“Kong Vinter”

With the release of TAAKE‘s “Kong Vinter” less than three weeks away, Dark Essence Records have today debuted a track from what will be the seventh full-length album from one of Norway’s Black Metal elite. The track “Inntrenger” can be heard at the following:

Bandcamp – SoundCloud

or via Spotify, here:

You could never mistake “Kong Vinter” for anyone’s work other than that of founder and frontman Hoest, whose body of work, which spans over two decades, coupled with his magnetic stage presence, has made him into an icon for Black Metal fans the world-over. As is usual with TAAKE, there has been a three year break between albums, and, once again playing all the instruments himself, Hoest has produced an album which, whilst losing none of the atmosphere that makes TAAKE so recognizable, still manages to surprise with its underlying nasty groove that can, at times, have an almost devilish playfulness about it. It is deceptively familiar to the ear, yet it is unpredictable. It is progressive, and yet straight forward. And of course there are always some elements of rock’n’roll, the Devil’s music itself.

Set for release on Dark Essence Records on the 24th November, “Kong Vinter” was recorded and produced by Bjornar Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES) at his Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen. With a running time of 55 minutes and with photography by Christopher Zibell and artwork by Tom Korsvold of Coverart, track listing is as follows:

1. Sverdets Vei
2. Inntrenger
3. Huset i Havet
4. Havet i Huset
5. Jernhaand
6. Maanebrent
7. Fra Bjoergegrend mot Glemselen
8. On Top (De Press cover, bonus track on the vinyl edition)

TAAKE will be appearing at the “Kong Vinter” Release Party at the John Dee in Oslo, Norway, on the 1st December. Also appearing will be Dark Essence Records label-mates HELHEIM, along with ASAGRAUM.

“Kong Vinter” will be released in Digipak CD, Digital and Vinyl formats, with the Vinyl available in black, transparent and white versions. All are double 180 gram LPs in gatefold cover. Transparent and white are limited to 1000 each. “Kong Vinter” is now available to pre-order from the following:

Bandcamp: https://taake.bandcamp.com/
EU Webshop: http://www.darkessencerecords.no/webshop/
US Webshop https://darkessence.aisamerch.com/

More information about TAAKE can be found on the band’s official on Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/taakeofficial or on thei website at http://taake.svartekunst.no/

The official video for the track “Nordbundet” from the TAAKE album “Noregs Vaapen” can be seen at

Nestled within the looming embrace of seven mountains, the rugged, rain-swept coastline of Bjoergvin has spawned many extreme bands and musicians over the years, but none quite as iconic as TAAKE and its formidable founder Hoest, who is now back with a seventh full-length album. Titled “Kong Vinter” (King Winter), the album is set for release on Dark Essence Records on the 24th November in Digipak CD, Digital and Vinyl formats, with the Vinyl available in black, transparent and white versions. All are double, 180 gram LPs in a gatefold cover. Transparent and white are limited to 1000 each.

Over the years Hoest has steered his creation with unerring accuracy through the mire of Black Metal. He has avoided the pitfalls of either stagnation or over-experimentation, and remained true to the spirit of the traditional Black Metal genre, whilst at the same time breathing fresh life into it.

True to form Hoest has spent three years working on “Kong Vinter”, ensuring that the album is imbued with the unique Taake sound, whilst at the same time taking it even further. It is deceptively familiar to the ear, yet it is unpredictable as it winds its way sinuously through a soundscape that only a mother could love. A soundscape underscored by a nasty groove, that at times can seem devilishly playful.

The result is an album that is both progressive and straight forward, with a touch of the devil’s own music – rock’n’roll , making it unmistakably Taake. It is, in fact, an illustration as to why, for over two decades, Hoest has succeeded in remaining relevant and at the forefront of the genre.

“Kong Vinter”, on which Hoest plays all the instruments himself, was recorded and produced by Bjornar Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES) at his Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen. With a running time of 55 minutes and album artwork by Tom Korsvold of Coverart, track listing is as follows:

1. Sverdets Vei
2. Inntrenger
3. Huset i Havet
4. Havet i Huset
5. Jernhaand
6. Maanebrent
7. Fra Bjoergegrend mot Glemselen
8. On Top (De Press cover, bonus track on the vinyl edition)

“Kong Vinter” is now available to pre-order from the following:
Bandcamp: https://taake.bandcamp.com/
EU Webshop: www.darkessencerecords.no/webshop/
US Webshop https://darkessence.aisamerch.com/

The official video for the track “Nordbundet” from the TAAKE album “Noregs Vaapen” can be seen here: