SHERMANN SOLDIERS was a 2000 demo project initiated by MERCYFUL FATE founder, guitarist Hank Shermann (a.k.a. Rene Krolmark), also a scene veteran of FATE and ZOSER MEZ. He would be joined in this venture by MERCYFUL FATE colleague Bjarne T. Holm on drums, ex-NARITA singer Brian Rich and bassist Manil Lopez. That same year both Shermann and Holm recorded a Metalcore album 'Sick In The Head' under another project title VIRUS 7.

Another Shermann band initiated during 2003 witnessed another alliance with MERCYFUL FATE drummer Bjarne T. Holm uniting with KING DIAMOND bassist Hal Patino for demos. This unit, adding IRON FIRE vocalist Martin Steene and another MERCYFUL FATE Colleague Michael Denner on second guitar, was dubbed as FORCE OF EVIL by March of 2003.