Initially founded as a Gothic, Doom flavoured solo venture of Tuomas Saukkonen in Nastola during 1999. Saukkonen is an industrious figure on the Finnish Metal scene citing credits with SCYTHE.357, STARFIRE SYNDICATE, TEARGOD, ALTTARI and VARJO. Working with drummer Kimmo Nurmi two demo sessions were cut upfront of the March 2001 'Gehenna' EP release. Panu Willman, previously frontman for ENTWINE's 'The Treasures Within Hearts' opus and also operational with DARK FILTH FRATERNITY and ST. HOOD, was enrolled and early in 2003 the group augmented their sound with the addition of keyboard player Mika Ojala. The band's debut album 'My Darkness' was delivered in February by the Spanish Locomotive Music label.

BEFORE THE DAWN landed a coup by being announced as support act to KATATONIA's European and Scandinavian dates throughout April and May 2003. A second album, '4:17 AM', emerged in 2004.

Tuomas Saukkonen announced a revised BEFORE THE DAWN line-up for 2005, bringing in WINDS, AGE OF SILENCE, KHOLD and TULUS vocalist / bassist Lars Eikind (a.k.a. Lars Eric Si), GLORIA MORTI and MY RAGE credited Juho Räihä on guitar with Aatu Mukka from CAMORRA and DOWNTRODDEN on the drums. Ex-band members guitarist Mika Ojala, bassist Toni Broman and drummer Dani Miettinen forged THE COLLISION. Subsequently, Ojala and Broman created Punk Metal act DAMNGOD.

During 2005 Saukkonen contributed guest vocals to the track 'Drama For Two' on SINAMORE's debut album 'A New Day'. In May 2006 Tuomas Saukkonen launched his side project DAWN OF SOLACE's debut album 'The Darkness'. Lars Eikind donated guest vocals.

Locomotive Music released 'The Ghost' album, produced by Aleksanteri Kuosa and recorded at Villvox studios, in mid 2006. BEFORE THE DAWN toured across Finland and the Baltic States throughout September and October with MOONSPELL, INSOMNIUM, EMBRAZE and DAWN OF SOLACE. The band, now minus keyboard player Joel Mäkinen, entered the studio again on November 21st to cut the album 'Deadlight' for Stay Heavy Records.

The single 'Deadsong', released in February 2007, featured a cover version of PLACEBO's 'Bitter End' plus a re-recording of 'Gehenna'.

Mikko Heikkilä, of SINAMORE, forged a further side union with Tuomas Saukkonen under the title BLACK SUN AEON, debuting with a March 2009 album 'Darkness Walks Besides Me'.

The group featured on the 'Summer Breeze' festival billing in August 2009 held in Dinkelsbühl, Germany.