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.

Fra Vadested Til Vaandesmed
Taake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jeg svoemte naer bunnen igjen
Jeg tilboed min sjel
Moekk og fluer i ditt haar
Svovel paa ditt jomfrulaar

Vandrer paa randen
Avgrunnens glatte kant
Saa lenge siden

Alt haap forsvant
Dyret i dypet
Stirrer oppned paa din sjel

Sparker inn doeren
Og gjoer deg hel
Klamt lys
Baklengs inn i ilden
Vidoere fatdets aand

Skjoed og doed
Lag din egen maske
Stygg og slu
Av vrakgods

Det finnes inget krukke av gull
Under truende skyer

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Taake's song "Fra Vadested Til Vaandesmed" are very intense and open to interpretation. The opening line "Jeg svoemte naer bunnen igjen" translates to "I swam close to the bottom again", which suggests a feeling of being lost or overwhelmed. The next line, "Jeg tilboed min sjel", translates to "I offered my soul", which could indicate a desperation to escape from whatever is weighing heavy on the singer's heart.

The following two lines, "Moekk og fluer i ditt haar Svovel paa ditt jomfrulaar" which translates to "Dirt and flies in your hair, sulfur on your virginity" are particularly jarring and could suggest sexual assault, shame or humiliation. The next lines "Vandrer paa randen Avgrunnens glatte kant Saa lenge siden Alt haap forsvant Dyret i dypet Stirrer oppned paa din sjel" indicates that the singer is walking on the edge or the brink of something dangerous. This could indicate a metaphorical descent into madness or something self-destructive.

The chorus, "Sparker inn doeren Og gjoer deg hel Klamt lys Baklengs inn i ilden Vidoere fatdets aand" could be interpreted in many ways, but it seems like an encouragement to confront and overcome whatever is troubling the singer. The imagery of "klamt lys" (damp light) and "baklengs inn i ilden" (backwards into the fire) is particularly striking and could suggest a baptism by fire or a reckoning with oneself.

Overall, the lyrics of "Fra Vadested Til Vaandesmed" are very complex and open to many interpretations. They deal with themes of isolation, shame, and reckoning with oneself in a very poetic and evocative way.

Line by Line Meaning

Jeg svoemte naer bunnen igjen
I found myself at the bottom again

Jeg tilboed min sjel
I offered my soul

Moekk og fluer i ditt haar
Dirt and flies in your hair

Svovel paa ditt jomfrulaar
Sulfur on your virginity

Vandrer paa randen
Walking on the edge

Avgrunnens glatte kant
The smooth edge of the abyss

Saa lenge siden
So long ago

Alt haap forsvant
All hope vanished

Dyret i dypet
The beast in the deep

Stirrer oppned paa din sjel
Gazing down at your soul

Sparker inn doeren
Kicking in the door