Helsinki Death rock outfit GANDALF was assembled as a trio of guitarists Nalle Österman, a member of LULLACRY, and Timo Nyberg with DRAGON SUN vocalist Jari Hurskainen in 1993. Session drummer Mika 'Gas Lipstick' Karppinen, subsequently to join leading Goth act HIM, also aided the formative band for the opening demo 'Will Life Ever End?'. AIRDASH bassist Kirka Sainio would team up with GANDALF for their 1995 demo session 'The Cradle'. With Ȫsterman switching over to drums GANDALF scored a record deal with Earache inprint Wicked World, delivering the Anssi Kippo produced 'Deadly Fairytales' in 1998.

Having inducted the BLAKE, JIMSON WEED, GALICA and LULLACRY credited bassist Kimmo Aroluoma during 2000, Hannu Leiden of HAVANA BLACK produced the follow up 'Rock Hell'. Nalle Österman left the GANDALF ranks in May of 2002. Guitarist 'Stig Evil' (a.k.a. Timo Nyberg) joined Death Metal act DIVINE DECAY the same year.

Ȫsterman found himself manning the drums for CHAOSBREED, unveiled in early 2003, something of a Finnish Metal 'Supergroup'. The band comprised lead vocalist Taneli Jarva of SENTENCED and THE BLACK LEAGUE, guitarists Esa Holopainen of AMORPHIS and Marko Tarvonen of MOONSORROW with bass player Oppu Laine of AMORPHIS and MANNHAI repute.