Haapajärvi based neo Symphonic Power Metal band REQUIEM was founded in during the autumn of 1999, with an initial line-up of guitarist Arto Räisälä, bass player Matti Auvinen and HAUNTED DREAM drummer Rami Repola. Both Auvinen and Räisälä would be also active with Death Metal band AGARWAEN. This trio issued a three track debut promotional CD entitled 'Gods Of War' the same Autumn.

As 2000 drew in Repola departed, being replaced by AGARWAEN's Jari Huttunen, then just fourteen years old. REQUIEM were at this stage growing apart from prior Death Metal influences and leaning toward more orchestrated Metal territory so duly enlisted the services of keyboard player Ahti Komu and second guitarist Teemu Hänninen. With this roster of musicians, REQUIEM cut a self financed mini-album 'Into The Night'.

2000 also saw the REQUIEM roster further strengthened with the induction of erstwhile UNITAR, CARPE DIEM and MYSTERIUM vocalist/guitarist Jouni Nikula to the fold. With their new frontman REQUIEM re-recorded vocal parts for the 'Into The Night' opus re-issuing the record in a limited edition with Nikula's newly implanted vocal lines.

2001 was set to see a third self-financed release but REQUIEM would score a record deal with the Portuguese Sound Riot label. Komu though would make his exit and REQUIEM undertook live gigs with stand in keyboard players on a temporary basis. Henrik Klingenberg joined the band in the keyboard role but further ructions occurred in the bass department, Matti Auvinen making way for new man Pasi Kauppinen. The new album, 'The Arrival', arrived in March of 2002. REQUIEM stepped up a gear with this release delivering full blown neo-classical Progressive Metal clad in an elaborate Jason Juta designed fantasy album sleeve.

Both bass player Pasi Kauppinen and keyboard player Henrik Klingenberg would also play in a band called SILENT VOICES. Jouni Nikula would front ALTARIA in 2002 for the their debut album 'Invitation' but then leave that band to prioritise REQUIEM. Henrik Klingenberg joined up with premier Symphonic Metal act SONATA ARCTICA during November of 2002.

REQUIEM parted ways with guitarist Teemu Hänninen in the Spring of 2005. A new album, 'Requiem Forever', arrived in September via Scarlet Records. Japanese variants added an extra track in a demo of 'Light No More'.