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.

Du Ville Ville Vestland
Taake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I vinter blomstrer kun frostne ord
I hjertet kaldere enn en natt i nord
For bygdenorge har ikke glemt
Frem med vaapen fra gammel kiste

Urnordisk oedemark og villniss
Vinden river, dans for meg
Traer

Patriot under ild
I ett med natueren fri og vill
I bar overkropp i skogen natten lang
Glansdager er forbi, vaar heim er blitt et svinesti
Mens vi lengter efter forfedre og oldtid

Lytt, hoer skogens taale
Lukk oeynene og se
Bergen det blaa

Det lyslokkede majestet
Glimt av tapte skip

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Taake's song "Du Ville Ville Vestland" talk about the darkness that is felt in the heart of a person during winter. The only things that bloom in the winter are the frosty words that are spoken. The heart of the person is colder than the extremely cold night of the northern lands. The song talks about how the old village of Norway has not forgotten its past and urges the people to bring forth weapons hidden in an old chest.

The song also talks about the wild and barren wasteland of the Urnordisk region. The wind is so strong that it tears through the land. The song talks about dancing with nature and enjoying the freedom that comes by being one with nature. The people are longing for their ancestors and the old times. The glory days are long gone, and their home has become a pigsty. The song ends with the person asking the audience to listen to the sounds of the forest and close their eyes and see the blue mountains and the majestic beauty of nature. There are glimpses of the lost ships that remind them of their past.

Overall, the lyrics of the song talk about the longing for the past, the beauty of nature, and the significance of one's roots.

Line by Line Meaning

I vinter blomstrer kun frostne ord
The winter only brings cold, frozen words

I hjertet kaldere enn en natt i nord
The heart is colder than a night in the north

For bygdenorge har ikke glemt
For the countryside Norway has not forgotten

Frem med vaapen fra gammel kiste
Bring forth weapons from the old chest

Urnordisk oedemark og villniss
Ancient, barren wilderness

Vinden river, dans for meg
The wind tears, dance for me

Traer
Trees

Patriot under ild
Patriot under fire

I ett med natueren fri og vill
One with nature, free and wild

I bar overkropp i skogen natten lang
In bare chest in the forest all night