Stockholm's NIHILIST mark the genesis of two of Sweden's leading Metal acts, ENTOMBED and UNLEASHED. NIHILIST was forged by teenagers under the BRAINWARP banner during 1987. Initiated by drummer Nicke Andersson the first unit involved school friends singer Daniel "Dudde" Strachal, guitarist Alex Hellid and Leif Cuzner on bass. Strachal soon opted out, later resurfacing behind the LOBOTOMY drum kit, and the band briefly rehearsed with Mattias "Buffla" Boström on the microphone. However, upon entering the Stockholm's Studio Z in March 1988 to cut their first set of demos it would be Lars-Göran Petrov, drummer of MORBID, employed as session singer. Another MORBID man, Ulf Cederlund, handled secondary guitar duties for what would be the Leif Martinsson engineered demo 'Premature Autopsy'.

For subsequent live shows the band was joined by Petrov and new bass guitarist Johnny Hedlund as Cuzner switched to guitar. Over two days in December 1988 this formation utilised Sunlight Studios in Stockholm, and a then unknown producer Tomas Skogsberg, in December to craft a further three song demo, 'Only Shreds Remain'. Once leaked onto the tape trading market the NIHILIST name rapidly garnered enthusiastic support. Until this juncture the only cutting edge Death Metal circulating was emanating from the UK and USA. With 'Only Shreds Remain', NIHILIST had initiated what was to be a tidal flow from Scandinavia.

Leif Cuzner was reluctantly forced out of operations when his family relocated to Canada. In his stead came their former session ally Ulf Cederlund, at the time attempting to kick start his own INFURATION project. Another round of Swedish club dates ensued before a return to recording was prompted at the invitation of 'Metalion' (a.k.a. Jon Kristiansen), owner of the fabled 'Slayer' fanzine. The journalist was attempting to assemble a split release set to feature PARADISE LOST, CARCASS and BOLT THROWER to launch his Head Not Found label, requesting NIHILIST also contribute material. although the band laid down the new track 'Morbid Devourment' for this purpose the proposed release never transpired. The song was then mooted for inclusion on a compilation album 'Brutal Jaevla Död', but this too failed to eventuate.

Persevering, NIHILIST set about constructing the 'Drowned' demo in August 1989, including a cover rendition of REPULSION's 'Radiation Sickness'. Just after these sessions, internal disagreements froze out Johnny Hedlund. The bass player soon set up anew with the powerful UNLEASHED, whilst the remainder, adding ex-CARBONISED bassist Lars Rosenberg, forged ENTOMBED. Around this period Nicke Andersson was also dividing his duties singing with TREBLINKA, the pre-TIAMAT extreme Death Metal combo out of Täby.

The debut single, 1989's 'Severe Burns' on Bloody Rude Defect Records, was originally the demo "Drowned', whilst a second single, 'Radiation Sickness' in 1991, turned out to be a semi-official bootleg. Post ENTOMBED drummer Nicke Andersson would become Nicke Royale for his role in THE HELLACOPTERS.

Threeman Recordings issued a collection of NIHILIST recordings in April 2005. Sadly, founding NIHILIST guitarist Leif Cuzner passed away in Montreal, Canada in June 2006.