En Skog Av Nidstang [LP]

Having balanced tradition and innovation for over three decades, Taake remains fiercely independent whilecontinually pushing it's own creative boundaries. That uncompromising vision finds new expression on the ninth full-length album, en Skog av Nidstang.Past years of increasing isolation for songwriter Hoest. Detached from contemporary trends and largely removedfrom the influence of other music, his creative drive has only intensified, resulting in four expansive compositionsthat flow naturally from the inspired mindset behind 2023's critically acclaimed Et Hav av Avstand.The recordings for en Skog av Nidstang were completed south of Bergen, in the moss-covered forests around theisland of Borgoy. In the surroundings depicted by the ill-fated Norwegian painter Lars Hertervig, Taake embracedthe focused seclusion of the landscape, relying less on modern technology or studio excess, but on intuition,confinement, creativity, and a mastery of the rudimentary tools of the trade.And it sounds unmistakably like Taake. Reckless thrashing riffs mix with brooding gloom, chilling melodies emergefrom violent intensity, and moments of desolate reflection give way to untamed aggression. The result is an albumthat celebrates the enduring power of an unyielding artistic vision; proof that, after 33 years, Taake remains asvital, distinctive, and relevant as ever.