Formed in the late '90s in Southern California, Taken is a melodic hardcore band that is fronted by none other than Ray Harkins from the excellent 100 Words or Less: The Podcast. Well, Taken have a new EP called With Regard To and the first cut released from it, "Regret," is superb.
“This song and entire EP are about my mental journey with my wife’s diagnosis of cancer," says Ray about the track. I'm happy to report that his wife's cancer is in remission now, but the song it inspired lives on in all its cathartic glory.
Starting off with a crystalline bed of jangly guitar chords, "Regret" then introduces a jolt of crashing distortion and Ray's screamed vocals. Reflecting the chaos something like a cancer diagnosis would bring on, the rest of the track pulsates through a dramatic arrangement that goes from beautiful one moment, to jarringly heavy the next.
"I will be forever changed and I will be forever changed," howls in one key line from the lyrics, and no one within earshot doubts him.
With Regard To will be out on April 27 via Other People Records and can be pre-ordered here.
Tagged: taken hardcore band
