MESS was founded during 2001 by former STRATOVARIUS bassist Jari Kainulainen, guitarist Petteri Hirvanen and the AJATTARA and VERENPISARA credited Atte Sarkima on drums. The project floundered in 2002 but was re-activated by Kainulainen and Sarkima in late 2005, drawing in vocalist Tommi "Tuple" Salmela of TAROT and CARDIANT repute plus guitarist Elias Viljainen from E.VIL.

MESS laid down a five song demo at Fantom Studio in Tampere in March 2006. Recordings for an EP were cut during August. In early 2007 Jari Kainulainen sessioned on STRATOVARIUS mentor TIMO TOLKKI's concept solo album 'Saana - Warrior Of Light'.