A much vaunted, female fronted Dark Wave Gothic project TRISTANIA was created in Stavanger during late 1996 by keyboard player Einar Moen and guitarist Morten Veland, both previously with UZI SUICIDE, and drummer Kenneth Olsson, subsequently adding bassist Rune Østerhus along with guitarist and main composer Anders Høyvik Hidle. At this formative stage TRISTANIA were all in their teens, with Hidle the youngest at seventeen. TRISTANIA's inaugural demos would be crafted at Klepp Lydstudio in May 1997. Female singer Vibeke Stene was drafted initially on a session basis but her skills were proven during these recordings and as such she was asked to join the band. In this format TRISTANIA developed their trademark sound of employing three distinctly different lead vocalists.

The Austrian Napalm label picked the band up and issued the 'Tristania' EP as their debut in December 1997, actually a remixed version of the demo clad in new artwork. The Terje Refsnes produced 'Widow's Weeds' full-length album emerged in March 1998, the band making a sizable impression, their song based approach striking a positive chord with the Rock media.

On the vocal front the immense, soaring power of Vibeke Stene soon put paid to any notions the girl had gained her position just for visual effect whilst Morten Veland countered with trollish rumblings to root proceedings firmly in the extreme metal camp. Østen Bergøy of MORENDOES would lend backing vocals to this and subsequent recordings. Another significant session contributor would be violinist Pete Johansen, a studio veteran of MORGUL and THE SINS OF THY BELOVED repute. Live promotion would include support shows to LACRIMOSA in Belgium and an appearance at the Austrian 'Mind Over Matter' festival. That same year the band partnered with HAGGARD and SOLEFALD for their inaugural European tour.

September 1999's 'Beyond The Veil' would see guest backing vocal contributions from ELUSIVE's Jan Kenneth Barkved alongside Hilde T. Bommen, Jeanett Johannessen and Vibeke's family members Maiken and Sissel. Both Østen Bergøy and Pete Johansen also donated their services once more. 'Beyond The Veil' elevated the band to headlining status and TRISTANIA traversed Europe with a supporting alliance of THE SINS OF THY BELOVED, TRAIL OF TEARS and ANTICHRISIS. The band put in a notable appearance at the German 'Wacken Open Air' festival and undertook further touring packaged with TIAMAT and ANATHEMA. As touring extended into 2000 TRISTANIA put in their first shows in Mexico that August and a one off US concert in November, an event which put TRISTANIA onstage alongside porn stars and wrestlers.

Vibeke Stene engaged in side project GREEN CARNATION with EMPEROR's Tchort and Mitgliedern from IN THE WOODS, featuring on the 2000 album 'Journey To The End Of Night'. Veland subsequently left TRISTANIA during May 2001, founding SIRENIA for a 2002 debut album. His place would be taken by two vocalists, Kjetil Ingebrethsen of BLINDFOLDED and Østen Bergøy.

The band made a significant impact with their third album 'World Of Glass', recorded in Sound Suite Studio, France during the Spring of 2001. For the first time the band also attempted a cover version, cutting 'The Modern End' by SIEGMEN. Guest session vocals for this recording came courtesy of an impressive cast including Ronny Thorsen of TRAIL OF TEARS and SCARIOT, Jan Kenneth Barkved once again, Damien Surian of TRAIL OF TEARS, Hilde T. Bommen, Johanna Giraud, Emile Lesbros and SIRENIA's Sandrine Lachapelle. Another extensive round of live dates ensued, opening with a European headline tour backed by ROTTING CHRIST, VINTERSORG and MADDER MORTEM. TRISTANIA would tour Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Chile during January 2002 then undertook headline gigs in Colombia and Mexico during August.

The band entered Toproom studios in Oslo in April 2004 with producer Børge Finstad to commence work on a new studio album 'Ashes'. Having fulfilled their three album contract with Napalm Records TRISTANIA at first self financed these recordings before signing to new label SPV Records in July. The group did schedule a July appearance at the 'Mind Over Matter' festival in Austria, but withdrew due to illness on Kjetil Ingebrethsen's part. TRISTANIA hooked up with THERION and TRAIL OF TEARS for a mammoth Euro tour throughout the Autumn, taking in Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Holland, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, England and Spain.

Promoting the 'Ashes' release in January the group's 2005 live campaign, seeing the addition of guitarist Svein Terje Solvang (a.k.a. 'Ildaar) of Sauda Black Metal act ULVHEDNER, took in their first Norwegian tour, an alliance with GOTHMINISTER on a government sponsored cultural set of dates. That same month the band filmed a promotional video at the old Tou Brewery in Stavanger for the track 'Equilibrium' with director Ralf Strathmann. Supports to NIGHTWISH took the band through February before South American dates in union with KREATOR and DARK TRANQUILLITY in March.

TRISTANIA announced new album recordings, set for March 2006 in Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany, would be produced by GRIP INC. guitarist Waldemar Sorychta. However, mid-sessions, the group parted ways with vocalist Kjetil Ingebrethsen in April. The album, 'Illumination' featuring guest vocals contributed by Vorph from SAMAEL, was completed in early May.

Headline shows set for September would see GREEN CARNATION, MACHINE MEN, TURISAS, DERANGED and MORGANA LEFAY as support acts.

In March 2007 speculation in Scandinavian newspapers put former TRISTANIA singer Vibeke Stene in the frame as the new NIGHTWISH singer. However, Vibeke herself shot down these rumours almost immediately. Later that year TRISTANIA announced the addition of Italian singer Mariangela Demurtas to the group's ranks.

Guitarist Svein Terje Solvang opted out in May 2008, just upfront of touring in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. This sudden departure did not give TRISTANIA time to locate a replacement and therefore the band performed with Anders Høyvik Hidle handling all guitar duties.

During mid 2009 Morten Veland contracted a deal with Austria's Napalm Records for his new band project MORTEMIA. This new venture was self-described as staying "beautiful melodies and bombastic choir passages, thus creating the perfect blend of traditional gothic metal and modern elements."