Norwegian black metal band Kampfar began life as a solo project for ex-Mock frontman Dolk in the summer of 1995. Their demo tape was issued by the French Season of Mist label that year, and the group signed with the German label Malicious for the 1997 album Mellom Skogkledde Aaser. Friction between Dolk and the label resulted in a move to Hammerheart, for whom Kampfar recorded the EP Norse in 1998. Fra Underverdenen appeared a year later.