A Gothic Death Metal combo out of Täby, masterminded by Johan Edlund, that has evolved chameleon like with each successive release. Less tastefully known in their formative years as TREBLINKA, during which time vocalist Johan Edlund also pursued his gruesome side project GENERAL SURGERY, the Swedish quartet adopted the title of the Sumerian goddess of chaos and mythical planet TIAMAT. The band has evolved from a derivative Speed Metal / Death act to a more substantial stance in offering aggression with adventurous Progressive variances. This makeover gave TIAMAT access to the underground, yet considerable European Dark Wave club scene.

As TREBLINKA the band consisted of vocalist/guitarist Johan Edlund ("Lucifer Hellslaughter"), bassist Klas Wistedt, guitarist Stefan Lagergren ("Emetic") and drummer Andreas Holmberg ("Najse Auschwitzer"). This unit released the 1988 demo 'Crawling In Vomits' and follow up tape 'The Sign Of The Pentagram' in 1989. Also emerging that year would be the 'Severe Abomination' EP on Mould In Hell Records. A later incarnation of TREBLINKA also included Nicke Andersson of ENTOMBED repute.

The group issued the September 1990 debut album 'Sumerian Cry', laid down at Sunlight Studios, through C.M.F.T. Productions. The band that recorded this work was firmly entrenched in Black Metal, evidenced by an album cover brandishing pentagrams and inverted crosses, harsh riffing driven by blast beats and musicians caked in corpsepaint and studded with nails. Once the tracks were completed a decision was made to switch from the controversial TREBLINKA to a more palatable TIAMAT, debuting live under their new banner on April 6th 1990 in Stockholm. 'Sumerian Cry' was, in truth, a fairly basic affair, marred by some amateurish drumming and some ill conceived attempts at experimentation, such as a clumsy 'Evilized'. Nonetheless, 'Sumerian Cry' succeeded in getting the TIAMAT brand onto the European Metal scene. However, from this point onwards the band would be rocked with constant re-shuffling of personnel. For the Thomas Skogsberg engineered 'A Winter Shadow' single, released in December 1990 by CBR Records, the band personnel would be credited as Hellslaughter, guitarist A.D. Lord (a.k.a. Thomas Petersson), bass player Jorgen Thullberg ("Juck the Ripper") and drummer Oakbeach (Niklas Ekstrand).

Locating a stable base of operations with German imprint Century Media, TIAMAT toured Europe in 1991 with label mates UNLEASHED. Staying out in the live environment, TIAMAT allied with DEATH for German concerts in February. September 1991's 'The Astral Sleep' album saw both Lagergren and Holmberg depart for EXPULSION and the record was recorded by vocalist/guitarist Johan Edlund, guitarist Thomas Petersson, bassist Jörgen Thullberg and drummer Lars Sköld with Jonas Malmsten aiding on keyboards. 'The Astral Sleep' was conceived at Woodhouse Studios in Dortmund, with production being delegated to GRIP INC. guitarist Waldemar Sorychta, who also added a guitar solo to the track 'Ancient Entity'. Europe again felt the force of the TIAMAT onstage experience in October as the group, together with PARADISE LOST, hit Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Italy. The campaigning carried on into the New Year, another circuit of the continent being conducted alongside SAMAEL and UNLEASHED. In April Tiamat hopped onboard a further brutal package, comprising CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEATH and CARCASS.

The band's 1992 line-up for the atmospheric third effort 'Clouds', issued that September, comprised Edlund, Petersson, ex-SORCEROR bassist Johnny Hagel, keyboard player Kenneth Roos and drummer Niklas Ekstrand. 'The Sleeping Beauty- Live In Israel' record was recorded in Tel Aviv on June 3rd 1993 prior to dealing Germany another blow backed by MORGOTH and TANKARD. Later shows found the band touring alongside MORGOTH, UNLEASHED and, into 1994, VOODOO CULT and CREMATORY. Petersson and Roos took their leave, requiring Johan Edlund to carry on with an all new formation that included bassist Johnny Hagel.

September 1994's Space Rock charged 'Wildhoney' album found the band expanding into fresh vistas of sound. In the studio, Birgit Zacher lent female vocal colour, keyboards contributed were by Waldemar Sorychta and the group's confidence resulted in no less than four instrumentals, 'Wildhoney', '25th Floor', 'Kaleidoscope' and 'Planets'. The single choice, 'Gaia', a six-track EP released in 1995, included a cover version of PINK FLOYD's 'When You're In' as one of the additional tracks. Predictably the line-up fluxed yet again with Ekstrand and Petersson discharging themselves and drummer Lars Sköld welcomed back into the fold. Former CELEBORN guitarist Magnus Sahlgren sessioned on 'Wildhoney' and was kept on for tour work. Sahlgren subsequently joined DISMEMBER and LAKE OF TEARS.

The band toured as support to TYPE O NEGATIVE in Europe during 1994 and and attacked 1995 with an exhaustive round of dates flanking SENTENCED. TIAMAT also successfully headlined the 1995 Dynamo Festival in Holland. A sizable coup was then to be had with a tour of the USA, Europe and Britain as support to BLACK SABBATH. The same year a limited edition album, 'A Musical History Of Tiamat', would give fans further live material in the form of an extra CD.

April 1997's Dirk Draeger produced 'A Deeper Kind Of Slumber' heralded another shift in TIAMAT's musical landscape as Edlund, now employing a near Gregorian vocal timbre, ventured into unashamed and uncompromising Progressive Rock territory. Members of German band THE INCHTABOKATABLES enhanced proceedings with string arrangements. Collectors would be appeased when Century Media issued 'A Deeper Kind Of Slumber' in two sets of cover art, one for Europe and another for the USA. Naturally the ebb and flow of band members continued unabated too with CEMETARY's Anders Iwers enrolling on guitar as in a straight swap Johnny Hagel joined CEMETARY. The ex-TIAMAT man would later be found ensconced in SUNDOWN before pursuing his own CINNAMON SPIRAL and LITHIUM projects. Meanwhile further internal manouevres in TIAMAT saw Iwers shifting to bass when Petersson rejoined later. Once dates with THE GATHERING had been fulfilled in September, Iwers would also find extracurricular activities deputising for Italian act LACUNA COIL after both their guitarists pulled out of an October 1997 tour at short notice.

TIAMAT returned with the August 1999 Gothic infused, grittier guitar heavy 'Skeleton Skeletron' outing. A preceding EP, 'Brighter Than The Sun', had included a rendition of the ROLLING STONES staple 'Sympathy For The Devil'. European dates in November saw the band supported by ANATHEMA but Petersson bailed out yet again. The band, complete once more with a yoyo-ing Petersson bouncing back, got to grips with a November European package tour alongside running mates ANATHEMA and TRISTANIA.

Johan Edlund struck out on a no frills Gothic Rock n' Roll direction with the 2001 solo side project LUCYFIRE. Scoring a deal with SPV Records LUCYFIRE issued 'This Dollar Saved My Life at Whitehorse'. Edlund, billing himself as "Notorious PIG" for the LUCYFIRE endeavour also assembled a live band for an appearance at the 'Mera Luna' festival in Hildesheim, Germany. The same year leading German Gothic Rock act LOVE LIKE BLOOD would cover 'Whatever That Hurts' for their covers album 'Chronology Of A Love Affair'.

A February 2002 TIAMAT album, the Lars H. Nissen produced 'Judas Christ', which once again garnered the band chart success in Sweden, would see American variants adding the bonus cut 'Cold Last Supper' plus a video clip of 'Vote For Love'. Peter Tägtgren of HYPOCRISY and PAIN guested on the track 'Spine'. 'Judas Christ' triggered European gigs opened up by MOONSPELL and FLOWING TEARS in March.

European summer festival appearances throughout July and August for the band included showings at the German 'Zillo' and 'Summer Breeze' events as well as Spain's 'Rock Machina' festival, the Czech 'Brutal Assault' open air gig and the Viennese 'Metalfest'. TIAMAT would embark upon touring in mainland Europe as part of a co-billing with PAIN. Regular guitarist Thomas Petersson would be unable to participate, being replaced temporarily by SOUTHFORK's Henrik Bergqvist as DARK TRANQUILLITY's Martin Brändström handled keyboard duties.

A brand new Johan Edlund produced TIAMAT album, 'Prey' delivered in October of 2003, would be preceded by the single 'Cain', this release including a cover version of W.A.S.P.'s 'Sleeping (In The Fire)'. Former TIAMAT touring keyboard player P.A. Danielsson was killed in a car accident in Italy on 26th November 2004. He was 35 years old.

The band reported a European road alliance with SIRENIA, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and PAIN to take them through late 2004 and into 2005. For these concerts the band would be joined by TALISMAN guitarist Fredrik "Kulle" Åkesson, replacing regular guitarist Thomas Petersson detained by "parental duties", and DARK TRANQUILLITY keyboard player Martin Brändström. TIAMAT live concerts took place in Greece in February 2005. The band made festival appearances in 2006 and released a DVD, entitled 'The Church Of Tiamat', in May 2006.

With TIAMAT drummer Lars Sköld delegated production duties, Johan Edlund's LUCYFIRE side project undertook work on album recordings in November 2006.

A promotional single, 'The Temple Of The Crescent Moon', preceded the April 2008 album 'Amanethes'. This set comprised tracks recorded at The Mansion and Cue Studios in Greece and Studio Mega in Sweden, then mixed and mastered by Siggi Bemm in Woodhouse Studios in Germany during January 2008. Digipack versions hosted the extra track 'Thirst Snake'. For initial festivals in June 2008 Jesper Skarin, from FINGERSPITZENGEFÜHL, substituted as Anders Iwers took family time out. Following an appearance at the 'Zeytinli Rock' festival in Turkey on 16th August guitarist Thomas Wyreson exited.

Century Media issued a lavish box set entitled 'The Ark Of The Covenant - The Complete Century Media Years'. This collection comprised the albums 'The Astral Sleep', 'Clouds', 'Live In Israel', 'Wildhoney', 'Wildlife', 'Gaia', 'A Deeper Kind Of Slumber', 'Skeleton Skeletron', 'Judas Christ' and 'Prey' plus 'The Church Of Tiamat', an all new set of tracks, the rarities disc 'Panopticon' and the DVD 'The Church Of Tiamat'.Only 3000 copies were produced.