Nagelfar were a German progressive black metal band founded in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in 1993 by Zorn and Rhyktius V. Grhabakk von Meilenwald. After a long search for a lead vocalist, Smaug was selected; Svein von Hackenberg became acquainted with Smaug and Rhyktius at a party and entered the band's lineup as bassist in 1995. In autumn 1995, Smaug was replaced by Jander, and Garvin joined as session keyboardist. This lineup recorded the band's first demo