Taake

Taake

Taake at Hellfest Summer Open Air in 2009
Background information
Also known as Thule
Origin Bergen, Norway
Genres Black metal
Years active 1993–present
Labels Dark Essence
Website taake.svartekunst.no
Members Hoest
Past members Past members

Taake (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈtoːkə]) is a Norwegian black metal band, formed in 1993 in Bergen by Hoest (then-known as Ulvhedin) under the name Thule. "Taake" is the old spelling of the Norwegian word "tåke", meaning "fog".

History

Early demos

In 1993, Ørjan Stedjeberg (then known as Ulvhedin), since known as Hoest (archaic spelling of Høst, meaning 'autumn'), formed the first version of the band Taake under the name Thule, together with Svartulv. They were both 15 years old at the time. Thule released two demos, Der vinterstormene raste in 1993 and Omfavnet av svarte vinger (Embraced by Black Wings) in 1994. Somewhere between the release of the latter demo and Manndaudsvinter in 1995, the band transformed from Thule to Taake, which was more representative of the band and the area where Hoest was from (the mountains of Bergen, Norway). Shortly after this release, a 7" EP followed in 1996 called Koldbrann i jesu marg, which would be the last demo recording that Taake would release.

Album trilogy (1999–2005)

The band's first full-length album, Nattestid ser porten vid (Night Sees the Gate Wide), 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 Grieg Hall. Nattestid is part one of a trilogy. All the writing on the CD and lyrics in the booklet are written in runes. All of the lyics are sung in Norwegian. The album is now considered a classic.

The second installment of the trilogy, Over bjoergvin graater himmerik (Heaven Cries over Bergen), was released in 2002 by Wounded Love Records. Another seven-song concept album, the theme for Bjoergvin is death ("Bjoergvin" is the former name of Bergen). On this record, Hoest surrounded himself with a band: C. Corax on guitar, Keridwen on bass guitar and Mutt (Gaahlskagg, Trelldom, Sigfader) on drums.

The final installment of the trilogy was released in 2005 by Dark Essence Records. Entitled Hordalands doedskvad (Hordaland's Deathchant), it adhered to the seven-song format (representing the seven mountains surrounding Bergen) of the first two records, but showed a change in style. While the first two records in the trilogy were clearly '80s metal influenced, this album was performed in a more traditional black metal style which was reminiscent of Enslaved, Bathory and early Mayhem. Doedskvad also differs from the other in that it features a number of guest musicians, including Nattefrost (Carpathian Forest, Nattefrost), Taipan (Orcustus) and Nordavind (ex-Carpathian Forest), to name a few.

Brief hiatus and regrouping (2005–present)

Following this release, Taake has had some minor releases and has played a few festivals (most notably the Hole in the Sky Festival in Norway, with Ivar Bjørnson of Enslaved on guitar), but according to the official website, they were "on ice for a while".

Preceding the 2006–2007 European tour, Taake revamped their official homepage. Following the infamous 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.

On 8 September 2008, Hoest announced on his homepage that he had recorded the fourth Taake album, simply titled Taake. The album was recorded for Hoest's own label Svartekunst Produksjoner, and was distributed via Dark Essence Records.

2011 saw the release of Noregs Vaapen, Taake's fifth full-length record. Hoest collaborated with many prominent Norwegian black metallers for this record including Attila Csihar, Nocturno Culto, Demonaz Doom Occulta and Ivar Bjørnson. Again he released on his own label Svartekunst Produksjoner to much critical acclaim.[1][2] The band was nominated for the prestigious Spellemann award in Norway for top metal release. This nomination was met with some derision due to lyrical content especially because the awards were nominated so close to Norway's deadly terrorist attack by right wing nationalist Anders Breivik in July 2011.[3]

Taake played their first show within the United States on May 23, 2014 at Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore, MD.

Most recently in 2014, Taake released the full length Striden Hus[4] and Kulde LP yet again distributed by 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 commence in June 2015.[5] The band quickly released a statement on their Facebook page[6] that they will be booking a West Coast US tour soon as well as continuing their extensive touring of Europe and metal festivals worldwide.

Controversy

Hoest at Hellfest 2009

In 2006, Hoest was imprisoned for a violent assault.[7]

In March 2007, during a concert at Essen in Germany, Hoest appeared on stage with a swastika painted on his chest.[8] In Germany, the use of the swastika is strictly forbidden by law (§ 86a StGB), and the remainder of Taake's German concerts were cancelled. Following the incident, Hoest stated on the Taake website:

[...] we truly apologize to all of our collaborators who might get problems because of the Essen swastika scandal (except for the Untermensch owner of that club; you can go suck a Muslim!)[9]

On 21 January 2008, Hoest stated on the Taake website:

I’ve clearly stated that Taake is certainly not a political nazi-band, yet some people seem to still insist that we are... I do realize that it is rather unforgivable to display a swastika in Germany, yes. On the other hand I strongly feel that Black Metal bands should allow themselves to use any kind of destructive/negative symbolism, as the basis of this expression is above all: Evil! Black Metal is still not, and should never become, harmless like all other styles of housebroke metal. Frankly, I find it preposterous that we get away with lyrics about murder, torture, rape, necrophilia and suicide, but get boycotted for wearing a symbol (which, by the way, has nothing to do with the band’s concept) on one single occasion. A part of our mission is to invoke negative feelings, so I found it quite appropriate to remind our German audience of their biggest shame[10]

Taake was nominated for the 2012 Spellemann Prize in the Best Metal Album category, but the song "Orkan" from the album nominated, Noregs vaapen, was met with criticism because of the line "To hell with Muhammad and the Mohammedans". Hoest replied that "Taake has never been a political band, and we do not encourage either violence or racism," and that "our view, in the name of freedom of expression, is that it is shameful to adhere to Christianity or Islam".[11]

Discography

Year Title Type Notes
1993 Der vinterstormene raste
(Where The Winter Storms Raged) 		demo released as Thule
1994 Omfavnet av svarte vinger
(Embraced by Black Wings) 		demo released as Thule
1995 Manndaudsvinter
(Dead Man's Winter) 		demo
1996 Koldbrann i jesu marg
(Gangrene in Jesus' Marrow) 		demo
1999 Nattestid Ser Porten Vid
(Night Sees the Wide Gate) 		studio album
2002 Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik
(Heaven Weeps Over Bjoergvin) 		studio album
2005 Hordalands doedskvad
(Hordaland's Deathchant) 		studio album
2007 Nekro EP
2008 Svartekunst
(Dark Arts) 		live EP
2008 Taake studio album
2011 Kveldgg
(Evening) 		EP
2011 Noregs vaapen
(Norway's Weapon) 		studio album
2014 Kulde
(Cold) 		EP
2014 Stridens hus
(Battle House) 		studio album
Compilation albums
Split releases

Personnel

Current members

Live members

Past members

Thule
Taake
Guest musicians
  • C. Corax – guitar
  • Taipan – vocals
  • Nattefrost – vocals
  • Nordavind – vocals
  • Discomforter – vocals
  • Utflod – piano
  • Støver – "whispers"
  • John Boyle - war cry
  • Ivar Bjørnson - guitar
  • Nocturno Culto - vocals
  • Attila Csihar - vocals
  • Demonaz Doom Occulta - vocals
  • Skagg - vocals
  • Bjørnar E. Nilsen - vocals, mellotron
  • Gjermund - guitar solos, banjo, mandolin
  • Niklas Kvarforth - vocals

References

  1. ↑ http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2011/12/taake-noregs-vaapen/
  2. ↑ http://www.metalsucks.net/2011/11/03/you-need-to-listen-to-taakes-noregs-vaapen/
  3. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/13/norway-top-music-prize
  4. ↑ http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/album-review-taake-stridens-hus
  5. ↑ http://www.darkessencerecords.no/2015/04/norwegian-black-metallers-taake-set-embark-north-american-tour/
  6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/taakeofficial/posts/887848604615715
  7. ↑ "Blabbermouth.net – Taake Frontman, Guitarist Doing Time in Norwegian Prison". Blabbermouth.net. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "hoest_swastika.jpg". lager.autisma.net. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Lagnonector Hoest: STATEMENT FROM HOEST: 23 March 2007, accessed on 25 September 2012.
  10. ↑ Hoest: TAAKE vs KREATOR 21 January 2008, accessed on 22 December, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Anti-Islam Lyrics No Barrier to Norway Music Prize – The Local". thelocal.no. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
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