Taake
Nattestid

The notes of the storm! ...The breath of an icy wind that carries with it pagan echoes, gripping every one of your senses in an almost supernatural rumble.
This is the feeling that only a few albums have managed to give me, and "nattestid" is one of them. Released in January 1999 by Wounded Love Records, it's a work that reminded me, in certain atmospheres, of the first self-titled album by Borknagar, but in my opinion, it even surpasses it in majesty! Purely Nordic atmospheres, therefore, with an epic temperament and loaded with pure pagan hatred akin to the early works of Ulver and Satyricon.
The album has more than good production, where each instrument is clearly distinguishable. Thanks also to a technically skilled band that has managed to maintain a clean execution of the tracks without losing anything in terms of atmosphere and violence. Powerful drumming (also in the choice of sounds) that is fast, yet varied and dynamic, and Host, the true deus ex-machina of the group and author of the music and lyrics, spits his hatred with a perfect voice, varied and effective in every nuance.
There's no point in doing a track by track. The album is divided into 7 parts, without any specific titles. Lyrics strictly in Norwegian and a creative and inspired songwriting that doesn't falter. Throughout the album, fast and evil riffs alternate with more epic, atmospheric, and majestic parts, sometimes making room for choirs and clean vocals, without ever risking tedium or monotony. In short, with this album, Takke gives a fundamental lesson on how authentic pagan-black metal should be played, undoubtedly drawing from the founding fathers, but reworking everything with a very distinct personality and a melodic vein that makes every single track recognizable without taking away from the aggression. It's unnecessary to say that for any fan of the genre, this album is a mandatory purchase, on par with its more illustrious successor "Bjorgvin"... which, just to clarify, I consider one of the best black albums of the last decade!
Finally, a special mention also to the artwork that speaks volumes about the attitude of this immense group: everything strictly in black and white (sepia, to be precise) with texts inside rendered in runes! Magnificent!