Taake

U. Høst launched Norwegian black metal act Taake in 1993 as its sole constant member, handling vocals and multiple instruments during the wave of church arsons and associated offenses that helped define the emerging scene. Enlisting drummer Svartulv, Høst spent the subsequent three years producing a run of demos rooted in Viking-era mythology and delivered with uncompromising black metal ferocity. The project’s first commercial outing arrived in 1996 via the Koldbrann I Jesu Marg EP, which introduced new drummer and bassist Tundra. Two studio albums followed: Nattestid in 1999 and Bjoergvin in 2002. Høst then joined Ragnarok as vocalist. The 2005 release Hordalands Doedskvad incorporated guest vocals from Nattefrost and Nordavind of Carpathian Forest plus Taipan of Orcustus. Shortly afterward Høst placed Taake on semi-hiatus while still issuing occasional EPs and festival performances. Following repeated personnel shifts he chose to proceed solo, issuing a self-titled full-length on his own Svartekunst Produksjoner imprint in 2008. The 2011 album Noregs Vaapen, widely praised, found him collaborating with Attila Csihar, Nocturno Culto, Demonaz, and Ivar Bjørnson. In 2013 he compiled Gravkamre, Kroner Og Troner to mark the band’s twentieth anniversary. Taake made its U.S. debut the next year at Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore and unveiled its sixth studio album, Stridens Hus. Kong Vinter appeared in 2017 on Norwegian independent label Karisma Records.