Taake (NOR) - Avvik - Review by Gravarson

 Dark Essence Records

     Release: 2 July 2021 

Taake is back with a collection of all their singles which never really fitted into any album and thus was released on different labels together with Whoredom Rife,Helheim & Deathcult over 3 different split 10".

"Avvik" translates to anomaly or deviation and is a fitting title for the release of these tracks.

There are cover tracks of Darkthrone's Ravnajuv here and Dr Mikannibal of SIGH did the honour of adding her saxophone on a slightly longer version of the Sisters Of Mercy cover "Heartland".

Both covers sound good and are in the familiar Taake style.

Taake has developed over the years in a good direction but still kept to the core basics and that is quite impressive I'd say.

All tracks are good in their own way and I see no reason to avoid "Avvik" if you are a black metal fan or just want to own all the tracks on one album.

The ingredients for Taake's music seems to be good and melodic melodies mixed with grim harshness.

Let's not forget the acoustic version of the classic track "Nattestid Ser Porten Vid I" which is done by their live guitarist Gjermund and is exclusive for this release and it's a very enjoyable and mellow cover which brings some nostalgia to mind.

This is surely something for collectors or just fans of good black metal as said.

Love it or hate it, I still enjoy Taake very much and the path they have taken.

The promo letter says that "Avvik" closes once chapter for Taake and opens a new one, this sounds very interesting as one never knows what these guys are up to.

Gravarson_almighty 

     Tracklist:

1. Ubeseiret
2. Heartland
3. Nattestid ser Porten vid I
4. Slagmark
5. Ravnajuv
6. Brotne Bein og Mannefall
7. Ein Baat i Foss

For more info, biography and more: https://www.facebook.com/taakeofficial

Taake - Stridens Hus - Review,info and tour dates

Taake - Stridens Hus Dark Essence Records Release : 8 December 2014 

 After the traditional 3 year wait the sixth album is complete,  as you might have noticed they released a 4 track EP named 'Kulde' recently,  which contained  the tracks Det Fins En Prins,Stridens Hus,Cold & Manndaudsvinter, the last one was something I never had expected and was my favorite way back. 

Nicely done and without loosing it's nerve.

Whilst enjoying 'Kulde' and overall satisfied with it, all of a sudden I find 'Stridens Hus' like a punch i the face, mainly because I thought I knew what to expect after listening to 'Kveld' which I assumed was a good pointer on what to expect, and I just want to point out that 'Kveld' & 'Stridens Hus' are two separate releases even though the ep contains two album tracks.

  

Behold, it's Taake we're talking about,  somehow Hoest always manage to put some new elements from his personal taste surprisingly well into their classical well-known musical warfare and the reason to why I'm still listening and respect the band, they dare to do what others don't.

There are few bands I know of who are, or has been capable of keeping the listeners attention like this for such a long period

Once again, Hoest plays all the instruments himself, but this time the Taake live band has contributed to the recording, alongside producer Bjørnar E. Nilsen.

 

 While most bands fade away or develops into something so progressive it's hard to even recognize the band, Taake marches straight forward pushing many boundaries while standing steady to what we know as Taake.

'Stridens Hus' reveals in itself an intense energy and a nerve that shines throughout the album.

Especially the vocals and guitars variate more then previous releases and do the unexpected expected.

Normally you would end up shaking your head and wonder what they're trying to achieve. 

In this case everything blends so natural in a twisted, yet brilliant way, and it's what makes Taake what it is . 

I can't imagine other bands doing what Hoest manage to do here. 

Few bands manage to pull of something like this without loosing their identity.

 

This is the reason why Taake remain strong and keep their position at the top of the league. Stridens Hus carries influences from thrash,punk,old unholy black metal, and even some eighties sounding riffs that could fit into a Swedish dance music band.

It's hard to explain these wonderful contrasts in words.

 It's a solid and unique album that can take the listener far away into the sound scape if you want, still an easy to like and outgoing album in many ways though.

 Fans of the more old school Taake have no reason to despair 'cause it's still what it is, these elements he combines just make it more entertaining,at times melodic and it's like he's slowly breathing life to a new genre, I know that is big words, but listen to this one closely a few times lean back and you will know what I'm talking about.

Few bands manage to stay so close to the roots while on the other hand being so innovative and creative at the same time. Hoest once again shows how it's done properly! 

Tracks

1. Gamle Norig
2. Orm
3. Det fins en Prins
4. Stank
5. En Sang til Sand om Ildebrann
6. Kongsgaard bestaar
7. Vinger

  Band website: http://taake.svartekunst.no/                                              Label website: www.darkessencerecords.no  Confirmed shows:
14.NOV2014: TAAKE - Black Flames of Blasphemy - Helsinki (FI)
05.DES2014: TAAKE - John Dee - Oslo (N)
23.JAN2015: TAAKE - Hulen - Bergen (N)
01.MAY2015: TAAKE - Karmøygeddon - Koppervik (NO)
25.JUL2015: TAAKE - Stonehenge Festival - Steenwijk (NL)
14.AUG2015: TAAKE - Rockstadt Extreme Fest - Rasnov (RO)

Alfahanne's (Swe) debut 'Alfapokalyps' soon to be released by Dark Essence Recordings

Dark Essence Records Release: 10 February 2014

With a mix of Black Metal with Classic Rock and Punk, and topped off with some New Wave and Goth influences, Alfahanne has created a style of music that is powerful and beautiful, yet ugly at the same time. 

Alfahanne might be a fairly new name to a lot of people, but the band’s members, which include Pehr Skioldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass,  have been around the Black Metal scene since the early ‘90’s, playing in bands like Vinterland and early Maze Of Torment. Formed in 2010, Alfahanne’s debut release came in 2013 with the appearance of the “Grym” split 7” with Sweden’s Shining.

The Debut “Alfapokalyps”, contains 10 tracks that stands on their own, all sung in Swedish. There’s a lot of variation on the album, and the songs goes off in very different directions. The overall sound combines a unique mix of the dark and grim atmospheres of Black Metal, the attitude and energy of Punk and Classic Rock and the melodies and feeling of 80’s New Wave and Goth. The band have been able to attract the services of Taake’s Hoest, Shining’s Niklas Kvarforth, and Helheim’s V’gandr as guest vocalists, on one song each.

With Alfahanne, there is one way in and no way out!



 TRACKLIST 
 
1. Bättre Dar
2. Ormar Af Satan
3. Såld På Mörkret
4. Dödskult
5. Rocken Dör
6. Syndarnas Flod
7. Alfa Hordes
8. Indiehora
9. Där Drömmarna Dör
10. Alla Ska Mé


Band website: www.facebook.com/alfahanneofficial
Label website: www.darkessencerecords.no

LIST OF MERCHANDISE Frykt Band Promotion ARE SELLING:

Frykt Band Promotion


TAAKE:
 
Vinyl's: - Nattestid - Bjoergvin - Doedskvad - Taake -Gravkamre, Kroner og Troner
 
Cd's: - You can get all the vinyl's on cd too
 
Tape/Cassette: - I only have 1 Taake left and I think that 's the only original left, if I understood Ørjan (Hoest) right....
 
Patch: - Regular patch with the weaponshield on - Bacpatch with the same design
 
T-shirt's: - 20 Anniversary with the weaponshield (Girlies/Regular and Black or White) - Gravkamre, Kroner og Troner (Girlies/Regular and Black or White) - The Castle ( Regular and only in Black/Newest design - The Weaponshield (Regular and only in Black/The newest design)



VULTURE INDUSTRIES:
 
Vinyl's: - The Dystopia Journal
T- shirts: - Griffin Design (Girlies/Regular and only in Black) - Logo (Girlies/Regular and only in Black)
KRAKOW:
 
Vinyl's: - Diin
T- shirt's: - Gold Design (Girlies/Regular and only in Black)


Vinyl's: - From The Speed Metal Graves (Signed and Unsigned)
Cd's: - From The Speed Metal Graves (Signed and Unsigned)
Promo's: - From The Speed Metal Graves (Promo 2007) - Headbangers Resistance (Promo 2008)
T- shirt's: - Hells Headbangers (Girlies/Regular only in black)

WARDRUNA:
 
Cd's: - Gap Var Ginnunga - Ygdrasil (Special Edition Signed or Unsigned)
T- Shirts: - Ygdrasil (Black Shirt with Golden Ygdrasil Tree)
Hoodie's: - Zip-Hoodie with the Ygdrasil Sign (Black with Red Design)
DEAD ROOSTER:
 
T- shirt's: - Witches of Belial (Black)
Cd's: - Midnight Special - Witches of Belial
Cassette's: - Midnight Special
Cap 's/Hat: - The logo (Black and to Different Design's)
DORSAL ATLANTICA:
 
Vinyl's: - Dorsal Atlantica/Metalmorphose Gatefold (Split Ultimatum)

SVADILFARE:
 
Cd's: - Den Som Herjer (Signed and Unsigned)
STYGG:
 
Patche's; - Logo With the Artist
DAUKJØTT:
 
Patche's: - Logo with a man with a sword in one hand and a chopped off head in the other


SVARTHAUEG:
 
T- shirt's: - Front: Looks Occult (Until Christoffer tell me what it is) Back: The Svarthaueg Logo
Ep's: - Ritual (Signed)


APOKOLYPTIC RAIDS:
 
Vinyl's: - Phonocopia Vol. 4 Gatefold
Ep's: - Apokalyptic Raids/Warhammer (Split) - Apokalyptic Raids/Graverwurm (Split) - Apokalyptic Raids/Agathocles
 
DRAGONAUTA:
 
Cd's: - Omega Pentagram
(There might come more Cd's and maybe Vinyl's and other Merch from the best Doom band in Argentina)
VAIPING:
 
Cd's: - The Great Polar Expedition - Industrial Workers Of The World

NEBULAR MYSTIC:
 
Ep's: - Taakeriket (Signert)

MASTERIIS:
 
Ep's: - Dødsdom
T- shirt's: - Logo (Black)

ARS MANIFESTA:
 
Cd's: - The Enchanting Dark's Arrival

ARS MACABRA:
 
Cd's: - Here In Obscuritates Mentis - Cosmic Ekpyrosis "Nil Sine Deo - Ars Macabra IIIThere might be sizes, different merch and other stuff out off stock or I have to order it cause I'm out of stock, but theese thing's can happen cause I have a promoting page and not a regular store. I only try to help band's and fan's in any way I can with promoting, selling merch, getting band's signed, interviewd, reviewd, getting in magazines, played on metal-radios, getting merch made and alot more. I have a huge passion for this and are not trying to get rich and famous. If you buy, listen, share and support, you are helping the bands to survive. I'm not a pro but I have a good network and know alot of people in different part's of world and areas. Support. Hails...

Frykt Band Promotion

Taake - Gravkamre ,Kroner & Troner

Dark Essence Records

1.March 2013

Taake celebrates 20 years of True Norwegian Black Metal

Having started the band way back in 1993, mainman Hoest now celebrates 20 years of staying true to form by releasing a 20 song 2 CD collection of Taake rarities.

           Taake witch are celebrating their 20th year anniversary has decided to release a double disc this year containing 20 tracks of rarities consisting of two brand new tracks,bonus tracks from the vinyl versions and alternate versions & several from compilations.
All nicely presented on this 2 disc collection.
 
The first two tracks,the new ones 'Et Pust Av Oyene' & 'Hov Var Stein' sounds like a continuation of what they did on 'Noregs Vaapen' and are both pretty good tracks and should be essential listening if you like their previous works as these tracks easily could fit into their previous full lenght.
Especially when listening to 'Et pust Av Oyene' I can't stop thinking of 'Norbundet' and winter in general as I think they captured the same cold athmosphere on this one.

As I listen 'Hov Var Stein' I get this 'typical' but brilliant feeling while listening to Taake,very sick,twisted,melodic in it's own unique way.
Some people may wonder why they release this collection of pre-released tracks,since most of the fans probably have heard most tracks before except the unreleased.

But I think it's a good way to mark their anniversary so one can have all their bonus tracks from vinyls,compilations & rarities in one collection.

Overall a good release with a great selection of tracks,and I reallty enjoy the new tracks and some of the alternate tracks I haven't heard to much before. 
My credits to Taake for never giving up and going stronger than ever after 20 years of True Norwegian Black Metal !

There are few bands that captures me the way black metal used to,but this band continue to make music that makes me think of my nordic roots & inheritance while listening, and I have to salute them for that and congratulate with 20 years gone in a blast!

Recomended!

Band website: http://taake.svartekunst.no/
Label website: www.darkessencerecords.no