HEARSE was founded by erstwhile ARCH ENEMY man Johan Liiva on vocals and bass. Liiva also fronts NONEXIST. For the HEARSE project, which signed to the Hammerheart label for a debut album 'Dominion Reptilian', Liiva was joined by ex-FURBOWL personnel guitarist Mattias Ljung and drummer Max Thornell. HEARSE opened proceedings with a 7" EP entitled 'Torch' in August 2002, preceding an album 'Dominion Reptilian'.

The band cut a sophomore album, the Jonas Elder produced 'Armageddon Mon Amour' recorded at Basement Audio System in Stockholm, for release in early 2004. Initially it would be announced this release was to be through Holland's Karmageddon Media label but the band then switched to the UK Candlelight concern. A short burst of Benelux dates in September 2004 saw the band united with CALLENISH CIRCLE, OCCULT and DISMEMBER.

In January 2005 HEARSE completed recordings at Stockholm's The White Chapel Studios with Jonas Edler for the album 'The Last Ordeal', set for a Summer release through Karmageddon Media. An EP, fronted by a cover rendition of KIM WILDE's 'Cambodia', was issued in late January to precede the album.

HEARSE's fourth album, 'In These Veins', was released in North America on 18th September 18, 2007 via Candlelight Records. The album was recorded and mixed by Dan Swanö, of EDGE OF SANITY and BLOODBATH. The group recorded new album tracks at Black Chapel Studios in September 2008.