Taake is one of the bands that play consistently traditional Norwegian black metal from the early 90s since today. It was never indifferent to me; its music could give me an undesirable depression anytime and even if I really wanted to get depressed a Taake album would never be my choice. But that has changed with “Noregs Vaapen”. Honestly I believe this is one of the best Norwegian records at least for 2011.
Ultimately Hoest has only added a few interesting elements such as banjo, mandolin, black n’ roll, classic rock guitar solos and stoner riffs. Too many blacksters have gone experimental in the past but only very few of them sounded decent in the end. The most impressive part about the album is the following: the aforementioned added elements plus a cleaner production do not change the band’s DNA at all. “Noregs Vaapen” is a highly qualitative traditional black metal opus and sounds nothing like a post-black metal work.
…And something else that speaks for itself; personalities like Nocturno Culto, Demonaz, Attila Csihar, Skagg (Gaahlskagg, Deathcult) and Bjørnar Nilsen (Vulture Industries) have given Hoest a hand.
Highlights: “Du Ville Ville Vestland” και “Helvetesmakt”
