There are bands that one never gets tired of seeing live. TAAKE is without a doubt the most representative band of this category. On May 16, 2014 this legendary Norwegian band arrives in Oberhausen, Germany, at a place called Helvete. The band is supported by two label-mate Norwegian bands: SLEGEST and AETERNUS. The concert is scheduled at 8:00 pm; I arrive at about 7:30 pm. I meet there my friends Tina, Daniel and I pick up my press pass. The merchandising stall sells a lot of good stuff; good mark. There are many people already for the first band, and a full house already for the second band, AETERNUS.
SLEGEST is the doom metal project of Ese, former guitarist of Norwegian Vreid. They have the task of opening the concert. Their doom is involving and their performance is appreciated by the audience. The sound quality is good for such a small place, which probably does not have a first class sound system. The band steps onto the stage in everyday garments, jeans and t-shirts. I really like this but I cannot help but notice that Ese is wearing a belt that is identical to the belt worn by Hoest in the past during his live performances: it is the infamous belt with the flag of Norway on the buckle. The audience really enjoys their show.
Personnel:
Ese - Guitars, Vocals
Sør - Guitars
Hövard - Bass
Fjøsne - Drums
Personnel:
Ese - Guitars, Vocals
Sør - Guitars
Hövard - Bass
Fjøsne - Drums
Then it is the turn of AETERNUS, perfect as usual. Their death metal is a mixture of technique and power; they have a strong impact on the stage and a good sound quality too. They attack the stage with determination, even though their music is perhaps less involving. Guitarist Specter shows an excellent command of solo technique; he is very elegant with his long blond hair, it is a pleasure to see him play. Great performance of drummer Phobos too. No songs from A Darker Monument (2003) and HeXaeon (2006) was performed.
Setlist :
1. There's No Wine Like the Bloods Crimson (from ... and So the Night Became 1998)
2. Descent to the Underworld (from Shadows of Old 1999)
3. The Lair of Anubis (from Ascension of Terror 2001)
4. There Will Be None (from ...and the Seventh His Soul Detesteth 2013)
5. Sworn Revenge (from Beyond the Wandering Moon 1997)
6. ...And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth (from ...and the Seventh His Soul Detesteth 2013)
7. When the Crows Shadow Falls (from ... and So the Night Became 1998)
8. Raven and Blood (from Dark Sorcery 1995)
Personnel:
Ares - Guitars, Vocals
Specter - Guitars
Frode Kilvik - Bass
Phobos - Drums
Setlist :
1. There's No Wine Like the Bloods Crimson (from ... and So the Night Became 1998)
2. Descent to the Underworld (from Shadows of Old 1999)
3. The Lair of Anubis (from Ascension of Terror 2001)
4. There Will Be None (from ...and the Seventh His Soul Detesteth 2013)
5. Sworn Revenge (from Beyond the Wandering Moon 1997)
6. ...And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth (from ...and the Seventh His Soul Detesteth 2013)
7. When the Crows Shadow Falls (from ... and So the Night Became 1998)
8. Raven and Blood (from Dark Sorcery 1995)
Personnel:
Ares - Guitars, Vocals
Specter - Guitars
Frode Kilvik - Bass
Phobos - Drums
And then TAAKE. The adjectives to describe a concert of this band are never enough; TAAKE is surely the best live black metal band ever. When playing live this band releases an energy that has no equal, and this is not only thanks to Hoest, who is a great front man: the other band members, starting with V'gandr, singer and bassist of Helheim, also have a great charisma. Hoest uses the new outfit he also used on the occasion of his appearance in the videoclip of “Dualitet og Ulver” by Helheim. In that video Hoest used a face-painting and a cloak with a hood that clearly alluded to the demon of death. Since then Hoest had used this look only in his appearances in the concerts of Helheim. Hoest had previously used this corpse paint only for the cover of a couple of EP’s, such as the split CD with VIDSYN from 2006 and the Nekro EP from 2007. He has been using this outfit also in the concerts with TAAKE since the second half of 2013. Personally I preferred his more sober old look.
In the line-up there is also the new drummer Brodd who replaced Thurzur in January 2014. I am not impressed by this new drummer. Strangely, he uses a small drum kit with a double pedal and, above all, only one tom; unusual for a black metal drummer. TAAKE begins the show with “Nattestid I” and this surprises me not a little. “Nattestid I” is the song with which TAAKE used to close concerts in the past. Another unexpected thing is that Hoest sings the original version of this song, the version from the album Nattestid, just to give you an idea. This version contains a part in clean vocals; generally the band used to perform the new version from the EP Kveld, in which the clean vocals were removed and replaced by scream; a couple of pauses make this exceptional song a bit less intense. Sometimes I have a feeling that guitarist Gjermund is not perfect as ususal (see the video below). During “Nordbundet” Hoest calls Ese from SLEGEST and Frode from AETERNUS onto the stage as guest vocalists; it is a tradition of TAAKE to have guests on the stage and it is very nice. A warhorse like “Motpol” from Taake (2008) has not been performed and has been replaced by “Du ville ville Vestland” from Noregs Vaapen (2011). But still a great show: the old classics were all performed.
Setlist:
1. Vid I (from Nattestid ser porten vid 1999)
2. Over Bjoergving graater himmerik IV (from Over Bjoergving graater himmerik 2002)
3. Hordalands doedskvad I (from Hordalands doedskvad 2005)
4. Hordalands doedskvad III (from Hordalands doedskvad 2005)
5. Umenneske (from Taake 2008)
6. Fra vadested til vaandesmed (from Noregs Vaapen 2011)
7. Nordbundet (from Noregs Vaapen 2011)
8. Du ville ville Vestland (from Noregs Vaapen 2011)
Personnel:
Hoest - Vocals
Gjermund Fredheim - Guitars
Aindiachaí - Guitars
V'gandr - Bass, Vocals
Brodd - Drums
In the line-up there is also the new drummer Brodd who replaced Thurzur in January 2014. I am not impressed by this new drummer. Strangely, he uses a small drum kit with a double pedal and, above all, only one tom; unusual for a black metal drummer. TAAKE begins the show with “Nattestid I” and this surprises me not a little. “Nattestid I” is the song with which TAAKE used to close concerts in the past. Another unexpected thing is that Hoest sings the original version of this song, the version from the album Nattestid, just to give you an idea. This version contains a part in clean vocals; generally the band used to perform the new version from the EP Kveld, in which the clean vocals were removed and replaced by scream; a couple of pauses make this exceptional song a bit less intense. Sometimes I have a feeling that guitarist Gjermund is not perfect as ususal (see the video below). During “Nordbundet” Hoest calls Ese from SLEGEST and Frode from AETERNUS onto the stage as guest vocalists; it is a tradition of TAAKE to have guests on the stage and it is very nice. A warhorse like “Motpol” from Taake (2008) has not been performed and has been replaced by “Du ville ville Vestland” from Noregs Vaapen (2011). But still a great show: the old classics were all performed.
Setlist:
1. Vid I (from Nattestid ser porten vid 1999)
2. Over Bjoergving graater himmerik IV (from Over Bjoergving graater himmerik 2002)
3. Hordalands doedskvad I (from Hordalands doedskvad 2005)
4. Hordalands doedskvad III (from Hordalands doedskvad 2005)
5. Umenneske (from Taake 2008)
6. Fra vadested til vaandesmed (from Noregs Vaapen 2011)
7. Nordbundet (from Noregs Vaapen 2011)
8. Du ville ville Vestland (from Noregs Vaapen 2011)
Personnel:
Hoest - Vocals
Gjermund Fredheim - Guitars
Aindiachaí - Guitars
V'gandr - Bass, Vocals
Brodd - Drums
Text and photos by Herjann
Viedos by Herjann and Tina
Viedos by Herjann and Tina