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.

LAMB
Taake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Upon chapel cross
Stab the lamb
Spinning in reverse
Kaleidoscope

Artistic blood

Lamb

Shall die in vain
Lamb
Crucified

Lamb
Drink the blood
Lamb
Sacrifice to thee

Lamb
Worship blood
Lamb
Crucified

Lamb
Ink the sign
Lamb
Worship to thee

Lamb

Overall Meaning

in Taake's song is a dark and eerie representation of an animal sacrifice. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, but its delivery is raw, primal, and calculated. Starting with "Upon chapel cross, stab the lamb," it sets the tone for a gruesome ritual, perhaps seen through the eyes of a cult or a fringe sect, who possibly subscribe to this method of worship or sacrifice. The ritualistic nature of the text is intensified by the lines "Spinning in reverse, kaleidoscope, artistic blood." These lines are striking in their surrealism, reflecting the delirium of the ritual by suggesting a dizzying swirl of colors as the lamb's blood is spilled.

The song's central motif is the lamb, depicted as a spiritual animal that must die for the greater good. The lines "Lamb shall die in vain, Lamb crucified" suggest an abject theological stance, where the life of the animal is seen as meaningless, perhaps as a counterpoint to the sacrifice's greater purpose. The lyrics then shift to the notion of the sacrifice being sanctified by the participants, as they are urged to "Drink the blood" and "Worship blood." The idea of an almost vampiric consumption takes the song to a new level of macabre intensity; it feels like the proponents of this ritual see the lamb's blood as a vehicle for divine grace, as they are urged to "Sacrifice to thee" and "Worship to thee."

Taake's song Lamb is a haunting and disturbing look at religious fanaticism and the lengths people will go to appease their beliefs. Its vivid imagery portrays a world of primal and arcane rituals, where the animal is seen as expendable, and the blood is the conduit to spiritual transcendence. This poetic tragedy is both raw and expressive, capturing the imagination with its surrealism and stirring our emotions with its dark message.

Line by Line Meaning

Upon chapel cross
On the cross of the chapel

Stab the lamb
Pierce the lamb with a sharp object

Spinning in reverse
Rotating backwards

Kaleidoscope
A changing pattern of colors and shapes

Artistic blood
The blood is being appreciated as an art form

Lamb
The animal being sacrificed

Shall die in vain
The lamb's death will have no purpose

Lamb
The animal being sacrificed

Crucified
Put to death on a cross

Lamb
The animal being sacrificed

Drink the blood
Consume the blood of the lamb