Tidfall

Tidfall started life as Pagan Divinity, a Norwegian black metal group that crafted a sound similar to the grandiose symphonic metal of Emperor. They started in 1992, consisting of the creatively named Abraxas, Zarthon, and Rogon D. Bloodgraat. The trio practiced and occasionally recorded demos, but nothing that traveled outside of the village of Løten, Norway. In 1995, the band added bassist Sorg and keyboardist Aftaneldr to thicken up its sound and give it a moodier base. They officially became Tidfall at this point, a Norwegian term meaning "the fall of time." The following year their first demo, an eponymous effort, hit the trading underground and garnered the band its first offer from a record label. The band was disappointed with the contract, and decided to build its reputation more instead of prematurely grasping at a label deal.

In 1998, Tidfall recorded the Black Psychotic Darkness demo, their first to include English lyrics. The tapes sold well, and the band was contacted by Samoth of Emperor to sign with his label, Nocturnal Art Productions. Circular Supremacy appeared soon after, a debut album that took 11 stressful days to record in February of 2000. The budget wasn't big enough for a tour, so besides a few Norwegian shows, Tidfall had no international showcase for their talents. They dove into the next album, but the internal strife that popped up during the last album reappeared, driving Rogon D. Bloodgraat from the group. Sorg stepped into the vocalist position and the band trimmed down to a four-piece. In March of 2001, Instinct Gate was recorded in a Norwegian studio by the new lineup. Unfortunately, Samoth contacted the bandmembers and told them he would no longer have time to dedicate to the label, and that they should seek another method for releasing their album. Nuclear Blast showed interest, so they brought the album over and released it in 2002.