just that.

In an interview with England's NME on Saturday, guitarist Jake Kiszka said the new music is "definitely much different" from "Anthem of the Peaceful Army" — an album that injected prog-rock ambitiousness amid the band's proven classic-rock influences.

"We have more leniency on more outlandish stuff we want to do," the guitarist added, while his younger brother, bassist Sam Kiska, called it a "step in a cinematic direction."

After touring the globe for much of this year, Greta now has a break in its concert itinerary: Aside from a scheduled spot at Woodstock 50 — a fest that still hangs in the balance — the band has no live commitments until September.