Battlelore were formed in 1999 in Lappeenranta, Finland, by guitarist Jyri Vahvanen and bassist Miika Kokkola, with the name combining 'battle' and 'folklore.' Their first demo, Warrior's Tale, appeared that same year, followed by Dark Fantasy in 2000, which attracted Napalm Records and led to a contract. The debut studio album, Where The Shadows Lie, was released in 2002 and was promoted with the video for "Journey to Undying Lands". In 2003, Sword's Song was issued, widely regarded as a high point and launching the band’s first European tour. Subsequent albums—Third Age of the Sun (2005), Evernight (2007), The Last Alliance (2008), and Doombound (2011)—were recorded with producers Miitri Aaltonen and Dan Swanö, with Doombound becoming a concept album about Túrin Turambar. After an indefinite break announced in 2011, Battlelore reunited for a 2016 performance and released The Return of the Shadow in 2022, marking their first studio effort in over a decade.
