Stockholm's Progressive Metal band MINDWATCH is notable for having included prior bass guitarists Mikael Oretoft and Guillaume Le Huche (a.k.a. 'Israphel Wing') of KATATONIA repute. Band leader Victor Takala has also sessioned for KATATONIA. The band had been initiated in 1995, crafted by erstwhile personnel from Death Metal combo DEVOURED. In this guise the formative line up comprised frontman Victor Takala, guitarist Mattias Lindblad, bassist Micke Oretoft, keyboard player Niko Salomaa and MOMENT 22 drummer Bjarne Gudmundsson. That year the band cut two demo tracks 'Moonlight Transit' and 'Lady Baroque'.

Changes saw the departure of both Gudmundsson and Oretoft, the latter hooking up with KATATONIA. A period of flux ensued as former MOMENT 22, TINGOD and OPETH man Stefan Guteklint was inducted on bass, Anders Hortin took over keyboard duties and Joakim Borén of Death Metal acts ETHNOCIDE and GEIN enrolled to man the drums. However, Guteklint exited in 1997, being replaced by an ex-KATATONIA man Guillaume Le Huche (a.k.a. 'Israphael Wing') and in December a three song demo was laid down.

MINDWATCH would remain inactive for much of 1998 but upon a re-activation in August Lindblad decided to quit. Using this opportunity to switch the band name to EYEKON, Takala added guitar to his duties. More demos were cut at recorded at Ljudion Studios in Stockholm, after which Le Huche decamped. BOGUSVILLE's Thomas Grossman was duly incorporated on bass.