Ørjan Stedjeberg (born 24 September 1977), better known by his stage name Hoest, is a Norwegian musician who is the founder and songwriter of

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...

band

Taake Taake () is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1993 and originally named Thule. The band's one continuous member is Hoest, who writes all and records most of the music. Taake has released eight full-length albums and several EPs ...

. Since the '90s, he has been the band's sole member, recording most instruments for the studio releases – counting eight studio albums and several EPs. As a frontman, Hoest is known for his energetic live performances. He is also a member of the band Deathcult, the current live vocalist for

Gorgoroth Gorgoroth is a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen. It was formed in 1992 by guitarist Infernus, who is the sole original member remaining, and has released nine studio albums. Gorgoroth are a Satanism, Satanic band and have drawn contro ...

, and has previously been a member of Ragnarok and Ravengod.

Career

In 1993, Hoest—then known as ''Ulvhedin''—formed the band ''Thule'' together with drummer ''Svartulv''. After the release of two demos, in 1995, the band changed their name to ''Taake'', while Ulvhedin adopted the stage name Hoest (Norwegian for "autumn"). Following further demos and the departure of Svartulv, Hoest remained as Taake's sole member. In 1999, he released Taake's debut album '' Nattestid Ser Porten Vid'', the first release in a trilogy of

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

s linked by the topics of "death, Norway, and the devil in man". Taake's sophomore album, ''

Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik ''Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik'' (English: Heaven cries over Bergen), appears on the album cover as ''...Bjoergvin...'', is the second full-length album by Norwegian black metal band Taake. It was released on 1 January 2002. Track listing Pe ...

'', was released in 2002 and saw the addition of several new band members. In 2005, Taake concluded the trilogy with the album ''

Hordalands doedskvad ''Hordalands doedskvad'' ( English: Death poems of Hordaland), appears on the album cover as ''...Doedskvad'', is the third full-length album by Norwegian black metal band Taake. It was released on 28 February 2005. Track listing Personnel Taa ...

'' and went on hiatus due to dissatisfaction with the black metal scene. In 2008, Taake's self-titled fourth album was released, with Hoest performing all instruments and vocals. The band's fifth studio album, ''

Noregs vaapen ''Noregs vaapen'' is the fifth full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal band Taake. It was released on 19 September 2011. Track listing Personnel Taake *Hoest – vocals, guitars, bass, drums Additional Personnel *Herbrand Larsen � ...

'' (2011), features several prominent Norwegian black metal artists, including

Attila Csihar Attila Gábor Csihar (; born 29 March 1971), also sometimes known as Void, is a Hungarian extreme metal vocalist, best known for his vocal work in Norwegian black metal band Mayhem and American drone metal band Sunn O))). Author Ian Christe ...

Nocturno Culto Ted Arvid Skjellum (born 4 March 1972), also known by the stage name Nocturno Culto, is a Norwegian musician best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist, and partial bassist (shared with Fenriz) of the influential black metal band Darkthrone. He ...

, Demonaz and

Ivar Bjørnson Ivar Skontorp Peersen, best known by his stage name Ivar Bjørnson (born 27 November 1977), is a Norwegian musician and composer. He is a founding member and the main songwriter of the extreme metal band Enslaved, and has previously been a memb ...

. The album was nominated for the Norwegian

Spellemann Spellemann is a folk music album by Norwegian singer Elisabeth Andreassen. It was released in Norway on 9 February 2009. On the album charts, it peaked at #6 in Norway and #45 in Sweden. Track listing #" Klinga mina klockor" #"Här är gudagott a ...

award in the Metal category. In 2012, Hoest joined

as a live vocalist. Taake released their sixth studio album, ''

Stridens hus ''Stridens hus'' is the sixth full-length album by Norwegian black metal band Taake. It was released on 8 December 2014. Track listing Personnel Taake *Hoest – vocals, all other instruments Additional personnel * Herbrand Larsen Herbrand ...

'', in 2014. The album '' Kong Vinter'' was released in 2017, with critics praising Hoest and Taake's longevity. In 2023, Hoest released the band's first studio album in six years, '' Et Hav av Avstand''.

Controversy

Hoest served prison sentences for assault in 2006 and 2007.Taake interview, March 2009
Lords of Metal e-zine. In March 2007, Hoest appeared on stage at a Taake show in

Essen Essen () is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, as well as ...

, Germany with a

swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍, ) is a symbol used in various Eurasian religions and cultures, as well as a few Indigenous peoples of Africa, African and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, American cultures. In the Western world, it is widely rec ...

painted on his chest. The incident sparked controversy and caused the band's remaining shows in Germany to be cancelled. Hoest later explained that the act was done to provocate and called it a spontaneous joke done in the spirit of punk.Lagnonector Hoest
"STATEMENT FROM HOEST"
23 March 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2012.

Discography

With
Taake Taake () is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1993 and originally named Thule. The band's one continuous member is Hoest, who writes all and records most of the music. Taake has released eight full-length albums and several EPs ...

Studio albums * '' Nattestid Ser Porten Vid'' (Night-time sees the gate wide) (1999) * ''

'' (Heaven weeps over

Bergen Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...

) (2002) * ''

'' (Death poems of

Hordaland Hordaland () was a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and Rogaland counties. Hordaland was the third largest county, after Akershus and Oslo, by population. The county government was the Hordaland County Munici ...

) (2005) * ''Taake'' (2008) * ''

'' (Norway's weapon) (2011) * ''

'' (House of strife) (2014) * '' Kong Vinter'' (King Winter) (2017) * '' Et Hav av Avstand'' (A Sea of Distance) (2023) Studio EPs * ''Nekro'' (2007) * ''Kveld'' (Evening) (2011) * ''Kulde'' (Cold) (2014) * ''Baktanker'' (Ulterior motives) (2017) Live EPs * ''Svartekunst'' (Dark arts) (2008) Compilation albums * ''Helnorsk svartmetall'' (All-Norwegian black metal) (2005) * ''The Box'' (2005) * ''Gravkamre, Kroner og Troner'' (Burial Chambers, Crowns and Thrones) (2013) * ''7 Fjell'' (7 Mountains) (2017) * ''Avvik'' (Deviation) (2021)

With Deathcult

Studio albums * ''Cult Of The Dragon'' (2007) * ''Cult Of The Goat'' (2017) Studio EPs * ''Bestial Recordings'' (2021) * ''Seven Are They'' (2024)

Career

Controversy

Discography

With
Taake Taake () is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1993 and originally named Thule. The band's one continuous member is Hoest, who writes all and records most of the music. Taake has released eight full-length albums and several EPs ...

With Deathcult

With Ragnarok

With Ravengod

Vocal and instrumental credits

References

External links

Career

Controversy

Discography

With Taake Taake () is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1993 and originally named Thule. The band's one continuous member is Hoest, who writes all and records most of the music. Taake has released eight full-length albums and several EPs ...

With Deathcult

With Ragnarok

With Ravengod

Vocal and instrumental credits

References

External links

With
Taake Taake () is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1993 and originally named Thule. The band's one continuous member is Hoest, who writes all and records most of the music. Taake has released eight full-length albums and several EPs ...