Customer Reviews

Between Two Unseens (Bonus Dvd)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Taken's final release, the "Between Two Unseens" EP, sees the band at the pinnacle of their sound. Much like Skycamefalling's final 2 song EP which showed the world what they would have sounded like had they stayed together, "Between Two Unseens" shows the stellar capability that these five guys had of making incredible music. It really is a shame that this is their final release, because this by far overshadows any of their previous work, even when it's only a meager five songs, and 24 minutes in length. However if you have ever listened to Taken, or are a fan of progressive hardcore, ala Fordirelifesake, then "Between Two Unseens" is a great recommendation. The special edition with the Bonus DVD containing one of the band's final shows at Chain Reaction is a great touch. Such a shame this is the last thing we will ever hear from them.

"Arrested Impulse" kicks off the cd in older fashion, diving right into a driving fast rhythm, and very intense, memorable riffs. After hearing the first song alone from this EP, I was sure that this would be a special cd. My suspicions were only confirmed by "The Duke", which begins softly with harmonizing guitar parts, only to take off into heavy, melodic aggression. Ray's voice is as good as it has ever been on this release, and particularly on "The Duke" he shows great capability of furthering his vocals qualities. My favorite song on the EP is the third track "Treaded Paths", which much like "The Duke", also starts off with soft harmonizing guitar melodies, before unleashing some of the fiercest and most creative music this band has ever done. The guitars particularly shine on this track, but the music overall is stellar as Taken can instantly transition from a soft and beautiful sound, to one of the heaviest and most aggressive you've ever heard. "Eternity Was On Our Lips" is really the EP's epic, rounding out at just over six minutes and showing the true details of the style Taken chose to pursue on this release. The soft parts are astonishingly great on this track and add to its overall appeal. Finishing off the Ep is "Swirling Memories" which recalls the band's hayday from their album "And They Slept". Fans will feel instantly at home upon hearing it. However despite it being another stellar track, it is more than bittersweet, as this is officially the last Taken song we will ever hear. The Bonus DVD included with the special addition is a nice touch, and much needed addition as many will never be able to see this amazing band perform live. It highlights one of the band's final performances and shows just how much of a presence they had on stage. The DVD will only make you appreciate this band more, so I recommend getting the special addition so you can experience this first hand.

Taken were really one of the most overlooked bands to come out of the late 90's hardcore/post-hardcore/emo scene, and after 8 years of being together and making phenomenal music, they have chosen to part ways, which is very sad. I still can't help but wonder what another Taken release would have sounded like after hearing this EP, however I still wonder what another Skycamefalling release would have sounded like after hearing their final EP, so I guess this serves just as much purpose. If you've ever listened to Taken's two previous releases (2001's "And They Slept" and 2000's "Finding Solace In Dissension") then you should not hesitate to grab this EP. If you've never heard of Taken, but you are into hardcore along the lines of Fordirelifesake or Skycamefalling, then you will most likely be pleased with this EP. "Between Two Unseens" was an amazing release from one of the most underappreciated hardcore bands of their time. R.I.P Taken, you will be missed.

My first review didn't go through for some reaosn, I geuss because it was too short for amazon's taste. Anyways, this EP is really friggin good, I've listened to it dozens of times and I just love it every time, epic guitar work, aggressive vocals that contrast so well with the guitar work, at first I thought it sounded almost out of place, but after listening a few times I started to appreciate the BEAUTIFUL contrast between the guitar sounds and the vocals. Such a great EP from an incredible band, check out their full length album too ("and they slept") because it also kicks ass.

!!!This album is sick!!! Its diversity from the other albums, plus the overall detail in the finished production of the album, is just phenomenal. It expresses so many different emotions throughout its entirety. Between it's mixed tracks blending flawlessly together, or the noticeable abundance of creativity, I think that it really symbolizes what Taken was striving for. If you love hardcore/screamo overlays, over an assortment of melodic, to hard hitting guitar riffs, you'll love this album from Taken.

-----If you like this Taken album, I also recommended also: Hopesfall, Poison the Well, With Resistance, Glassjaw, Pelican, Rosesdead.

I have to say I'm not really a huge fan of this bands previous releases. There were a few songs here and there that caught my ear. What dragged me into this band was the incredible performance they put on following the first day of Hellfest in 2003. But after a thorough listen they became more of a band I would put on mixed cds and such.

That was of course before I heard this final release. the whole thing was just incredible. For one thing its better produced and the guitars almost seem a little but magical with the echoing effects and the vocals have definatly improved. The overall sound reminds me of Shai Hulud or Life In Youy Way, with maybe the occasional Hopefall feel. The track that stands out the most for me is the opener, "Arrested Impulse." This thing just had me going nutz for a bit, cuz there is some intricate guitar work and awesome melodies with some heavier parts but not the same monotounous droning breakdowns we here everywhere else. The second track isn't as strong but has its moments and Treaded Paths track number 3 has some really great parts. The last two songs were not as impressive but still worth a liten. Its here that i started to feel like the album started to lag especially in the last track.

Overall this EP is a pretty great thing to listen to. Its not the most inlfuential or new album to hit the market but its entertaining. It almost reminds me of the time Skycamefalling came out with their Last Two Songs EP and showed the world what they could have sounded like had they stayed together. I'm sure these guys would have only improved with time, and while they may have shyed away from their previous sound I think it would have been for the better. I thorougly enjoyed this album on the whole.