Indiana theatric Heavy Metal band PURGATORY was a precursor to the internationally recognised ICED EARTH. The band began life as PURGATORY during 1984 with a teenage garage band line-up of vocalist Gene Adam, guitarists Jon Schaffer and Bill Owen, bassist Dave Abell and drummer Greg Seymour. Another ex-PURGATORY man bassist Richard Bateman also made a fleeting appearance and he was later to find prominence in AGENT STEEL and NASTY SAVAGE. As PURGATORY three demos saw release, 1985's four song debut 'Burning Oasis', the two track 'Psychotic Dreams' that same year and 'Horror Show' in 1986.

As the transition from PURGATORY to ICED EARTH began the band were still very much a horror shock outfit wearing cassocks onstage and dousing their audience in liver and blood as part of the theatrics. Thankfully these tactics were soon resigned to the past as ICED EARTH concentrated more on the music.

The first ICED EARTH recordings proper came in the form of the 'Horror Show' demo featuring one new composition 'Dracula' allied with two reworks of PURGATORY tracks 'Jack' and 'In Jason's Mind', both from the 'Psychotic Dreams' demo. ICED EARTH's next effort, the 'Enter The Realm' demo, was the tape that secured their career and landed them a deal with Germany's Century Media Records.

Although Jon Schaffer would remain as the only constant, ICED EARTH went on to enjoy strong album sales and acclaim, particularly in Europe. In 2004 the former ICED EARTH team of vocalist Gene Adam, bassist Dave Abell and Mark Prator on drums, along with guitarist Bill Owen of PURGATORY, forged a brand new band project tentatively (and wryly) dubbed UNEARTHED. The group soon cut a two song demo comprising 'Fire In The Sky' and 'Unearthed'.