Esoteric: Paragon Of Dissonance – new album

“Slowly, slowly but steadily a sound rises from the deep. This sound starts up deceptively upon a lighter note, but rapidly turns into a swelling tide of massively droning guitars. Vocals are crushing in like a tidal wave, breaking with a voice as harsh and resonant as a maelstrom of grinding granite. Streams of sonic magma are constantly intertwining, twisting, melting together, then exploding into colors, forming patterns and dissolving into chaos again. Shapes, visions and scenes tumble into the mind, luring the soul out of the flesh only to take it firmly into an unrelenting musical grip and take the imagination down into a seething miasma of melancholy and pain.”

This fair description of ESOTERIC sixth album (or any other ESOTERIC album for that matter), ‘Paragon Of Dissonance’, comes from the band's official bio. Released via Season Of Mist Records in Europe today, November 11th, 2011, ‘Paragon Of Dissonance’ awaits its North American release come November 15th, 2011. Decide for yourselves if the latest recorded offering by England's doom metallers is their finest and most accessible work, by listening to the impressive track, ‘Cipher’, available below and downloadable free of charge here. Unless suffering from depression, buy ‘Paragon Of Dissonance’ here (Season Of Mist).

Formed in 1992 in Birmingham, England, ESOTERIC recorded an 82-minute long demo tape they named ‘Esoteric Emotions – The Death Of Ignorance’ and invented a new musical formula that consists of psychedelic elements mixed with classical doom & death metal along the way, before signing with Aesthetic Death Records on which the group released a double CD titled ‘Epistemological Despondency’ (1994) and second double CD (with a total running time of 115 minutes) ‘The Pernicious Enigma’ (1997). ESOTERIC's third album, ‘Metamorphogenesis’, follwed in 1999:

“Out of England comes the searing ESOTERIC with their epic, crushing style of despair-ridden atmospheric doom metal. … Listening to ESOTERIC is like experiencing an exorcism of the soul. Each of the three long songs makes for a surreal journey through the listener's endless stream of consciousness, where it unmasks hidden fears and insecurities. … ‘Metamorphogenesis’ could serve as the expressionist soundtrack to the apocalypse and its indescribable aftermath,” [made the painful journey through the album Jason Hundey, AllMusic – more here]

ESOTERIC's first on Season Of Mist Records was their 2004's ‘Subconscious Dissolution Into The Continuum’. Listen to the 5-minutes sample of the nearly 16-minutes long opening track ‘Morphia’ here (Season Of Mist):

“Weighing in at three and a half songs in 50 minutes (track four, ‘Arcane Dissolution’, is really no more than a becalmed space rock coda to the 17-minute epic ‘Grey Day’), these lengthy songs feature complex, suite-like structures and artfully composed passages that still manage to rock with maximum heaviosity,” [commented Stewart Mason, AllMusic – more here]

Guitarist and vocalist Greg Chandler and guitarist Gordon Bicknell were joined by new bassist Mark Bodossian, new drummer Joe Fletcher and keyboardist Olivier Goyet, before entering the Priory Recording Studios to record (mix an master) ESOTERIC's critically acclaimed fifth album, 2008's ‘The Maniacal Vale’.

ESOTERIC features: Greg Chandler – vocals and guitar, Gordon Bicknell – guitar, Kris Clayton – guitar, Mark Bodossian – bass, Olivier Goyet – keyboards and Joe Fletcher - drums

Thy Catafalque: Rengeteg – new album

‘Rengeteg’ is the fifth studio album by avant-garde post-black metal project envisioned by Hungarian multi-instrumentalist Tamás Kátai, THY CATAFALQUE. The album was written and recorded by the musician himself and has been just released in Europe (November 11th, 2011) via Season Of Mist Records, while the North Americans will have to wait until January 10th, 2012 to get their hands on the recording. ‘Rengeteg’ features guest vocalists Attila Bakos (WOODLAND CHOIR, TARANIS) and Ágnes Tóth (THE MOON AND THE NIGHTSPIRIT) and cellist Mihály Simkó-Várnagy. Download yourselves the nine-minute long opening track ‘Fekete mezők’ (“black fields”) – also available below – here and buy the album here (Season Of Mist).

“THY CATAFALQUE is taking another huge step in its ever evolving and shape shifting musical development. What started out as a black metal band project formed by multi-instrumentalist and singer Tamás Kátai, aided by guitarist János Juhász, with the debut album ‘Sublunary Tragedies’ (1999) has meanwhile turned into something very different. Although the dark roots of THY CATAFALQUE are occasionally still shining through its forthcoming fifth full-length ‘Rengeteg’, the by now solo project of Tamás Kátai is an eclectic amalgamation of metal, folklore, rock and even some pop. Branded “avant-garde metal” by its mastermind, the songs and sounds drift and swirl between beautifully fragile crystalline structures into harsh and sombre soundscapes. Despite its scope and range Tamás Kátai's mature songwriting keeps the precarious balance between the exciting and the consistent. As on THY CATAFALQUE's previous release ‘Róka Hasa Radio’ (2009) Ágnes Tóth from the neo-folk outfit THE MOON AND THE NIGHTSPIRIT contributes her haunting female vocals. The Hungarian already gained glowing reviews and a growing number of adherents through ‘Microcosmos’ (2001) and even his self-released ‘Tűnő Idő Tárlat’ (2004), but now THY CATAFALQUE is ready to be acknowledged by a worldwide audience. Get enchanted by the magic of ‘Rengeteg’! [affirms the press release]

THY CATAFALQUE: Fekete Mezok – courtesy of Season Of Mist

All Shall Perish: Royalty Into Exile – new video

 

 

Directed by Tommy Jones for Scion A/V Metal, we are advised to “take a hi-def trip into mosh pit and turn a stage dive into a gnarly backflip” by checking out the new video from Oakland, California deathcore bruisers ALL SHALL PERISH. The clip was filmed live at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco. ‘Royalty Into Exile’ comes from ALL SHALL PERISH fourth studio album, ‘This Is Where It Ends’, released through Nuclear Blast Records in July 2011. The album can be still streamed in its entirety here at MetalSucks. ‘This Is Where It Ends’ was produced and mixed once again by Zach Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios. Album's artwork was created by the artist Brent Elliott White. Below the text you’ll find video for the track ‘There Is Nothing Left’, directed by David S. Brodsky. Buy ALL SHALL PERISH stuff here (Nuclear Blast Europe) and here (Nuclear Blast USA).

“Merging the unbridled ferocity of death metal with highly technical metalcore, ALL SHALL PERISH create an interesting balance of recklessness and restraint on their fourth album. The band finds an interesting middle ground between the two styles, allowing just enough raw aggression into the music to keep it from feeling too sterile, but not enough that it feels like things are going completely off the rails,” [observed AllMusic's Gregory Heaney – more here]

“Without a doubt,” [was firm in conviction the press release sent out upon the album's release] “the future of metal has arrived and if you aren’t paying attention you might get left by the wayside with your car on bricks. New guitarist Francesco Artusato scorches the fret board with some fresh jazz/fusion tinged lines, that are both melodic and defy the laws of physics at the same time. New drummer Adam Pierce also leaves jaws dropping and eyes a popping with his mind boggling fills and some warp speed tempos. As always, vocalist Eddie Hermida astounds people with his range, impassioned delivery and never ending diversity. But most importantly, the core riff writing team of bassist Mike Tiner and guitarist Ben Orum craft some of the most powerful and exciting riffs in modern metal today.” :

ALL SHALL PERISH: Divine Illusion – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

ALL SHALL PERISH: Procession of Ashes – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

ALL SHALL PERISH was formed in 2002 by drummer Matt Kuykendall, guitarist Ben Orum, and bassist Mike Tiner. A demo they recorded in 2003 caught the attention of Japanese label Amputated Vein Records which quickly released ALL SHALL PERISH' first full-length album entitled ‘Hate.Malice.Revenge’ (re-released by Nuclear Blast in 2005).

“If there's anything actually helping ALL SHALL PERISH sound more original and unique, it’s the instances when they chuck the aforementioned bands' [SUFFOCATION and IMMOLATION] severely low-tuned and often-times nearly atonal tech-death onslaught, and launch into startlingly musical passages more reminiscent of new wave of American metal stars like LAMB OF GOD and SHADOWS FALL. The effects of this are akin to the exhaling of stale breath, and help the tracks in question (namely ‘Laid to Rest’, the AMON AMARTH-like ‘Sever The Memory’ and ‘Never Ending War’) greatly reinvigorate the album's occasionally flagging momentum,” [commented Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic – more here. The generous group in question has actually uploaded their whole discography for your listening pleasure – hence available below]

Hate. Malice. Revenge. – courtesy of ALL SHALL PERISH

With Craig Betit performing the vocal duties and Caysen Russo on guitar, the group's relentless touring that ensued paid off when they signed a world wide record deal with Nuclear Blast Records in 2004. Better supported now, and with vocalist Hernan “Eddie” Hermida up front, the band's second offering came in form of ‘The Price Of Existence’, released in 2006:

“Their bouts of labyrinthine riffing are as frequently spiced with blue-collar hardcore gang shouts as they are positively eye-popping flights of lead guitar heroics. By comparison, the lonely cowbell that kicks off ‘Wage Slaves’ seems almost comical, but there’s nothing funny about the lurching, tortured riffs that follow, emphasizing the band's harshest and uncompromising qualities; for these, see also the apocalyptic ‘There Is No Business To Be Done On A Dead Planet’, where most any signs of melody and beauty are remorselessly crushed beneath the violent onslaught. The gently sweet ‘Interlude’ helps to heal a few wounds, but just enough so listeners don't have to pay too big of an emotional cost for ‘The Price Of Existence’,” [was rightly impressed AllMusic's Eduardo Rivadavia – more here]

The Price of Existence – courtesy of ALL SHALL PERISH

Third album, 2008's ‘Awaken The Dreamers’, was the band's first to make it on the Billboard 200 chart, where it entered at position 126 and conquered Billboard's Top Heatseakers chart (highlighting the sales by new and developing musical recording artists), selling just under 5,000 copies in its first week of release.

“ALL SHALL PERISH sound like an American band, which they are; technical metalcore is the primary ingredient, but Nordic death metal is a prominent influence. Although ‘Awaken The Dreamers’ has its melodic moments, melody and nuance are really afterthoughts on this 35-minute CD. Ultimately, [the album] is about brute force; nasty, harsh, dense, and unapologetically vicious; ALL SHALL PERISH go for the jugular more often than not,” [tried to gather his senses upon listening to the ‘Awaken The Dreamers’ AllMusic's Alex Henderson – more here]

Awaken the Dreamers – courtesy of ALL SHALL PERISH

During the promotional cycle that followed, lead guitarist Chris Storey left the band along with founding member, drummer Matt Kuykendall. ALL SHALL PERISH found their replacements in excellent Adam Pierce (drums) and equally excellent Francesco Artusato (lead guitar).

ALL SHALL PERISH features: Francesco Artusato – lead guitar, Hernan “Eddie” Hermida – vocals, Ben Orum – rhythm guitar, Adam Pierce – drums and Mike Tiner – bass

 

Night In Gales: Five Scars – new album

Germany's melodic death metallers NIGHT IN GALES have just released new album, ‘Five Scars’, via Lifeforce Records (November 7th, 2011 in Europe and November 8th, 2011 in North America). The album was mixed and mastered by Swedish musician and producer Dan Swanö who didn’t shy away from praising ‘Five Scars’ (and a bit his own self as well):

“Working with NIGHT IN GALES was a pure bliss for me. The material is very strong due to the fact that it’s been around for quite some time now, and it feels almost like a “Best of” album sometimes, because it’s so solid all the way through. Working on this album actually ignited a spark in my own writing and I came up with one of the best Death/A.O.R. songs I have ever written, during the mix of this album!!! Easily one of the best melodic death metal releases of the year!!!”

“The new and fifth album, ‘Five Scars’, successfully combines all of the band's past trademarks within the typically Swedish melodic death metal sound structure, without rejecting new influences and thus making it both the most melodically accessible as well and also the most aggressive effort in the band's history so far, smoothly rounded off with a killer soundmix, courtesy of scene icon Dan Swanö,” [compliments the press release]

Listen to two new songs off the new release, ‘This Neon Grave’ and ‘Days Of The Mute’ below:

NIGHT IN GALES: This Neon Grave – courtesy of Lifeforce Records

NIGHT IN GALES: Days Of The Mute – courtesy of Lifeforce Records

Formed in 1995 in Vorede, Germany, NIGHT IN GALES released two successful demos, ‘Sylphlike’ and a 7” ‘Razor’, before signing to Nuclear Blast Records on which they released their intense blend of raw power and catchy melody in form of debut album, 1997's ‘Towards The Twilight’:

From Ebony Skies – courtesy of NIGHT IN GALES

Tragedians – courtesy of NIGHT IN GALES

Vocalist Bjoern Goosses, guitarist Jens Basten, guitarist Frank Basten, bassist Tobias Bruchmann and drummer Christian Bass released the successor to their debut in 1998. ‘Thunderbeast’ took NIGHT IN GALES on two European tours with IN FLAMES and DISMEMBER and on some mini-tours with HYPOCRISY, DEATH, CRADLE OF FILTH and others and brought about invitations to perform at Wacken Open Air festival, Summer Breeze Open Air festival etc.

Intruder – courtesy of NIGHT IN GALES

Crystalthorns Call – courtesy of NIGHT IN GALES
 

Their third album, 2000's ‘Nailwork’, mixed by producer Harris Johns, showcased a rather morbid and more progressive side to the group. Another European tour followed, as well as the visit to Japan together with DEFLESHED.

Blades To Laughter – courtesy of NIGHT IN GALES

Later that year the band would split from Nuclear Blast Records, but was quickly picked up by Massacre Records. In 2001, NIGHT IN GALES recorded the album titled ‘Necrodynamic’, after which the group decided it was time to take a break in order to “musically re-orientate”. For a while the bandmembers busied themselves with other projects (such as IN BLACKEST VELVET, BLOODRED BACTERIA and THE RULES): “But even the meanest backstabbing can’t bring NIGHT IN GALES down to zero, and having played about 200 shows since the band was born, the guys were hungry for more,” (states firmly NIG official bio). Nevertheless the time-out after ‘Necrodynamic’ had lasted for almost a decade. In 2005 though, NIG celebrated their 10th anniversary with the release of free EP entitled ‘Ten Years Of Tragedy’. Metal Mind Productions re-released the band's full catalogue following the happy reunion in 2009.

NIGHT IN GALES features: Bjoern Goosses – vocals, Jens Basten – guitar, Frank Basten – guitar, Tobias Bruchmann – bass and Adriano Ricci – drums

Full Album Stream: Demisery: Hive Of Mutation – new album

 

Listen to the new album by DEMISERY, an old-school death metal project by multi-instrumentalist Keith Merrow, right here at MetalSucks. Entitled ‘Hive Of Mutation’, and worked on in collaboration with fellow guitarist Gord Olson, the album is a blatant tribute to the great death metal bands that have influenced the two guitarists. ‘Hive Of Mutation’ comes out on November 14th, 2011 – pre-order it here.

“Over the past few months, I’ve been working on an album with a very talented guitarist buddy, Gord Olson. This collaboration is extremely fun, and the music is in the traditional death metal vein. It’s a bit different than my personal music, but I suspect that a lot of those who follow my music will enjoy it. I grew up playing this style of music, and it feels very comfortable and natural (did I mention, fun?). The project is called DEMISERY and it’s pretty much a blatant tribute to old (and some newer) death metal tunes. Fans of bands like GRAVE, DEATH, OBITUARY, MALEVOLENT CREATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, MONSTROSITY etc, will find a familiar sound and traditional death metal feel. [The album] is packed full of blast beats, trem picking, guitar solos and guttural vocals. There’s no core, no prog, no “djent”, this is a 100% death metal album,” [explained the musician]

Keith Merrow, a studio musician from Portland, Oregon, whose extreme style of guitar playing is said to be “a unique blend of traditional metal with a dash of obscurity”, released a self produced EP titled ‘Lonestar Transcend’ in spring of 2009, followed by “an epic, thought-provoking, punishing and brutally beautiful” first album ‘The Arrival’ half a year later (2009). You can download yourself ‘The Arrival’ free of charge here (where you should buy the rest of Keith Merrow's stuff as well). On January the 1st, 2011 Merrow released his second full-length instrumental album, entitled ‘Awaken The Stone King’, featuring guest guitar solo from Jeff Loomis of NEVERMORE fame.

 

Leviathan: True Traitor True Whore – new album

Chosen by MSN Music as the metal album of the week, controversial and prolific multi-instrumentalist Wrest (Jef Whitehead) delivers what is probably one of the most introverted, claustrophobic, disturbing, maniacal, and eerily beautiful LEVIATHAN albums yet, even hinted at as being black metal's answer to early CURE or FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM. Provocatively titled ‘True Traitor True Whore’ (“Everyone’s met one by now, I’d imagine - not too cryptic,” explained the multiloquent musician in an interview he gave to Pitchfork), the album is the first LEVIATHAN album to be recorded in an actual studio (Engine Studios) with producer Sanford Parker. Released November 8th, 2011 on Profound Lore Records, download yourselves a free new track, ‘Her Circle Is The Noose’, off of the ‘True Traitor True Whore’ by this notorious U.S. black metal enigma here.

“Opening with snarling, heavy breathing that feels like the purest expression of rage possible, ‘True Whorror’ erupts into a series of movements, including jagged, atonal, hardcore-derived riffs, black metal riffing, post-punk groove, and SONIC YOUTH-style noise. Reminiscent of nascent early '80s gothic rock, ‘Her Circle Is The Noose’ is a lot more controlled, tetchy drum fills accentuating fluid guitar riffs and accents, while the haunting ‘Brought Up To The Bottom’ boasts the closest thing to a hook on the entire album, a nasty ascending riff accentuated, BURZUM-style, by a chiming, minimalist synth note. ‘Contrary Pulse’ is pure post-punk and post-rock, JOY DIVISION meshing with GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR, albeit filtered through Wrest's psychotic imagination. ‘Every Orifice Yawning Her Price’, meanwhile, gets totally weird, centering on a groovy, strangely catchy little jam not unlike late-70s CAN before descending into a mass of improvised noise. ‘Harlot Rises’ starts off sounding more extreme, but quickly descends into a second half reminiscent of LURKER OF CHALICE, complete with an inexplicable acoustic guitar riff that pops in for a few measures. Two songs from LEVIATHAN's 2002 ‘Verräter’ compilation, ‘Blood Red And True’ and ‘Shed This Skin’, are given thorough re-imaginings, and come across as more majestic than they ever sounded before,” [shows off his vast knowledge Adrien Begrand, MSN Music – more here]

Animals As Leaders: Weightless – new album

ANIMALS AS LEADERS', led by fleet-fingered 7 and 8 stringer Tosin Abasi, second album entitled ‘Weightless’ is already out in Europe (November 4th, 2011) and will hit American stores November 8th, 2011 through Prosthetic Records. Head over to Guitar World to listen to the album's opening track ‘An Infinite Regression’ by clicking here, visit L.A. Weekly here to hear the tune ‘Somnarium’, and check out ‘Isolated Incidents’ and audio samples of all the ‘Weightless’ tracks via YouTube players available below. The CD was produced by drummer Navene Koperweis and his bandmates, mixed by guitarist Javier Reyes and mastered by  Dustin Miller. The album marks the recording debut of Koperweis and Reyes with ANIMALS AS LEADERS.

Once his Washington D.C.-based metalcore band REFLUX disbanded, Tosin Abasi was asked to record a solo album by the group's record label, Prosthetic Records. Abasi began work on an instrumental solo project as a way to further express his musical personality. The resulting self-titled debut from Abasi's new band ANIMALS AS LEADERS, a 12-track collection of guitar-driven progressive instrumentals with ambient and electronic influences, was released in 2009 (click here to find out more). After extensive touring that ensued the release, the band released a digital single, ‘Wave Of Babies’, via iTunes in 2010. As for the band's curious name,  Abasi explained it relates to looking at the world from an animal's perspective, and that it was in part inspired by Daniel Quinn's anthropocentric novel “Ishmael” (in which the author uses a telepathic gorilla to critique human culture):

“A lot of what we do is completely removed from the fact that we’re all essentially animals,” [further explained Abasi] “We have a niche on the planet and we have a role in sustainable sort of ecology, but we’ve gone against our natural calling. The name is acknowledging that we do have more of a natural role on the planet, but it’s also like, who would follow an animal to do anything? I think of the name as being both nonsensical and really literal.”

 

 

Deathstars: Metal – new video

 

 

Well, they grow them in Sweden too: Swedish death glammers (?!) DEATHSTARS have just released the video for the tune ‘Metal’, one of two brand new songs featured on their best of compilation, properly entitled ‘The Greatest Hits On Earth’, which was released just yesterday, November the 4th, 2011, via Nuclear Blast Records. Without hesitation buy DEATHSTARS' stuff here (Nuclear Blast) or via iTunes Europe or Amazon Europe.

Founded in 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden, DEATHSTARS is comprised of lead vocalist Andreas “Whiplasher Bernadotte” Bergh, bassist and vocalist Jonas “Skinny Disco” (see the pattern, heh) Kangur, guitarist and keyboardist Emil “Nightmare Industries” Nödtveidt, drummer Oscar “Vice” Leander and lead guitarist Eric “Cat Casino” Bäckman. Citing bands such as KISS as their early inspiration, DEATHSTARS released their debut album ‘Synthetic Generation’ in 2002 on independent label LED Recordings. The album which, reaching the Swedish charts, brought about the signing with Nuclear Blast Records. Without then-lead guitarist Erik “Beast X Electric” Halvorsen, and with Ole “Bone W. Machine” Öhman still behind the drum kit, then-quartet released their second full-length ‘Termination Bliss’ 2006. DEATHSTARS' biggest success to date, 2009's ‘Night Electric Night’, which landed the Top Ten position in Sweden and charted on several European countries' charts, introduced new lead guitarist Cat Casino.

DEATHSTARS: Death Dies Hard – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

Abomination: Abomination & Tragedy Strikes – 2-CD re-issue

Nuclear Blast Records has re-released the albums ‘Abomination’ (1990) and ‘Tragedy Strikes’ (1991) together with the ‘Final War’ (1999) EP as well as rare demos from 1987 and 1988, by legendary death & thrash metal outfit ABOMINATION. Available as of today, November 4th, 2011, buy the ultimate ABOMINATION legacy (“2CDs for the price of just one”) here (Nuclear Blast) after you download yourselves a free track ‘Face In The Crowd’ here – also available for listening below.

ABOMINATION was formed in 1987 by Paul Speckmann (MASTER) - one of the figures that shaped death metal as we know it now - in Chicago, USA. After recording a couple of demos, ABOMINATION secured a recording contract with Nuclear Blast in 1990. Their debut album ‘Abomination’ was followed a year later by second full-length ‘Tragedy Strikes’.  ABOMINATION disbanded after losing their recording contract in 1993, however Paul Speckmann tried to revive ABOMINATION in 1999. The revival lasted one year during which ABOMINATION recorded an EP entitled ‘Final War’ and issued a compilation of their two early demos, ‘Curses Of A Deadly Sin’.

ABOMINATION: Face In The Crowd – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

Taake: Noregs Vaapen – new album

As A.V. Club's Jason Heller puts it: “TAAKE's Ulvhedin Høst  isn’t exactly one of the cuddliest people on the planet. But for someone who seems happy stirring up shit and trying to alienate fans, he sure has made an accessible album.” Listen to that album, released in Europe in September 2011 on Dark Essence Records and on November the 1st, 2011 in the U.S. on Candlelight Records, in its atmospheric and icy entirety here at A.V. Club. (The album's stream has since ended.) ‘Noregs Vaapen’ is filled with Høst's trademark riffs, melodies and vocals, but  Høst seems to embrace unpredictability now as well, with added black‘n’roll grooves, ice-cold mellotrons, and, not forgetting, (“white-trash”) banjo. The album, produced by Bjørnar E. Nilsen, features guest appearances by Nocturno Culto (DARKTHRONE), Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), Demonaz (IMMORTAL) and Skagg (GAAHLSKAGG, DEATHCULT) as well as producer and VULTURE INDUSTRIES frontman Bjørnar E. Nilsen. Below you’ll find the video for song ‘Nordbundet’, taken from ‘Noregs Vaapen’, a mix of live footage of the band mixed with scenes of the countryside around TAAKE's home town of Bergen, filmed by Høst  and directed by Torgeir Ness Sundli as well as a new track, ‘Fra Vadested til Vaandesmed’. Buy TAAKE's stuff here (official store).

“Not that TAAKE were necessarily the strictest of black metal bands to begin with anyway; their fierceness was always a little more melodic than their chilly peers (without having to resort to goofy keyboards or superfluous ladysong). But parts of ‘Vaapen’ throw wrenches into the mix that you didn’t even know could be thrown. Chilly post-punk guitar surfaces at in-hindsight-appropriate moments, rollicking doom riffs peek their heads in, and even SHINING-style cock rock makes an appearance. But the two most interesting song - sandwiched together in the middle of the album - bring surprises in a genre not known for them. ‘Du Ville Ville Vestland’ starts off grim, shifts into a surprisingly tasty riff, then gets black metal again, continuing that way, until, about four minutes into the song, some down right Peter Buck-style jangling R.E.M. guitars surface over the rest of the band. The thing about it, though, is what while it’s certainly jarring, it fits. There’s a connection between black metal and the forefathers of nice guy college rock that you never knew existed before. But it’s there, looking you in the face, leaving you to wonder why you hadn’t always seen it there before,” [makes the journey through ‘Noregs Vaapen’ MetalSucks' Sammy O’Haggar – more here]

TAAKE: Fra Vadested til Vaandesmed – courtesy of TAAKE official

Formed in 1993 (“amid the rash of church burnings and other crimes virtually responsible for launching the scene” according to Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic) TAAKE (pronounced “toke”) have since managed to build a loyal fanbase and an even more curious press profile: the controversial episodes of band leader Høst  (Ørjan Stedjeberg) have resulted in several incarcerations. Over the three years after the band's inception, Høst recorded a series of demos, followed by TAAKE's first full-length album, ‘Nattestid Ser Porten Vid’, in 1999, issued through Wounded Love Records:

TAAKE: Nattestid Part II – courtesy of TAAKE official

And while the man behind the music, Ulvhedin Høst, joined fellow brothers in arms RAGNAROK as vocalist, he also issued TAAKE's second full-length, 2002's ‘Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik’:

TAAKE: Bjoergvin Part IV – courtesy of TAAKE official

In keeping with his colourful persona, Høst, who has dedicated himself to pay a “patriotic tribute to the fog that surrounds the seven mountains at his hometown Bergen” through his music, released an excellent album in 2005, ‘Hordalands Doedskvad’, before being incarcerated for a duration of several months in 2006:

TAAKE: Doedskvad Part 3 – courtesy of TAAKE official

A handful of splits and EPs later, ‘Necro’ in 2007 and ‘Svartekunst’ in 2008, Century Media ensured the release of TAAKE's self-titled album in 2008:

TAAKE: Umenneske – courtesy of TAAKE official

A taster for the band's fifth full-length, an MCD entitled ‘Kveld’ came out earlier this year via Høst's own label Svartekunst Produksjoner (listen blow), followed by yet another split with SIGH, THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL and THUS DEFILED, ‘Swine Of Heads’.

TAAKE: Hordalands Doedskvad 1 – courtesy of Patricia Thomas