Photo by Stig Pallesen, StiPa Photography

With the traditional three year wait between TAAKE albums now over, Dark Essence Records has today announced the first details  of what will be the iconic Norwegian band’s sixth full-length album.  Titled “Stridens Hus”, the seven-track album is set for release on the 8th December world-wide, with the exception of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where the album will appear on the 12th of the month.   The label has also debuted the track “Det fins en Prins” from “Stridens Hus” and it can be heard at

https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/taake-det-fins-en-prins

“Stridens Hus” is recorded and produced by Bjornar Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES) at his Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen.  As with all TAAKE albums, frontman and founder Hoest plays all the instruments himself, but this time members of the TAAKE live band have also contributed to the recording.  Album artwork from a photo by Nekrographie. Track Listing as follows:

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

With a career spanning over two decades, Hoest has always remained faithful to his trademark Helnorsk Svartmetall sound, but he has never allowed the grass to grow under his feet, and, with each release, he has breathed new life into an often stale and derivative genre;  his unique and innovative twists ensuring that  Black Metal  still remains fresh and relevant today.  And “Stridens hus” is no exception.  Parts of the album demonstrate a  groove and rock sound, whilst others dsiplay a distinctly punk attitude.  But the whole is without a doubt unmistakably Hoest’s TAAKE:  varied, intense, unique and unpredictable.

TAAKE is currently in the middle of the Kulde Tour which will end on the 26th October.  Other confirmed upcoming shows as follows:

2014
22 Oct: Barrak Music Club, Ostrava, CZ
23 Oct: F-Haus, Jena, DE
24 Oct: Phantoms of Pilsen Festival, Pilsen, CZ
25 Oct: Mega Club, Katowice, PL
26 Oct: Progresja, Warsaw, PL
14 Nov: Black Flames of Blasphemy Festival, Helsinki, FI
05 Dec:  John Dee,  Oslo, NO
2015
14 -18 Jan, Mexico, details TBA
23 Jan:  Hulen,  Bergen , NO
01 May:  Karmøygeddon Festival, Koppervik, NO
25 Jul,  Stonehenge Festival, Steenwijk,  NL
14 Aug,  Rockstadt Extreme Fest,  Rasnov RO

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

Nine  tracks from TAAKE, including “Det fins en Prins” can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud page below:

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

Photo by Nekrographie