One of the finest, yet overlooked, Norwegian acts. CONCEPTION, hailing from Raufoss, boasted the enormous guitar talents of Tore Østby and the distinctive vocals of Roy S. Kahn (a.k.a. Roy Sætre Khantatat). Over a series of albums that found the group evolving from Death Speed Metal through to luxuriant Progressive Metal. CONCEPTION, based in Raufoss, peaked with the quite awesome 'Flow' album. It was delivered too late to save the band's career though. CONCEPTION bass player Ingar Amlien was previously in late 70's act ROCQUEFIRE alongside future TNT guitarist Ronnie Le Tekrø.

The band was formulated in the late eighties with a line-up comprising singer Dag Østby, guitar player Tore Østby, bassist Freddy Samsonstuen and drummer Werner Skogli. By 1990 Skogli was out of the picture, superseded by Arve Heimdal. CONCEPTION's debut self-financed album 'The Last Sunset', produced by VICTORY guitarist Tommy Newton, featured singer Dag Østby. Along with bassist Freddy Samsonstuen the singer would disembark in 1991, subsequently re-emerging in 1998 with the Doom band SWEET MOTHER OF GOD.

CONCEPTION's debut was re-released in 1993 by Noise Records. The band also featured on the Noise live video of 1993, 'The Power Of Metal', alongside RAGE and GAMMA RAY. CONCEPTION utilized the services of keyboard player Hans C. Gjestvang for a brief period. The band supported THRESHOLD in Europe during January 1994, opened for SKYCLAD on their British tour and also put in some dates with TROUBLE.

The group's fourth album, 'Flow' released in 1997, found the band in receipt of rave reviews throughout Europe, although the critical acclaim, unsurprisingly, stopped at the front door of the major British Rock press.

CONCEPTION duly folded with vocalist Roy Kahn joining Florida Metal band KAMELOT. Guitarist Tore Østby and bassist Ingar Amlien founded ARK with VAGABOND, THE SNAKES and MUNDUS IMPERIUM singer JORN LANDE and the TNT and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN credited drummer John Macaluso.

Amlien forged a Black Metal project CREST OF DARKNESS releasing three albums to date. The 1999 CREST OF DARKNESS release 'The Ogress' sees both Kahn and Heimdal contributing. That same year Tore Østby contributed his guitar skills to an album by former DEADLOCK frontman Frankie Riester dubbed FRANKIE'S PLAYGROUND.

CONCEPTION reformed in 2005 for an appearance at the US 'ProgPower' festival. This show was recorded for a live album.