Bloodthorn, a Norwegian black metal band from Trondheim, was formed in 1992. The group initially featured Christine Hjertaas on vocals and Geir Mikael Reijners on keyboards, who were later replaced by Krell as vocalist. Bloodthorn released their debut demo Natteskyggen in 1996, followed by their first full-length album In the Shadow of Your Black Wings in 1997. The band's musical direction shifted with the release of Under the Reign of Terror in 2001, which saw them abandoning female vocals and keyboards to return to a raw, extreme metal sound. In 2006, Bloodthorn released their fourth album, Genocide, and subsequently performed at several notable festivals, including Inferno, Wacken Open Air 2006, and Hole in the Sky 2007. They also embarked on European and Scandinavian tours with Carpathian Forest and Vader, respectively.