Takeda: In Venus’ Train

(Drongo Records)

Out Now

Norwich quartet Takeda release the debut album In Venus’ Train, a journey through the band’s unique folk-meets grunge sonic approach. Packing poetic lyricism with themes of love, loss, religion, and coming of age through imagery of mystical figures from folk-lore and biblical metaphors, the nine track release balances an affecting sense of genuine emotion with haunting melodies and striking musicianship which melds folk sensibilities with gritty, fuzzy grunge intensity.

Produced by David Pye (Szun Waves, Trudy & the Romance, Faithless, Dido), the album is a striking body of work. Sometimes beautiful, at others visceral, and intense, In Venus’ Train reveals a band unafraid to experiment, yet disciplined enough to craft music that is both melodically intricate and immediately accessible.

Opening track London brings an elegant picked guitar and vocalist Josh’s fragile vocal, tainted with a subtle distortion and surrounded by subtle yet affecting atmospheric hums and swells. Gradually building, the track retains a compelling restraint as glitching drones float subtly behind the main guitar and eventually float into the abyss.

California takes a more upfront and polished approach, offering a commercially viable yet buoyant sound as the earworm vocal melody weaves above a bright, organic soundscape. In contrast to the album’s darker, more intense moments, the track casts an illusory brightness while simultaneously showcasing the band’s strength as songwriters. As it builds, the song reaches a stunning, high-impact instrumental break, where subtly drifting organ tones and fuzz-laden guitar feedback expand the soundscape in a way reminiscent of Radiohead. Its repeated ABAB structure evokes folk traditions, yet the band’s layered textures and sonic choices lean firmly toward alternative rock – ultimately underlining their distinctive musical identity.

Standout Sugar Mountain brings together Takeda’s sound in the most complete and compelling manner. From the intricate, beautifully nuanced, fuzzy acoustic guitar work to the palpable sense of energy and drive within the band’s performance, the track is carried forward with a purpose across its 6 minutes.

The intensity and energy of the performance is contrast beautifully against the melodic, emotive lead vocals which bring a palpable melancholic tone to the otherwise gritty musicality and pagan-like feel of the lyricism. At the mid-point, the track shifts, to a long and gradually unfurling instrumental break, building intensity through some flourishing guitar work and eventually sprawling its way back to a final middle eight, that ends with a final iteration of the brilliant main guitar riff, like the end of a rousing live set.

Elsewhere on the album, Last Man Live glides through a swaying 3/4 time signature, from its gentle acoustic opening to a giant wall of distorted tones and crashing drums, while Long Night highlights more of the band’s heartfelt atmospheric, Ben Howard-esque side.

Previous single Reynardine brings elegantly thought out chord structures and unexpectedly catchy melodies, while the addition of strings on Oh! Childish Thought highlights the folk roots of the band’s writing.

Album closer Phosphenes offers another compelling example of the bands genre blending style, bringing rootsy folk and blues undertones with a compelling atmospheric, psychedelic spoken word section at the mid point, before building to an intense and dramatic climax.

Talking about the album, lead vocalist Josh Harrison explains: “I wrote the album during a period of massive change in my life, losing touch with my family and friends, and rediscovering my own inner self.

I began writing about characters and narratives that, on the surface, felt separate from me. Yet through them, I found a way to look deeper into myself. Some of these figures emerged from folklore, others from scripture, and others still from my own imagination. Despite their varied origins, they each carried a kind of inner light—one that helped me reflect, process, and better understand the truths I was writing about.”

With In Venus’ Train, Takeda deliver a debut that feels both grounded in tradition and daringly forward-looking. By weaving together folk-rooted storytelling, grunge’s raw intensity, and moments of textural experimentation, the Norwich quartet carve out a sound that is distinctly their own. It’s a record that thrives on contrasts, fragility and power, accessibility and complexity, intimacy and vastness. Ultimately showcasing a band brimming with ambition and confidence. As debuts go, it’s a striking statement, and one that positions Takeda as a group with a lot of potential for the future.

Follow Takeda

~

All words by Simon Lucas-Hughes. More writing by Simon Lucas-Hughes can be found at his author’s archive.