Gandalf was formed in 1993 by then-guitarist Nalle Österman. HIM's Mika Karppinen was a session member at a later point. The band released demos with names like Will Life Ever End '93, Cradle and Snakebite. The debut demo's jacket proclaims, "This is an exclusive fuck Norway, Fuck Underground Publication."
Earache signed them nonetheless (or because of?) and they record Deadly Fairytales. The songs were mainly culled from the last two demos. The band found the album too polished and Rock Hell is released three years later with new bassist Kimmo Aroluoma. This album was described by Earache/Wicked World as 'AC/DC meets At The Gates.' Gandalf shot a video for the song Morning Sun.
The band announced its own demise in April of 2002 ostensibly due to being sick of the music business. Nyberg soon joined Divine:Decay. Osterman appeared in Chaosbreed with a couple of Amorphis members.