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.
Hordalands Doedskvad Part I
Taake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vil deg til livs
Forvolder doed
Aandene har begynt aa vise seg for meg
Stryk katten mot haarene
Salt i saaret
Svette
Vis meg hvor lavt fuglen kan fly
Djevelen ga meg redskapen
Tiden og henne
Hun brakte meg slingringsmonn
Vreden og nedbrytbart vev
Du vet jeg gjoer vondt
Vaate oeyne tenner meg mer
Enn ditt vaate skrev som du ser
Alt som reiser seg skal falle
Helvete oeker i omfang
Naar en sjel sakte kveles
Kan du tenke deg noe mer pirrende
Homichlophobia og vulvodyni
Fullstendig smadrede floeydoerer
Doedsredskap
Doedsmaske
Forkullet hjerte
Knekt skambein
Blodig glans
Doeden skal du lide
Hun dreit paa seg da jeg skjoev klingen
Gjennom puppen og inn i hjertet
The first verse of the song talks about the presence of fog on the coast and how it wants to cause death. The next line suggests that spirits have started to appear to the singer. The following few lines are rather cryptic but they seem to hint at some form of self-harm as the singer talks about stroking a cat against its fur, salt in wounds, and sweat. The line "Vis meg hvor lavt fuglen kan fly" translates to "Show me how low the bird can fly" which is an idiom that means to take risks. The line "Over spøkelsesby i søk etter ly" means "Over the ghost town in search of shelter" which seems to imply that the singer is seeking refuge from something.
The second verse talks about the devil giving the singer tools with which he can hurt others. The singer acknowledges that he causes pain when he says "Du vet jeg gjør vondt" which means "You know I hurt." Then, in a rather disturbing shift, the singer talks about wet eyes arousing him more than wet handwriting. He then declares that anything that rises shall fall and that hell is growing. The next few lines again seem to indicate that the singer is tormenting someone, this time someone whose ears have been destroyed. The lines "Doedsredskap, Doedsmaske, Forkullet hjerte, Knekt skambein, Blodig glans" mean "Death tool, Death mask, Charred heart, Broken pelvis, Bloody luster." The final line suggests that the singer has killed someone by stabbing them in the heart.
Overall, the lyrics to Taake's song Hordalands Doedskvad Part I paint a picture of a disturbed and sadistic individual who takes pleasure in causing pain and death to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Stedvis taake paa kysten
Foggy areas on the coast
Vil deg til livs
Wants to kill you
Forvolder doed
Causing death
Aandene har begynt aa vise seg for meg
Ghosts have started to appear to me
Stryk katten mot haarene
Stroke the cat against the fur
Salt i saaret
Salt in the wound
Svette
Sweat
Vis meg hvor lavt fuglen kan fly
Show me how low the bird can fly
Over spoekelsesby i soek etter ly
Over ghost town searching for shelter
Djevelen ga meg redskapen
The devil gave me the tool
Tiden og henne
Time and her
Hun brakte meg slingringsmonn
She brought me leeway
Vreden og nedbrytbart vev
Anger and fragile tissue
Du vet jeg gjoer vondt
You know I cause pain
Vaate oeyne tenner meg mer
Wet eyes turn me on more
Enn ditt vaate skrev som du ser
Than your wet writing as you see
Alt som reiser seg skal falle
Everything that rises will fall
Helvete oeker i omfang
Hell increases in size
Naar en sjel sakte kveles
When a soul slowly suffocates
Kan du tenke deg noe mer pirrende
Can you imagine anything more exciting?
Homichlophobia og vulvodyni
Fear of fog and vulvar pain
Fullstendig smadrede floeydoerer
Completely shattered eardrums
Doedsredskap
Death instrument
Doedsmaske
Death mask
Forkullet hjerte
Charred heart
Knekt skambein
Broken pelvic bone
Blodig glans
Bloody shine
Doeden skal du lide
You shall suffer death
Hun dreit paa seg da jeg skjoev klingen
She defecated when I pushed the blade
Gjennom puppen og inn i hjertet
Through the chest and into the heart
Contributed by Camilla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LLOYD AMBOAYAN
One of the most brilliant anthems of Norway!
Misanthrop
Hoest is one of the best black metal singers of all time. But his music needs the "right ears" to soak up the atmosphere.
KUPHSER
Agreed on hoest. but you could say that one needs the “right ears” for black metal in general
Nuno Carvalho Guerra
To me he is one of the best composers, not just singers….but this concert should not happen during the daylight
Mathijs Ignoul
It's crazy how much the actual texture of the sound reminds me of the album. Raw yet defined. Awesome.
Nick
There are few bands that leave me speechless, Taake is one of them.
Jayson Witting
Exactly, tears do the talking
João _
Just discovered this band. Sounds amazing!
Luis Domínguez
Best fucking live band ever, they are so fucking amazing for this world. Long live Taake and Black Metal!
Antonio Cheuquelaf
Excelente sonido 🤘🖤