Originally known as MORDOR this Århus Death Metal band date back to 1992 with a line-up of guitarist Henrik Kolle, drummer Mike Nielsen and bassist Mads Weng. It wasn't to be until 1993 when the band added a vocalist in Søren Lønne, recording the 'Souls Of Purity' demo. Still, as MORDOR the band contributed the track 'In Command' to the Progress Records compilation 'Fuck You We're From Denmark. Volume II' in 1994. Weng left soon after its release and Lønne took over bass duties.

Signing to new label Euphonious the band, aware of at least three other Metal acts titled MORDOR, adopted the new title of EXMORTEM.

Following the June 1995 album 'Labyrinth Of Horror' release the band augmented its sound with the addition of second guitarist Martin "Sigtyr" Thim. A further demo tape, 'Dejected...' preceded the second album 'Dejected In Obscurity'. Later that year Dennis took command of the drum stool for more demos, subsequently being released as a split 7" single 'Berzerker Legions' shared with IMPENDING DOOM in 1999. Bass guitar for these sessions would be delegated to Martin Rosendahl of CORPUS MORTALE, ZAHRIM, USIPIAN and INIQUITY.

Once again EXMORTEM shifted shape, introducing new vocalist Simon Petersen (a.k.a. 'Smerte') of LUSTRATION, HORNED ALMIGHTY and MARERIDT, and drummer Reno Kiilerich in 2000. The third album 'Berzerker Legions' was issued in May of 2001 on the Hammerheart label. The group, bringing onboard bassist Andreas Schubert, from AD NOCTUM, and drummer Michael Pedersen, switched labels once more to the French Osmose Productions for 2002's 'Pestilence Empire'. By 2003 Reno Kiilerich was a member of PANZERCHRIST. Later that same year Kiilerich joined fabled North American Death Metal band VILE.

Projected releases into late 2003 included the 'Pest Campaign 2003' EP through Osmose Productions featuring three live tracks recorded in Valencia, Spain that April alongside a re-recorded version of the 1995 track 'Intoxicated By Death'. Also in the works was the 'Killstorms' 7" single for Ancient Darkness Productions, bearing the unreleased title cut from 1998, re-arranged with new lyrics backed with a cover of AUTOPSY's 'Critical Madness'. A limited edition of 500 copies, half of these came pressed in camouflaged vinyl.

Reno Kiilerich stepped up a further league in March of the following year when he was recruited as session man for DIMMU BORGIR's European, South American and US 'Ozzfest' festival dates. EXMORTEM entered Antfarm Studios in Aarhus on 17th May with producer Tue Madsen to record their fifth studio album, 'Nihilistic Contentment', for Earache Records subsidiary Wicked World. They would be rejoined by drummer Reno Kiilerich in October.

EXMORTEM landed the support to Polish Black Metal band BEHEMOTH's January 2005 UK tour. In keeping with the incestuous nature of the tight knit Danish Metal scene April saw former EXMORTEM drummer Michael Pedersen replacing Reno Kiilerich's role in PANZERCHRIST. Meantime, Kiilerich laid down drums on a new album for OLD MAN'S CHILD.

Line-up changes in May saw bassist Andreas Schubert shifting to the second guitar position and the installation of a session bassist, Rune Koldby of SPECTRAL MORTUARY. The EXMORTEM credited Martin Thim joined ILLDISPOSED in August. In September 2006 EXMORTEM announced it had "ended its co-operation with Earache and Wicked World Records".

Drummer Morten Siersbæk joined DOWNLORD in March 2007.