Originating from the Montreal area, this group first appeared in 1992, when it was called Necrosis; in the same year it was reincarnated under the name of Cryptopsy. With just a demo called Ungentle Exhumation and then the album Blasphemy Made Flesh (1994), the group acquired a solid reputation on the international scene. Their release of None So Vile in 1996 was the first burst of brilliance in their career.
Bethlehem is a dark metal band from Grevenbroich, Germany, formed in 1991 by Jürgen Bartsch and Kläus Matton. Before begetting Bethlehem, Bartsch and Matton used to play in a German Thrash metal band called Morbid Vision. Much of the themes in their lyrics revolve around sickness, morbidity, suicide, death and madness that may to some extent be personal to the band, though they are very difficult to understand even for German speakers because they make absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Impaled Nazarene, hailing from Oulu, Finland was formed in 1990. November 1990: The first line-up is Mika Luttinen-vocals, Kimmo Luttinen-drums, Mika Pääkkö-guitar, Ari Holappa-guitar and Antti Pihkala-bass. The band starts rehearsing their own material, first ever I.N. song written is Condemned To Hell. The band also starts playing The Crucified & Morbid Fate, both old Mutilation tracks (Previous band of Luttinen bros.)
Forgotten Tomb is a black metal band formed in Piacenza, Italy in 1999 by Ferdinando "Herr Morbid" Marchisio. The band is well-known for being among the pioneers of the so-called depressive black metal subgenre. They have modified their style over the years by adding classic rock influences to the typical eerie sound. The lyrical themes of the early albums revolve mostly around depression and suicide, while the recent albums lyrics deal with negativity and nihilism.