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.

IV
Taake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jeg foeler henne naar det er moerkt
For maaneblink holder meg vaaken
Etter regnvaerskveld er intet toert
& Fra tunet blender taaken
Morgenroeden visste jeg skulle bloe
"Se mot Doeden, se deg selv doe"
Dunkel parapsykedelia inni huset
Jeg hever blikket & jeg hever kruset

Tilstede, mitt bud
Kulde mot hud

I stedlaast fasong
Er hun ikke hos Gud

Overall Meaning

In Taake's song IV, the lyrics convey a sense of darkness and introspection. The singer feels the presence of a woman, who may be a symbol for death or a muse that inspires and haunts him. The moonlight keeps him awake, and the wetness after a rainy night creates a haunting mist that obscures his view. The morning sun reminds him that he is mortal, and he contemplates his own demise by looking towards death. The house he is in seems to have a paranormal energy, and he raises his cup in acknowledgment. The presence of coldness against his skin and the unconventional shape of the house suggest the female entity is not with God.

Line by Line Meaning

Jeg foeler henne naar det er moerkt
I feel her when it's dark

For maaneblink holder meg vaaken
Moonlight keeps me awake

Etter regnvaerskveld er intet toert
After a rainy evening, nothing is dry

& Fra tunet blender taaken
And the fog blends from the yard

Morgenroeden visste jeg skulle bloe
I knew the morning redness would bloom

"Se mot Doeden, se deg selv doe"
"Look towards Death, see yourself die"

Dunkel parapsykedelia inni huset
Obscure psychedelia inside the house

Jeg hever blikket & jeg hever kruset
I raise my gaze and I raise the cup

Tilstede, mitt bud
Present, my command

Kulde mot hud
Cold against the skin

I stedlaast fasong
In a rigid form