Taake is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1993 and origi… Read Full Bio ↴Taake is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1993 and originally named Thule. The band's one continuous member is Hoest, who writes and records most of the music. He has released six full-length albums and several EPs. The band describes itself as "True Norwegian black metal", and Hoest said that he wants to "awaken national pride and cultural nostalgia in my Norwegian listeners" as well as to remind people "that Hell is right here on Earth and that humans can be demons". All lyrics are in Hoest's native dialect and are printed in Norse runes. "Taake" is the old spelling of the Norwegian word "tåke", meaning "fog".

In 1993, Ørjan Stedjeberg (then known as 'Ulvhedin'), formed the first version of the band Taake under the name Thule, together with drummer 'Svartulv'. Thule released two demos, Der vinterstormene raste in 1993 and Omfavnet av svarte vinger in 1994. Shortly after, the band changed its name to Taake and 'Ulvhedin' adopted the new pseudonym 'Hoest' (meaning "autumn" or "harvest"). In 1995, the released the demo Manndaudsvinter in 1995. This was followed in 1996 by a 7" EP called Koldbrann i jesu marg.

Between 1999 and 2005, Taake released three full-length albums. They are a trilogy of concept albums linked by the topics of "death, Norway, and the devil in man".[4]

The first full-length album, Nattestid ser porten vid, was released by Wounded Love Records in 1999. The album was written entirely by Hoest, but he brought in a session musician, 'Tundra', to perform bass guitar and drums. It was recorded throughout 1997 and 1998 at the Grieg Hall.

The second installment of the trilogy, Over bjoergvin graater himmerik, was released in 2002 by Wounded Love Records. On this record, Hoest surrounded himself with a band: second guitarist 'C. Corax', bassist and pianist 'Keridwen', and drummer 'Mutt' (Gaahlskagg, Trelldom, Sigfader).

The final installment of the trilogy, Hordalands doedskvad, was released in 2005 by Dark Essence Records. It features second guitarist 'C. Corax', bassist 'Lava' and drummer 'Mord'. It also features several guest vocalists, including 'Nattefrost' (Carpathian Forest), 'Nordavind' (Carpathian Forest) and 'Taipan' (Orcustus).

Over the following three years, Taake released four short EPs and played a few festivals (most notably the Hole in the Sky Festival in Norway, with Ivar Bjørnson of Enslaved on guitar), but according to Hoest, Taake was "on ice for a while".

Before the 2006–2007 European tour, Taake revamped their official homepage. Following the infamous March 2007 show in Essen, the band were removed from several festivals and received much backlash. At the same time, Lava, who had been bass guitarist since 2002, left the band.

In 2008, a fourth album was released, recorded entirely by Hoest and simply named Taake. The album was recorded for Hoest's own label Svartekunst Produksjoner, and was distributed via Dark Essence Records.

In 2011, Taake released the EP Kveld, featuring both new and re-recorded songs. This was followed shortly after by Taake's fifth full-length album, Noregs vaapen. Hoest collaborated with many prominent Norwegian black-metallers for this record including Attila Csihar, Nocturno Culto, Demonaz and Ivar Bjørnson. It was again released on his own label Svartekunst Produksjoner to much critical acclaim. The album was nominated for the prestigious Spellemann award in Norway for top metal release. This nomination was met with some derision due to anti-Islamic lyrics.

To mark the band's 20th anniversary, Taake released the compilation album Gravkamre, kroner og troner in 2013.

Taake played their first show in the United States in May 2014 at Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore.

In 2014, Taake released the sixth full-length album Stridens hus[8] and the EP Kulde through Dark Essence Records. In support of this record and as a follow up to their successful show in Maryland, Taake announced an East Coast US tour for the first time in their history, to begin in June 2015.

Doedsjarl
Taake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jeg lever fremdeles
men sjelen min raatner fort
Doedsklokken tikker
pirker i hjerterot
Livet er omme
synger paa siste vers
Pakten beseglet
bundet til Satans ed

Loeper skrubb i ett med natten
Ugjenkallelig tapt

Doeden er en vakker droem
Livets mange skyggesider/
Livets mange stygge sider
Djevelen paa begge skuldre
skar i deg med kalde kniver
gjorde vondt og gav deg svart
Skadefro besatt av maanen
Avsjelet i fyr og flamme
Vansiret fordervet elskov
Soekte dypt og kom igjennom
til Dimensjon Helvete

Doedsjarl

Utrygt for taake paa Vestlandet
Satan lever i Norge

Jeg var bleik tynn og doeende
men likevel kom hun til meg
Jeg var skitten kald og blodig
som en sulten rev om hoesten
Jeg var svett syk og betent
Et skip paa stormfullt hav

Skarp kniv
en venn i noeden
Tapt liv
min venn er Doeden

Svart blod
Svart sjel

Svart natt
Svart metall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Taake's song "Doedsjarl" present a dark and sinister portrayal of life, death, and the devil. The singer acknowledges that although he still lives, his soul is decaying rapidly as he hears the ticking of death's clock poking at the (metaphorical) roots of his heart. He suggests that life is about to end, and he is singing his last verse while bound by Satan's oath. He describes how he runs in the darkness, losing himself in it, and how death is a beautiful dream with the devil whispering in his ear, cutting him with cold knives and causing him pain, giving him blackness. The singer is possessed by the moon, and he is mutilated, corrupt, and seeking deep into the Dimension of Hell.

The song also talks about the danger of Taake residing in Vestlandet, where Satan lives in Norway, warning him to be alert to the mists. The singer mentions being pale, thin, and dying, but how someone came to him, distorted, as he was cold, bloody, and sick, like a hungry fox in the autumn. He was like a ship in a stormy sea. The singer expresses admiration for a sharp knife, which he sees as his friend in times of need. He believes that life is lost and death has become his friend.

Line by Line Meaning

Jeg lever fremdeles
I am still alive

men sjelen min raatner fort
but my soul is decaying quickly

Doedsklokken tikker
The Death Bell is ticking

pirker i hjerterot
pricking at the heart's decay

Livet er omme
Life is over

synger paa siste vers
singing its final verse

Pakten beseglet
The pact sealed

bundet til Satans ed
bound by Satan's oath

Loeper skrubb i ett med natten
Running through the scrub with the night

Ugjenkallelig tapt
Irrevocably lost

Doeden er en vakker droem
Death is a beautiful dream