Three friends formed NORDHEIM circa 1995: HELIO OLIVA (vocals), GUSTAVO SILVEIRA (lead guitar) and FABIO (guitar). After a few months of checking out other musicians, the line-up was completed with ROBERTO SANS (bass) and FABIANO (drums). Back then the band was a typical exponent of the revival of traditional Heavy Metal music of the '80s, directly influenced by classic bands like IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST, but also drawing influences from the roots of hard rock like BLACK SABBATH and DEEP PURPLE. A personal cachet was insured through the addition of some more contemporary Doom, Thrash and Death Metal elements. The line-up remained unchanged almost one year, after which FABIO left, being replaced by EDUARDO FERNANDEZ.

After two years of irregular gigging, NORDHEIM landed it’s first major gig in 1997, in the Garage, a renowned traditional Metal venue in Rio de Janeiro. Fast-and-furious sounding NORDHEIM established themselves as a driving force' in Brazilian Metal then and there. By then they were also ready to bestow their first album upon their growing number of fans - but not before they had to suffer yet another line-up change, needing to replace their drummer and 2nd guitarist. By now NORDHEIM was attracting an average attendance of 400 wherever and whenever they played. They also recorded their first demo: RIVER OF DEATH.

Thankfully, towards the end of 2001the line-up finally stabilized itself with HELIO OLIVA (vocals), GUSTAVO SILVEIRA (lead guitar and vocals), DAVIS RAMAY (Lead Guitar), ROBERTO SANS (bass), THIAGGO PERREL (keyboards) and ARMANDO PERREIRA (drums). ARMANDO, also the owner of MARQUEE RECORDS, conveniently immediately signed…himself, and NORDHEIM, and started recording their first full length album with SIDNEY SOHN ( of the band THOTEN) sitting in the producer's chair.

...AND THE RAW METAL POWER…(that’s what the album is called in their home country) is a powerful debut which not only catapulted them into the higher regions of the Brazilian Metal Scene, but also got them noticed by CARL GRILLET, a specialist heavy metal dealer, and occasional talent scout for MAUSOLEUM RECORDS, resulting in NORDHEIM inking an agreement with the label for Europe.

The album has been renamed RIVER OF DEATH for release in Europe.