Bergen's TAAKE is the solo vehicle of one U. Høst. Having convened the band during 1993, originally billed as THULE, Høst proceeded to issue a brace of demos in 1993's 'Der Vinterstormene Rast' and 1994's 'Omfarnet Av Svarte Vinger' prior to adopting the new title of TAAKE. Billed as TAAKE, together with Ulvhedin, Svartulv and Dim, the group cut the 1995 cassette 'Manndaudsvinter'. A three track 7" EP, issued by Høst's own Mosegrodd Productions, arrived the same year with Høst handling vocals, bass and guitar and Svartulv retained as drummer. TAAKE's next move was to release the debut album 'Nattestid' through the Wounded Love label, a subsidiary of Avantgarde Records. For these recordings session drummer Tundra (a.k.a. Hans Helander) of FROSTMOON and TUNDRA was employed.

Recordings for a second album, 'Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik', witnessed the induction of a brand new band unit comprising of GIGANTOMACHY guitarist C. Corax, VENDIGEIT bassist / keyboard player Keridwen and drummer Mutt of GAAHLSKAGG, TRELLDOM and SIGFADER. However, studio time would be interrupted when Corax was imprisoned. The band finalised the recordings upon Corax's release from jail in late December 2000.

Corax would leave the fold in August 2001 and Mutt followed suit in January of the following year. Nevertheless, Høst regrouped for a tour of Germany, TAAKE now including Høst on vocals and bass, Keridwen on guitar, Drakkhian of French acts GRIFFAR and BLACK DEMENTIA on second guitar and drummer T.H. Gjengedal.

U. Høst became the frontman for RAGNAROK in late 2002. TAAKE gigs that summer saw a brand new line-up comprising vocalist Høst, guitarists Keridwen of VENDIGEIT and C. Corax, bassist Radek of AETERNUS and AMOK along with the AMOK, HELHEIM, DEAD TO THIS WORLD and CULT OF CATHARSIS credited Mord (a.k.a. Tormod Haraldson) on drums.

Ex-TAAKE bassist Sindre Hillesdal signed his Viking Metal band GRIMNORTH to Mester Productions in 2004. TAAKE signed a deal with Dark Essence Records, recording at Grieghallen studios for a third album 'Doedskvad'. DAUDUR vocalist Discomforter contributed to the sessions.

The band's progress was stalled in early 2006 when both Høst and guitarist C. Corax were imprisoned. This incarceration did not appear to stem Høst's participation in a variety of musical endeavours.

Early 2006 brought news that Høst had involved in SECHT, a Black Metal collective boasting an impressive cast involving CARPATHIAN FOREST personnel Vrangsinn, Nattefrost and Nordavind, drummer Dirge Rep of GORGOROTH and NEETZACH, Nocturno Culto of DARKTHRONE, Nag of TSJUDER, Gaahl from GORGOROTH and TRELLDOM, Apollyon of AURA NOIR amongst others.

New TAAKE product surfaced with the 10" split EP, 'Hennes Kalde Skamlepper', shared with VIDSYN. A further split outing was announced through Agonia Records, being a split gatefold vinyl album as a collaboration with GIGANTOMACHY, a band featuring TAAKE guitarist C. Corax plus other band associates Discomforter, Høst and Svartulv.

TAAKE drummer Mord joined BLACK HOLE GENERATOR in mid 2006. Having been released from prison, Høst set about assembling an all new version of TAAKE. He also guested on the AMOK album 'Necrospiritual Deathcore'.

TAAKE, URGEHAL and KOLDBRANN teamed up for a European tour in March 2007. Høst stoked controversy at the band's March 20th concert in Essen, Germany when he appeared on stage with an inverted crucifix and swastika symbol drawn on his chest. The singer subsequently announced "We truly apologize to all of our collaborators who might get problems because of the Essen swastika scandal (except for the Untermensch owner of that club; you can go suck a Muslim)!" As a direct result, TAAKE's slot at the August Party.San Metal Open Air festival was revoked.