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.

Motpol
Taake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Motpol
Uforsonlig
Utbrent forvridd
Soenderreven
Timesvis av blod
ved Doedens doer

Du skal faa maale din styrke mot Dyrets

livsbespottende hylende vind
En avslutning skrevet i Dypet om natten
Gi oss idag vaar daglige Doed

Etterlatt og forpint
Svartmalt grav

Ormeblod i harnisk
Flammehav

Overall Meaning

The song "Motpol" by Norwegian black metal band Taake is a hauntingly beautiful ode to death and decay. The lyrics weave a picture of hopelessness and despair, with the singer being left broken and burnt out, torn apart by hours of bloodshed and ravaged by Death's very own doorway.

The opening stanza is particularly poignant. The lines "Uforsonlig / Utbrent forvridd / Soenderreven / Timesvis av blod / ved Doedens doer" speak of an unforgiving world that is shattered and torn apart. The second stanza speaks of a final reckoning, a confrontation with the Beast, life's cruel mockery of the human condition. The lines "Du skal faa maale din styrke mot Dyrets / livsbespottende hylende vind / En avslutning skrevet i Dypet om natten / Gi oss idag vaar daglige Doed" are a call to arms, a challenge to confront the final beast and face one's fears. The final stanza is a bleak finality, a picture of a world engulfed in flames and writhing in serpent's blood.

Line by Line Meaning

Motpol
Opposite Pole

Uforsonlig
Unforgiving

Utbrent forvridd
Burned Out and Twisted

Soenderreven
Torn Apart

Timesvis av blod
Hours of Blood

ved Doedens doer
At the Door of Death

Du skal faa maale din styrke mot Dyrets
You Shall Test Your Strength Against the Beast's

livsbespottende hylende vind
Life-Scorning Howling Wind

En avslutning skrevet i Dypet om natten
A Conclusion Written in the Depths of the Night

Gi oss idag vaar daglige Doed
Give Us Our Daily Death Today

Etterlatt og forpint
Abandoned and Tortured