God may be almighty, but even He didn’t see a banjo coming in His exorcism soundtrack.
That’s precisely what Taake pulled off on Noregs Vaapen, the fifth studio album by this Norwegian black metal legend, originally released in 2011 and now finally reissued in a stunning edition by Dark Essence Records. This re-release doesn’t feel like a cheap cash grab, but rather a ritualistic re-consecration of an album that has since earned its status as a classic within the genre.
Behind Taake stands, of course, Hoest—the enfant terrible of Norwegian black metal. Always uncompromising, always fiercely independent. He is Taake, quite literally, having written and performed everything on this album himself, including vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and even the iconic banjo solo on Myr. It’s this blend of pure Norwegian fury and a playful sense of risk that makes Noregs Vaapen such a unique record in a genre often plagued by dogmatism. (Much like religion, really—and we all know how well that turned out.)
Where earlier albums like Over Bjoergvin graater Himmerik and Hordalands Doedskvad leaned heavily on classic second-wave black metal with a cold, minimalist aesthetic, Noregs Vaapen reveals a Taake that dares to push its own boundaries. Not by making concessions, but by showing boldness. The core remains unchanged: raw, old-school black metal with icy melodies and razor-sharp riffs. But layered on top are new elements—black’n’roll grooves and that aforementioned banjo—integrated so seamlessly it feels as though they’ve always belonged.
Comparisons to bands like Darkthrone, Carpathian Forest, Tsjuder or Koldbrann are understandable, but ultimately too narrow. Where those bands often charge ahead in a single gear, Hoest shifts deftly between furious blast beats, folky dissonance, and rolling mid-tempo menace. Nordbundet is as catchy as it is venomous, while Orkan (which stirred some controversy at the time due to its anti-religious themes) is pure heresy wrapped in grim elegance. In short: black metal as it was meant to be. Free of dogma, but full of vision.
Noregs Vaapen is not only Taake’s strongest album; it’s a milestone in modern Norwegian black metal. This reissue isn’t just an excuse to repackage old wine in new bottles—it’s a tribute to a moment when black metal briefly reinvented itself without betraying its essence. And let’s be honest: if the Church denies the existence of this record, you know you’re holding something truly worthwhile.
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