Taker may be a relatively new band, debuting with an EP in 2024, but its members are longtime veterans of the Buffalo punk scene, with past and present ties to Violent Way, Corvo, Healer, They Live, Big Dog, Big School, and Candy. As Taker, they focus on midpaced punk rock that lands somewhere between the Ramones and the Misfits, with a slight street-punk edge.
Jenny Woo adds some perfectly snarled guest vocals to Boots, giving the record an extra shot of force. Personally, I’m most drawn to the poppier moments, like Work and Town, and the band’s take on Guided By Voices’ Game of Pricks.
The vibrant album artwork was created by tattoo artist and friend of the band Scott Sonner, who passed away last year. Seeing it here feels less like packaging and more like a quiet tribute and a class move.
Sons and Daughters is out now on LP via Contra Records.