CRYPTIC ART is a Stockholm Heavy Metal act dating to 1994. The original incarnation of the band was entitled BLACKEND and comprised vocalist Karin, bassist Gandhi Isaksson and drummer Damian Jungle. With a name switch to CRYPTIC ART the duo took on the guitar partners Jonas Alin and Tom Razor in 1995 but would lose the services of Karin. At first Johnny Dragon took the role of frontman but this would subsequently be delegated to Dagna Plebaneck in the Autumn of that year. CRYPTIC ART also enrolled Melissa Nordell on bass.

The demo 'In The Fog Of Frustration' emerged in 1996 after which both Alin and Plebaneck departed. The group pulled in Danna as replacement guitarist but in mid 1997 was usurped by Wire McQuaid. Before the year was out Nordell was to vacate her role and Jonas Kimbrell of THE MARBLE ICON and DISPATCHED took over bass. A second demo 'Thorns Of Passion' was cut in January of 1998 but further line-up afflictions saw Kimbrell and McQuaid foregoing their membership.