The last Taake album I reviewed for these pages, Taake (2008), had unfortunately not left a lasting impression on me. Then came Noregs Vaapen (2011), which I didn't review, but was able to get to know through live shows; it somewhat raised the bar of my belief in the band.
 
 The band's last album, Stridens Hus, consecrates my utmost respect of Taake.
 There is some serious artistic novelty in the expression that is bound to propel Taake to the first ranks of the history of (Norwegian) Black Metal, if they weren't there already.
 
Stridens Hus' winning elements stand out the one after the other. Long epic instrumental parts, well-timed breaks, a sense of older heavy-metal, I even hear Megadeth anno 1990 in "Stank". Well done all the way.
 
As Taake will be touring internationally with Stridens Hus, here from the review of their 2012 performance at Hellfest: "Taake (...) skilledly weave a thread with the most angry material they have, sustained by a mood of the fiercest that builds up the atmosphere of this great performance. The set is short but varied, the band makes the most of the time they have.".
 
Watch Taake's tour calendar, get on that train and get a piece of Høst and them others (or at least their live act)!