Formed in Diest, Flemish Brabant during 1988, ANCIENT RITES has fast become one of the leading Belgian Black Metal acts. The group's initial line-up comprised vocalist/bassist Gunther Theys, guitarists Johan and Phillip and drummer Stefan. This concoction released the 'Dark Ritual' demo in April 1990.

A year on, however, and ANCIENT RITES was forced to make changes. Firstly, band roadie Walter Van Cortenberg replaced drummer Stefan and then tragedy struck later in the same year when, in August, guitarist Phillip was killed in a car crash. The band enlisted guitarist Bart Vandereycken but soon after Johan departed leaving ANCIENT RITES as a single guitar band. Further personal tragedy would hit the band when erstwhile drummer Stefan commited suicide.

In 1992 the outfit recorded the self-financed 'Evil Prevails' EP on Fallen Angel Records with second guitarist Pascal. These tracks were cut at Studio 20 in Tienen. Wild Rags Records also issued the EP and the band also distributed a two track demo cassette. However, Pascal 's tenure was brief and soon ANCIENT RITES were a trio once more. After Dark Records also featured the track 'Longing For The Ancient Kingdom II' on a split EP shared with RENAISSANCE. These sessions included Tony De Block on keyboards. Recording became quite prolific as the band added a track for Tessa Records' 'Detonation' compilation album as well as contributing tracks for a Colombian split album on Warmaster Records in union with Swedish band UNCANNY. ANCIENT RITES also joined forces with Greek act THOU ART LORD for a split 7" single through the Molon Lave imprint.

This activity was followed by intensive gigging across Europe, including dates in Greece with ROTTING CHRIST. A further track was included on a split EP on Molten Lava Records and the band finally released their first full length album, 'The Diabolic Serenades', on After Dark Records in early 1994. During 1995 ANCIENT RITES toured Europe in with CRADLE OF FILTH and subsequently cut a split EP with fellow Belgians ENTHRONED.

1998's 'Fatherland' had Theys and Van Cortenberg joined by guitarists Erik Sprooten, previously with INQUISITOR, and Jan 'Orkki' Ȫrlund of TWO WITCHES and PRESTIGE. A further addidtion would be keyboard player Domingo Smets, a veteran of AGATHOCLES and RENAISSANCE.

The band dispensed with keyboard player Smets during October of 2001. A quick fire replacement would turn out to be Davy Wouters of DANSE MACABRE and Gothic Doom band OBLIVION. During 2002 Theys would be found involved in various side acts including DANSE MACABRE, LION'S PRIDE and Heavy Metal band IRON CLAD. He also turned up adding guest vocals to two tracks on the Portuguese Black Metal band BLACK WIDOWS 2002 album 'Sweet The Hell'. Erik Sprooten would also guest session on the April 2002 debut IRON CLAD album 'Lost In A Dream'.

Embarking upon a mammoth string of European shows throughout October and November of 2002 the band created part of a deadly union for the 'Generation Armageddon' festival tour. Joining the band would be Greece's SEPTIC FLESH, Ireland's PRIMORDIAL, Norway's BLOOD RED THRONE, and Swedish heavyweights DISMEMBER and IMPIOUS. A live album and accompanying DVD, 'And The Hordes Stood As One' recorded at the Biebob club in Vosselaar, Belgium during June, was slated for early 2003 release. The 'Generation Armageddon' title would be used once more for a second leg of European shows in May of 2003, the band forming a live alliance with BLOOD RED THRONE, THYRFING, SEPTIC FLESH, PRIMORDIAL and SKYFIRE. The group announced that Jan Yrlund was to leave upon fulfilment of these shows, his replacement being none other than former band guitarist Bart Vandereycken. Yrlund joined the Helena Iren Michaelsen fronted IMPERIA in June 2004.

ANCIENT RITES underwent a major change in its formation in January of 2005. Former members keyboard player Domingo Smets and session guita rplayer Raf Jansen returned although Smets would take the role of bassist, allowing the band to operate with three lead guitarists. The group, entering Spacelab Studio in Germany, signed to French label Season of Mist in November.

Jansen cut tracks for a demo by his solo AHRÁYEPH project in March 2006. The guitarist also mixed and mastered tracks for fellow countrymen THEUDHO's sophomore album, 'The Völsunga Saga'. Raf Jansen quit ANCIENT RITES in January 2007 in order to prioritise his own ventures.