Death Metal unit NOWEN was at first formulated as a side concern of WITHERIA guitarist Mikko "Lappis" Lappalainen during 1999, issuing a demo 'From Birth To Death'. Expanding into a band unit, a second demo, 'Cursed Or Blessed', arrived in 2002. Featuring on these sessions would be guitarist Kimmo Korhonen, bassist Jan Huovinen, both of JUMLHÄMÄRÄ and DIM MOONLIGHT, plus drummer Jarkko Turtiainen. An EP, 'Where Hell Begins', was recorded during September 2005, these songs being laid down by Lappalainen, handling vocals, guitar and bass, along with the WALTARI, ENFORCE and FALCHION credited drummer Ville Vehviläinen.

The 2006 band line-up comprised Lappis, Kusmar Rotten, Terminator X and Vominator, respectively Lappalainen, STARLIT BLACK and WITHERIA guitarist Markus Taipale, ex-SLUGATHOR, NIGHT MUST FALL and NERLICH bassist Jarno Nurmi, and Vehviläinen.