Rotterdam's OFFICIUM TRISTE deal in labouring Gothic Doom. Drummer Martin Kwakernaak and guitarist Johan Kwakernaak had previously been members of RECRIMINATED, an act that dissolved in 1994. Founding OFFICIUM TRISTE that April with lead singer Pim Blankenstein, guitarist Gerard de Jong and bass player Maarten, the new grouping issued a three track demo the same year, which attracted the attention of Fuck You Records. The band retired to the studio cutting tracks for a proposed release but nothing further was heard from Fuck You. Undaunted, Blankenstein set up his own label Weeping Willow and promptly issued the three track red vinyl EP 'Mountains Of Depressiveness', limited to just 500 copies.

Bass player Maarten would break ranks in 1995, being supplanted by Johan as OFFICIUM TRISTE signed to the Tuetonic Existence label for their debut album 'Ne Vivam' issued in April 1997. OFFICIUM TRISTE would then forge an alliance with Californian Doom mongers COLD MOURNING sharing a split single via Weeping Willow Records. Despite this practical progress the band collapsed in 1998. A farewell offering was made with the 'Roses On My Grave' release, the B side of which featured a rendition of 'Headstone' originally by British band CHORUS OF RUIN.

Endeavouring to strive forward Martin, Johan and Blankenstein created XI:LIX (11:59) enrolling Johan on guitar. This unit soon succumbed to a full OFFICIUM TRISTE reunion with new guitarist Johan originally involved. He would leave though in April 2000 and the band reshuffled to accommodate new bass player Lawrence Mayer, a multi talented individual who has credits as drummer with Black Metal band LIAR OF GOLGOTHA and as guitarist with Death Metal act DEATH SENTENCE.

OFFICIUM TRISTE signed to Displeased Records for a new album 'The Pathway'. In early 2004 the 'Ne Vivam' debut would be re-issued on heavyweight 180 gramme vinyl through the Badger label. This would be a limited edition pressing of 500 copies manufactured in five different colours. The group also re-recorded one of their early tracks, 'Mountains Of Depressiveness', for use on the 'Slowmomusic Vol. 1' compilation album. Following the band's appearance at the September 'Autumn of Doom' festival in Schweinfurt OFFICIUM TRISTE united with REVEREND BIZARRE and WELL OF SOULS for a round of German dates.

OFFICIUM TRISTE recorded the 'Giving Yourself Away' album during January 2007 at Excess studio in Rotterdam. The band also revealed they had cut a cover version of 'Crying Blood And Crimson Snow' for a THERGOTHON tribute album for release by Russian label Solitude Productions.