After helping introduce the influence of melodic British metal bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, vocalist/bassist Taneli Jarva left the Finnish underground metal band Sentenced following their 1995 album and EP. Having formerly been in the death metal outfit Impaled Nazarene, Jarva contacted former bandmate Sir K Luttinen (drums/keyboards), then with Legenda, and the two decided to form a new band together under the name the Black League. It took three years for the remainder of the lineup to take shape, featuring guitarists Maike Valanne and Alexi Ranta and bassist Florida. Thus constituted, the band signed with Spinefarm, and in December 1999, they began recording their debut album. Licensed by Nuclear Blast for release in the U.S., Ichor appeared in the fall of 2000. ~ Steve Huey