Formerly known as SHADOWLANDS this Oulu based Gothic Metal act is noteworthy for the inclusion of SENTENCED and GHOST MACHINARY vocalist Ville Laihiala on guitar, and CHARON frontman Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto. POISONBLACK signed to the German Century Media label for release of the March 2003 debut 'Escapexstacy'. Leppäluoto signalled his departure upon completion of European dates that Summer. European gigs in December saw the band sharing a bill comprising MOONSPELL, LACUNA COIL and PASSENGER.

With Leppäluoto's departure, Ontario based solo artist CHRISTOPHER was in the running to become new frontman for Finnish Metal act POISONBLACK in early 2004. Although Christopher was accepted on the strength of demos, POISONBLACK delegated the duties internally - to guitarist Ville Laihiala - in early March. Early 2004 found Ville Laihiala finding the time to add a guest vocal to the 'Sweet & Deceitful' album from Glam Hard Rock outfit NEGATIVE, this record hitting number 1 on the Finnish charts. Keyboard player Marco Sneck, also enrolling into the ranks of KALMAH, deputised with FOR MY PAIN at their appearance at the August 2004 'Jalometalli' festival in Oulu. Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto would be announced as stand in singer for AMORPHIS North American dates in October.

POISONBLACK marked a return in 2006, cutting tracks at Tonebox studio in Oulu for a new album entitled 'Lust Stained Despair'. A pre-emptive single, 'Rush' issued in August, included non album track 'Poison I Crave'. 'Lust Stained Despair' entered the Finnish charts at number 2. The band supported LACUNA COIL's European tour throughout September and into November. However, shows in Tampere, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden in October were cancelled when Ville Laihiala suffered a lung infection. Further gigs in Finland set for December were also cancelled due to illness.

The band's 2008 opus, 'A Dead Heavy Day', was scheduled for release in August preceded by a single entitled 'Bear The Cross'. The album was recorded at Soundmix Studio in POISONBLACK's hometown of Oulu with Kari Vähäkuopus and was mixed by Aksu Hanttu at Grooveland Studio in Lahti. The group filmed a video for the song 'Bear The Cross', the first single, at the end of June with Klaffi Productions.