No, it’s not the Mortal Kombat character entering the music world. Don’t click away, though, as Takeda is worth sticking around for. Takeda is a four-piece folk rock band from Norwich who bring a fairly unique tone to their music. It takes a minute to adjust to, but once you do, you’ll wonder why this hasn’t been more of a thing than it is. Welcome to grunge folk. It is a thing, I am in love, and I want more of it.
Takeda’s new single ‘Reynardine’ is the perfect example of their style. They bring in elements of classic acoustic folk with a very woodsy British folk approach to music. Then they add in a DIY fuzzy grunge edge to some of their guitar work and percussion. The melodies sound like something you’d get from a folk festival to sit in the barn and get merry to, but then there will be heavy rock elements that go harder than some grunge bands do. Pearl Jam went to a folk festival with Dave Grohl and formed Takeda. Through it all, lead vocalist and guitarist Josh Harrison keeps a steady, guiding and calming folk voice in the verses, but can match a rocker’s true emotion in the bigger choruses. The band then close out the final minute and a half with an epic build-up to a razor fuzz-filled finale. It’s fantastic.
Speaking about the single, Josh said:
“Reynardine is based on the English folk tale of the same name. Musically, this is Takeda’s DNA: folk songs and melodies tied together with heavy guitar parts, thumping rhythms and huge choruses. This song is about the hidden person within, who acts unseen and often undetected until it’s too late.”
Alongside bandmates Charlie Wilson (drums), David Woodgett (bass) and Ollie Welsh ( live support), Takeda label themselves “the loudest acoustic guitar on Earth”. The single ‘Reynardine’ is out today, with their debut album ‘In Venus’ Train’ due for release on 17th September.
For more information about Takeda, including pre-ordering the album, visit Takeda’s Bandcamp. Now I need to find more grunge folk…
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