Taake Nattestid Ser Porten Vid |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Nattestid Ser Porten Vid I
2. Nattestid ser Porten Vid II
3. Nattestid Ser Porten Vid III
4. Nattestid Ser Porten Vid IV
5. Nattestid Ser Porten Vid V
6. Nattestid Ser Porten Vid VI
7. Nattestid Ser Porten Vid VII
| Ranking: #40 for 1999 | |
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On 6 Lists
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| Summary: Taake's debut is essential for any black metal fan that enjoys a bit of melody. |
My apologies, but on paper Taake’s 1999 debut, Nattestid Ser Porten Vid, is probably going to sound like a typical, generic take on Darkthrone’s formula: melodic-tinged Norwegian black metal without any frilly keyboards or female vocalists. But please give it a chance, though – frontman and main project-head Ulvhedin Hoest (what an interesting, weird dude) has a way of imbedding each of this album’s seven tracks with a natural sense of melody, emanating from the riffing guitars and coming forth from his classic vocal screech delivery in abundance. That’s right; take a note, because this is some of the best black metal with melodic sensibilities that you will ever come across.
What makes Nattestid stand out from the two excellent Taake albums that would follow it, 2002’s Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik and 2005’s Hordalands Doedskvad, is its rawer production values and its containing, overall, a more venomous delivery from Hoest, be it instrumentally or vocally. The project-head jumps from allegretto-to-presto tempo speeds smoothly yet unexpectedly, adding variety to each of the seven parts of Taake’s debut album. On “Nattestid Ser Porten Vid I”, he often switches between a deep, clean voice to a harsher shriek, sometimes going all out with an extended howl layered overtop the driving guitar melodies – a move that returns often on the album; and on “Nattestid Ser Porten Vid IV”, he steps back and lets his instrumentals take control without any vocal accompaniment.
The drums have an interesting effect to them as well, as with each distinct clash of the cymbal, a phase of the melody seems to end, stapling it into your mind so that it may meet up with you again in familiarity with each future listen. Nattestid does hold a very common sonic thread throughout its length, though, yet there’s always enough melodic distinction between each of the riffs and Hoest’s vocals to keep things fresh and interesting. The album’s forty-two minute length is to its advantage as well: in leaving the album, listeners will feel a sense of fulfillment and complete closure. You see, Nattestid is not a black metal album that ends with you feeling like something was missing and/or out of place during a listen; it's a complete experience, never wasting any of its playing time.
You could say that you’ve heard something like this before, I guess – and thanks to much of the genre's saturation, you probably have. But you’ll find that Nattestid’s initial grasp on you never fades, never becoming stale or predictable, ever retaining its atmosphere thanks to Hoest’s top-notch vocal and instrumental performance and its own perfectly placed production values. It takes the stereotypes of melody-tinged black metal that you already know by now and does them the right way - did them the right way in 1999, I should say, just before the subgenre started to get pretty old and predictable. Thankfully, though, as with such classics as Dissections’ Storm of the Light’s Bane or Satyricon’s Nemesis Divina, you’ll find that the album never loses its appeal. It may not be as recognized as those classics, but Nattestid is every bit as good and is an essential listen for any black metal fan that enjoys a bit of melody.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
oh fuck yeah
Digging: Mount Eerie - Clear Moon | | |
rules
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yeah, this album rules pretty hard.
Digging: Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself Digging: Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself
| | | Album Rating: 4
My favorite by this band.
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same, though Hordalands and Over Bjoergvin are not far behind.
I've yet to check out self-titled
| | | Album Rating: 4
S/T is by far their weakest album, but it's still pretty good.
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that's what ive read and it's different too, which leads me to think that something may have changed about Hoest after leaving prison in 07
the production on this thing is perfect for this. Hordalands was a bit too clean for its own good imo. Still a 4 on that one though
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I need to start listening to more of this band. Good review dude.
Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake | | | Album Rating: 4
I'd say they're one of the most consistently awesome Norwegian bm bands.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I'm gonna download this and Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik and re-listen to Hordalands Doedskvad.
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I think I'd like this. Going to scoop this up later today. Great review, Jared
Digging: Between the Buried and Me - Colors
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Everything I've heard from this band has been boring. Might give this a go if I'm bored hahaha. Great review Jared!
Digging: Wodensthrone - Curse Digging: Wodensthrone - Curse
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Thanks, guys. There's a good chance that you would enjoy this, Hawks, and I think you too, Wizard, as it's a little bit more different than his future stuff.
You might too, Matt, though i think it's a bit more harsh than the other black metal that I've seen you rate. You should definitely try out Hordalands Doedskvad for a good starting point to Taake if you don't get into this, though.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I'll download this as soon as I get off my lazy ass and go get on my other computer.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Nattestid Ser Porten Vid VII is absolutely Taake's best song, and this slays hard. However, i really enjoyed the different instruments he experimented with on Bjoergvin.
Everything Hoest has done, minus that Nekro EP and his latest effort, is amazing.
Digging: Autechre - Amber | | | Album Rating: 4
The Jew's Harp he uses on Bjoergvin is so ridiculously awesome
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hes a pretty crazy guy, keeps on getting arrested for assault or something like that?
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I tried looking it up, but i all i got was that it wasn't known to the public
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yeah only wikipedia seems to mention assault. which means its probably wrong
| | | Album Rating: 4
Pretty sure he was imprisoned 3 times for aggravated assault.
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