Taake

Biography

Taake (Norwegian: [ˈtôːkə]) is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1993 as Thule. Hoest is the band's only continuous member. He writes and records most of the music. Taake has released eight full-length albums and several EPs. The band describes itself as "True Norwegian black metal". Hoest said he wants to "awaken national pride and cultural nostalgia" in Norwegian listeners and remind people "that Hell is right here on Earth and that humans can be demons". Hoest writes all lyrics in his native dialect and prints them in Norse runes. Taake is the old Norwegian spelling of tåke, meaning "fog".

Formation and early years (1993–1996)

In 1993, Ørjan Stedjeberg, then known as 'Ulvhedin', formed Taake as Thule, with drummer 'Svartulv'. Thule released the 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 pseudonym 'Hoest' (meaning "autumn" in Norwegian). In 1995, they released the demo Manndaudsvinter with session vocalist Dim. They followed up in 1996 with the 7" EP Koldbrann i Jesu Marg×Koldbrann i Jesu Marg1996 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksABlant sølv og gull i mørket6:54B1Marerittet1:35B2Trolldom4:24. Drummer Svartulv left the band that year.

Album trilogy (1997–2005)

Between 1999 and 2005, Taake released a trilogy of concept albums linked by "death, Norway, and the devil in man".
The band released their first full-length album, Nattestid, on Wounded Love Records in 1999. Hoest wrote the album, but he brought session musician 'Tundra' to perform bass and drums. They recordeded it throughout 1997 and 1998 at the Grieg Hall.
Taake released the second installment of the trilogy, Bjoergvin, in 2002 on Wounded Love Records. On this record, Hoest recruited second guitarist 'C. Corax', bassist and pianist 'Keridwen', and drummer 'Mutt' (Gaahlskagg, Trelldom, Sigfader).
The band released the final installment of the trilogy, Doedskvad, in 2005 on Dark Essence Records. It features second guitarist 'C. Corax', bassist 'Lava' and drummer 'Mord'. 'Nattefrost' (Carpathian Forest), 'Nordavind' (Carpathian Forest) and 'Taipan' (Orcustus) guested vocals.

Brief hiatus and further releases (2006–2012)

Over the following three years, Taake released four EPs and played a few festivals (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". During a show in Essen in March 2007, Hoest appeared on-stage with a swastika painted on his chest, causing two festivals to remove the band and attracting controversy. At the same time, bassist Lava left Taake.
In 2008, Taake released their fourth album, Taake, which Hoest recorded entirely. The album came out on Hoest's own label, Svartekunst×Svartekunst3 March 2008 · EP · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Eismalsott3:252Tykjes fele3:193Over fjell og gjennom torner2:244Voldtekt4:09 Produksjoner. Dark Essence Records distributed it.
In 2011, Taake released the EP Kveld×Kveld26 April 2011 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Nordbundet5:462Motpol5:383Hordalands doedskvad 18:154Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 47:045Nattestid ser porten vid 16:51, featuring new and re-recorded songs. Taake's fifth full-length album, Noregs vaapen×Noregs vaapen19 September 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Fra vadested til vaandesmed6:472Orkan6:173Nordbundet5:254Du ville ville Vestland6:515Myr5:356Helvetesmakt5:377Dei vil alltid klaga og kyta10:178Nordbundet5:41, followed that same year. The album featured Attila Csihar, Nocturno Culto, Demonaz and Ivar Bjørnson. Svartekunst Produksjoner released it to critical acclaim. The album was nominated for the Norwegian Spellemann award in the Metal category. The nomination was met with some derision due to anti-Islamic lyrics.

Recent activity (2013–present)

To celebrate the band's 20th anniversary, Taake released the compilation album Gravkamre, kroner og troner×Gravkamre, kroner og troner1 March 2013 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Et pust av oeyne6:252Hov var stein5:273Nordbundet5:454Motpol5:375Hordalands doedskvad 18:106Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 47:017Nattestid ser porten vid 16:528I Am the Black Wizards6:119Die When You Die2:0310A Lost Forgotten Sad Spirit9:38Disc 21Voldtekt4:072Eismalsott3:253Tykjes fele3:174Over fjell og gjennom torner2:245Voldtekt3:396Death Trap6:567Lamb1:408Hennes kalde skamlepper11:289Der Todesking2:2110Nattestid ser porten vid 16:04 in 2013. Taake played their first show in the United States in May 2014, at Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore. That year, Taake released their sixth full-length, Stridens hus, and the EP Kulde×Kulde1 October 2014 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Det fins en prins8:232Stridens hus5:573Cold6:364Manndaudsvinter4:22 through Dark Essence Records. In support of the record and as a follow-up to their show in Maryland, Taake announced their first US tour, scheduled to start in June 2015.
In 2017, Taake released their seventh studio album, Kong Vinter×Kong vinter24 November 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Sverdets vei4:142Inntrenger7:183Huset i havet7:134Havet i huset7:365Jernhaand6:196Maanebrent8:017Fra Bjoergegrend mot glemselen10:22, along with the EP Baktanker×Baktanker16 September 2017 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Havet i huset7:492The Dance of Eternal Shadows3:353Lars Hertervig4:404Fra Vadested til Vaandesmed (Under bordet version)5:27 and the compilation album 7 Fjell×7 fjell2018 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 49 tracks · 7 discsDisc 11Vid 15:562Vid 25:343Vid 34:324Vid 44:365Vid 54:116Vid 67:337Vid 79:39Disc 21Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 14:532Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 26:423Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 36:134Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 46:325Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 56:246Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 64:037Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik 74:25Disc 31Hordalands doedskvad 17:432Hordalands doedskvad 26:023Hordalands doedskvad 36:164Hordalands doedskvad 48:175Hordalands doedskvad 56:046Hordalands doedskvad 67:177Hordalands doedskvad 79:00Disc 41Atternatt6:482Umenneske8:163Lukt til helvete5:054Doedsjarl5:265Motpol5:126September omsider5:127Velg bort livet10:27Disc 51Fra vadested til vaandesmed6:472Orkan6:173Nordbundet5:254Du ville ville Vestland6:515Myr5:356Helvetesmakt5:377Dei vil alltid klaga og kyta10:17Disc 61Gamle Norig5:542Orm6:433Det fins en prins8:074Stank6:205En sang til sand om ildebrann5:066Kongsgaard bestaar5:357Vinger5:49Disc 71Sverdets vei2Inntrenger3Huset i havet4Havet i huset5Jernhaand6Maanebrent7Fra Bjoergegrend mot glemselen. Taake cancelled a 2018 US tour due to a campaign by Antifa. In 2020, Taake released the split EPs Pakt and Jaertegn. An additional split EP, Henholdsvis×Henholdsvis5 March 2021 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Brotne bein og mannefall2Ein baat i foss3Orkan4Heksesabbat, and the compilation album Avvik×Avvik2 July 2021 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Ubeseiret6:592Heartland4:533Nattestid ser porten vid 1 (acoustic version)7:444Slagmark6:335Ravnajuv5:086Brotne bein og mannefall4:257Ein baat i foss6:50 followed in 2021. Taake released their eight studio album, Et hav av avstand×Et hav av avstand1 September 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Denne forblaaste ruin av en bro11:522Utarmede gruver11:073Gid sprakk vi6:154Et uhyre av en kniv13:02, in September 2023, and ninth studio album, En skog av nidstang×En skog av nidstang31 July 2026 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Einstoeingen og eg10:082Et dyr tok min hud7:483Engler9:434Av guds ville naade9:02 in July 2026.

Controversies

Hoest served prison sentences for assault in 2006 and 2007. In March 2007, Hoest appeared on stage in Essen in Germany with a swastika painted on his chest, above an inverted cross. This sparked controversy, and the rest of Taake's German concerts were cancelled. Hoest stated:

Taake is not a political Nazi band [...] everyone should know by now that our whole concept is built upon provocation and anything evil [...] 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!)
Hoest explained that he "was taking the piss" and had used the swastika "as another symbol for evil", saying "the pentagram and inverted cross don't invoke reactions anymore". He said "It was all about doing something extreme for the sake of it, which certainly backfired", and also called it a spontaneous joke done in the spirit of punk. Music writer Stuart Wain likened Hoest's stunt to how the Sex Pistols and Siouxsie Sioux wore swastikas for shock value. In January 2008, Hoest wrote:

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.
Hoest later said that he had made amends with the club's owner and shook his hand after playing at the venue with another band.
Taake's lyrics are often anti-Christian, but their nomination for the 2012 Spellemann award was criticized for an anti-Islamic lyric in their song "Orkan". It includes the line "Til Helvete med Muhammed og Muhammedanerne utilgivelige skikker" ("To hell with Muhammad and the Muhammadans' unforgivable customs"). Hoest noted that Christianity is mentioned in the same song, adding "Taake has never been a political band, and we do not encourage either violence or racism". The chairman of the prize committee said "We enjoy full freedom of expression in Norway and a Spellemann jury is not going to censor content". Hoest explained that "Black metal has always pushed religion around and I see no reason why Islam should be spared".
Taake were forced to cancel their planned 2018 US tour after Antifa activists campaigned to stop it, due to the past controversies. Many venues cancelled the shows after being contacted and threatened by Antifa groups, and support act King Dude pulled out. Hoest replied that "Taake is not a racist band. Never has been, never will be". He said the incident showed how "a small minority ... were able to force their agenda on the majority" through "lies, misinformation" and "threats of violence". In 2023, Taake were forced to cancel a planned tour of Australia due to complaints from a student association.

Current members

Hoest – composer, all instruments, vocals (1993–present)

Live members

V'gandr – bass (2007–present)
Aindiachaí – guitar (2007–present)
Gjermund – guitar (2007–present)
Rune – drums (2019–present)

Past members

Svartulv – drums (1993–1996), vocals (2004, 2005)
Dim (a.k.a. O.D.Smau) – vocals (1995)
C. Corax – guitars (2004–2006)
Keridwen – bass, piano (2000–2003; died 2015)
Mord – drums (2002–2006)
Lava – bass (2002–2007)
Haavard – bass (unknown time period)

Guest musicians/past live members

Thurzur – drums
Skagg - guitar
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
Ciekals – additional guitar