Chicago Doom Metal act dating to 1992 that would give vocalist Kimberly Goss to Norway's ANCIENT, DIMMU BORGIR, Swedish act THERION and subsequently her own Finnish based Power Metal band SINERGY. AVERNUS debuted with the 1993 demo tape 'A Delicate Tracery Of Red' followed by further sessions 'Anastasia' and 'Sadness', both during 1994. Further exposure was gained with the inclusion of the track 'Godlessness' on the Metal Blade 'Metal Massacre 12' compilation. Goss exited for Scandinavia during 1995. A third demo outing, 'A Farewell To Eden' in 1996, led to the first AVERNUS album 'Of The Fallen' for Olympic Records.

Bassist Brian Whited held credits with DEAD SERENADE. Drummer Bill Hamning deputized for ELECTRIC HELLFIRE CLUB's 2000 American dates. AVERNUS added ex-EVE OF MOURNING guitarist Scott.

By mid 2002 AVERNUS, comprising vocalist Rick McCoy, guitarist James Genenz and keyboard player Jeff Joseph had reunited with drummer Rick Yifrach and were working together on material for a new studio album. Bassist Brian Whited had departed to form a union with NOVEMBERS DOOM but this tenure would be brief. Genenz too bailed out, becoming bass player for FLESHGRIND.

In 2003 the band issued a self-financed EP, 'Bury Me In Fire'. The erstwhile AVERNUS rhythm section of bassist James Genenz and drummer William Hamning would join DEAD OF WINTER in September of 2003. Whited duly rejoined NOVEMBER'S DOOM in January 2005. AVERNUS signed to Flood The Earth Records in February.