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.
Umenneske
Taake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tvang og klimaks har sitt rede i meg
Forvrengt og inderlig og infisert
Fiende av gud og menneske
Du skal aldri finne veien hjem
Feil og fargeloes men uploeyd mark
Til det ikke er mer liv igjen
Doedfoedt til endeloes natt
for jeg har vaert paa doed hud
pinefulle svaere saar
harskt blod og kjoennslig forlis
Brennende broer og taalmod
Se bortenfor se forbi
deformert taerende tvil
Det fins ingenting der heller
Umenneske
Skjult gammel kraft
Mektig djevelsk brunst
Oeks uten skaft
Urnorsk svartekunst
Dyp elv i kjoett
lar smerten komme
Vridd kropp paa gloett
Se blodet flomme
Saa hvitt blir roedt
Ditt liv er omme
The lyrics to Taake's song Umenneske are full of darkness and despair. The opening line "helvete er løs i nattmanns sjel" translates to "hell is loose in the soul of a nightman", and sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer expresses feelings of being twisted, infected, and an enemy of God and humanity. The second stanza conveys a sense of hopelessness and eternal damnation, with the line "you will never find your way home". The lyrics are filled with references to pain, suffering, and death, with lines such as "death-born to endless night" and "twisted and tormented doubt".
The song is written in Norwegian, and is part of the black metal genre which often explores themes of darkness, violence, and destruction. The lyrics of Umenneske are particularly bleak, with the singer expressing feelings of being less than human and unworthy of redemption. The song is a powerful exploration of despair and the human condition, and is likely to resonate with those who have experienced feelings of hopelessness or alienation.
Line by Line Meaning
Helvete er loes i nattmanns sjel
In the soul of the night man, there is chaos and despair.
Tvang og klimaks har sitt rede i meg
I am filled with coercion and climax, ready to burst.
Forvrengt og inderlig og infisert
Distorted, profound, and infected.
Fiende av gud og menneske
An enemy to both God and humanity.
Du skal aldri finne veien hjem
You will never find your way home.
Feil og fargeloes men uploeyd mark
A wrong and colorless, but uncharted path.
Til det ikke er mer liv igjen
Until there is no more life left.
Okkulte vaapen av Helvete svir
Searing with occult weapons from Hell.
Doedfoedt til endeloes natt
Stillborn into endless night.
for jeg har vaert paa doed hud
For I have walked on dead skin.
pinefulle svaere saar
Painful gaping wounds.
harskt blod og kjoennslig forlis
Acrid blood and emotional wreckage.
Brennende broer og taalmod
Burning bridges and patience.
Se bortenfor se forbi
Look beyond, look further.
deformert taerende tvil
Deformed and consuming doubt.
Det fins ingenting der heller
There is nothing there either.
Umenneske
Unhuman.
Skjult gammel kraft
Hidden ancient power.
Mektig djevelsk brunst
Mighty devilish desire.
Oeks uten skaft
Axe without a handle.
Urnorsk svartekunst
Ancient Norwegian black magic.
Dyp elv i kjoett
Deep river in flesh.
lar smerten komme
Let the pain come.
Vridd kropp paa gloett
Twisted body on embers.
Se blodet flomme
Watch the blood flow.
Saa hvitt blir roedt
So white turns red.
Ditt liv er omme
Your life is over.
Contributed by Audrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@loeffel999
Taake is the best active Black Metal Band. Seen them two times live. I can never get enough of this band.
@Coontowner78
I used ta listen ta this as a teen. Still think it's good. I'm now a Christian and still listen ta metal.
@teemujaakkola3157
Same! ;)
@griffo110
punk + black metal = taake
@Philip1993e
Better than all that deathcore shit people adore so much. Taake all the way
@thebrutalpostman
a friend of mine once got a coffee shop we were in to play a TAAKE album since no one was in there but us!!! :) good times....
@Pe5ukarhu
black metal is black metal but Norway BM is different story \o/
@xx-fw1yq
the ending is BRUTAL
@GlaucoAlves1989
Amazing...
@Mereaper666
And it never will, not when this great genre has dedicated fans.