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.
iii
Taake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gjoer skogen vond aa ferdes i
For kuldedoeden raar
Over det ganske land
Og skodden er for tjukk
Til aa skimte guds hus
Aldri foer kjente jeg en kulde saa hard
Aldri saa jeg vel et landskap saa doedt
For soenn av hoestens Speil
Jeg innser kunsten i min pinsel
Det er vinter i Norge
Og sjelen svartner
The lyrics to Taake's song "III" describe the harshness of winter in Norway. The storms are raging, making the forest a difficult place to travel through. The cold is so unbearable that even death seems preferable. The fog is so thick that even the house of God cannot be seen. The singer emphasizes the extreme coldness and bleak landscape, which make him feel as though his soul is becoming darker. He acknowledges the pain and suffering he experiences during this harsh season, but finds a strange beauty in it.
The lyrics are intriguing because they are both descriptive and introspective. The writer describes the winter weather in Norway in a vivid and detailed way that is both compelling and terrifying. The cold and darkness he describes are palpable, deepening the listener's experience of the song. However, the lyrics also contain a level of personal reflection that is unusual for this kind of song. The writer is clearly going through a difficult time, but he also sees the beauty in his pain.
Overall, "III" is a haunting song that captures the brooding magnificence of winter in Norway. It's a tribute to the beauty of harsh landscapes and the resilience of those who live in them. Through the lyrics, we get a glimpse into the artist's mind as he navigates the pain and hardship of winter.
Line by Line Meaning
Stormene herjer midvinterstid
The storms rage during mid-winter season
Gjoer skogen vond aa ferdes i
The forest becomes unpleasant to travel in
For kuldedoeden raar
Due to the cold deathly winds
Over det ganske land
All over the land
Og skodden er for tjukk
And the fog is too thick
Til aa skimte guds hus
To even glimpse the house of God
Aldri foer kjente jeg en kulde saa hard
Never before have I felt a cold so harsh
Aldri saa jeg vel et landskap saa doedt
Never have I seen such a dead landscape
Gud har ingen gaver
God has no gifts
For soenn av hoestens Speil
For the son of autumn's mirror
Jeg innser kunsten i min pinsel
I realize the art in my torment
Det er vinter i Norge
It is winter in Norway
Og sjelen svartner
And the soul darkens
Writer(s): hoest
Contributed by Lila L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.