Axenstar, a Swedish power metal band from Västerås, was formed in 2001 by Peter Johansson and Magnus Ek. Initially known as Powerage, the group started as a cover band. In 2000, they recorded their debut demo, The Beginning, which received positive reviews. They changed their name to Axenstar in 2001 and released their demo, Promo 2001. Their first album, Perpetual Twilight, was released in 2002 through Arise Records. Subsequent albums include Far from Heaven (2003), The Inquisition (2005), and The Final Requiem (2006). Axenstar signed with Massacre Records in 2005 and continued to release albums, including Aftermath (2011) and Where Dreams are Forgotten (2014). The band's lineup underwent several changes over the years and released albums, such as End of All Hope (2019) and Chapter VIII (2023).