Formed in 1997 by Jari Kuusisto & Stefan Westerberg, CARNAL FORGE released its debut, "Who's Gonna Burn" (War Music), in 1998. After signing with Century Media in early 2000, the band released "Firedemon" later in the year. Petri Kuusisto joined and the band would tour Europe supporting The Haunted and Nile and make the first of several prestigious festival appearances. In 2001 Lars Linden joined just to the recordings of "Please... die!" (Linden making his debut with the band at the year's 2000 Decibel festival and Wacken Open Air).