Review by Jeger on July 12, 2026.

What to say about Hoest? The man has performed live with his cock & balls exposed, he performed in Germany with a Swastika painted on his chest as a way to remind Germany of its greatest shame, a genuine eccentric and a man who spends his days on the fringes of Society. Since its inception, Hoest's Black Metal endeavor, Taake, has been renowned the world over as a true-to-the-bone Norwegian Black Metal project, whether it be in band or Soloist form and the music has always been the product of Hoest's pride in Norway, pride in what was birthed by a whisper and a match to oaken Churches all those years ago. And instead of riding BM's coattails toward a lucrative career like those who've sold out: Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir and Emperor, Hoest remains rooted in the Artistic ways of Norse culture as both an ambassador for BM but also for Norse heritage. And on July 31, Taake will unveil its ninth LP offering in "En Skog Av Nidstang" via Dark Essence Records.

"En Skog Av Nidstang" was recorded just South of Bergen in the forests surrounding the island of Borgøy - the same environment depicted by Norwegian Artist, Lars Hertervig. No studio indulgence, no ego-infused creative disputes between band members as it was recorded in solo fashion and nothing more than instinct, emotion and of course Hoest's own remarkable Black Metal IQ to realize what is shaping up to be an epic.

Four expansive tracks make up this latest volume. Will it live up to its acclaimed predecessor, "Et Hav Av Avstand"? I would imagine not… Difficult bar to reach twice in a row, but I'm sure it matters not one iota to Hoest, only what is true, only what is genre optimal, and from what I'm able to put together so far, we're in for a bit of experimentation along with hefty doses of textbook Taake complexity in melodicism, dry tones and unconventional yet classic stylings.

Lars Hertervig was an ill-fated soul. He was born in poverty but was able to nurture his love for painting by attending the Düsseldorf School of Painting as a pupil of Hans Gude. In 1854, as a result of a cruel prank played on him by his fellow classmates, Lars suffered a nervous breakdown. Two years later, he was institutionalized at Gaustaud Asylum. Lars spent his remaining 30 years in poverty; hardly ever able to afford oil paints and canvases. His final works were done with watercolors on gouache paper. The compositions that make up "En Skog Av Nidstang" are similarly desperate and crazed, deranged and unpredictable. Just like the life of its inspiration. Just another example of the brilliance of Taake: darkly sophisticated and intrinsically constructed Black Metal that stirs up from deep within a sense of pride in the genre. A deep appreciation for one of the Norwegian scene's most prolific Artists.

From the opening track, "Einstoeingen Og Eg" through to close, the final moments that culminate "Av Guds Ville Naade", "En Skog Av Nidstang" is definitive Norwegian BM: so pure/unfiltered, stripped down tonally and alternating between sheer momentum and melody. Not raw by any means but exposed like those aforementioned cock & balls, bare in essence with nothing to hide, nowhere to mask any mistakes and yet so down-to-earth in production quality. An album to which one must relinquish all of his/herself in order to rightly experience such a pridefully created piece of art.

Hoest just continues to organically live as a specimen of what BM is supposed to represent: rebellion, intelligence, independence and pride. Some guys just get it. Some Artists keep the gates by just being who they are - living, breathing examples of what cannot be emulated or mimicked - true Black Metal spirit and real-world intellect. Another opus! Another victory for Norwegian BM and an example of why true Black Metal shall always endure.

Rating: 9 out of 10