Östersund's SANCTIFICATION, spawned in the Summer of 2001 by members from the late DIVINE DESECRATION and drummer Nils Fjellström from CHASTISEMENT, ODHINN, SOULDRAINER and AEON, deal in brutal, blasphemic Death Metal. The initial formation would also count guitarist Daniel Dlimi of AEON and THE EQUINOX OV THE GODS, PROSERPHINE guitarist Tomas Elofsson and singer Mathias Mohlin. Dlimi would decamp in late 2001 in order to prioritise AEON.

SANCTIFICATION cut their debut demo in November of 2001, after which Peter Jönsson was introduced on bass guitar. The band would debut on the live front during the Spring of 2002 at the Old Courthouse in Östersund. However, with Jönsson unable to commit Jörgen Bylander of DEFACED CREATION and DERANGED took over bass duties for this concert whilst Daniel Dlimi also made a brief return on guitar.

SANCTIFICATION would add CHASTISEMENT and SOULDRAINER guitarist Marcus Edvardsson in 2003. That same year, maintaining his SANCTIFICATION post, Fjellström joined IN BATTLE. Ex-member Daniel Dlimi followed the lead into IN BATTLE in 2004. Tomas Elofsson would also be making a name for himself as a member of GOD AMONG INSECTS, and would also join IN BATTLE during September.

The band issued the debut album 'Misantropic Salvation' for Remission Records. September saw a valuable support date to CANNIBAL CORPSE in Trondheim, Norway.

2006 witnessed the formation of neo-Thrash Metal act ENDLESS TORTURE, a union between Marcus Edvardsson, A*TEEM vocalist Peter Mellgren plus Tom Åsvold, from PAINCRAZE and DIMENSION34, on drums.

SANCTIFICATION announced their intention to work with drummer Tony Laureano, DIMMU BORGIR, ex-NILE and ANGEL CORPSE, but conflicting schedules did not allow this proposed union. In May 2008 the band revealed they would be utilising the services of Nils Fjellström, entering the Abyss studio with Tommy Tägtgren on July 7th for album recordings for Pulverised Records. These sessions were mixed by HYPOCRISY's Peter Tägtgren and mastered by Dan Swanö.