In 2000, they released their EP Breeding Death which featured Mikael ?kerfeldt (Opeth) on vocals, Dan Swan? (Edge of Sanity, Nightingale, etc.) on drums, Anders "Blakkheim" Nystr?m (Katatonia, Diabolical Masquerade) on guitar, and Jonas Renkse (Katatonia, October Tide) on bass. Influenced by positive feedback from fans, the band decided to make a full release. Two years later, Bloodbath released their debut album Resurrection through Carnage.
In 2004, vocalist Mikael ?kerfeldt left Bloodbath to free up more time for his primary band Opeth. To replace him, Bloodbath brought in Peter T?gtgren (Hypocrisy). The lineup changed further, with Dan Swan? switching to play the guitar instead of drums. Martin Axenrot (Witchery, Satanic Slaughter and now Opeth) took his place and the band was now bigger and more serious, no longer functioning as just a secondary project. The band's second full release, Nightmares Made Flesh, was released in Europe on September 27, 2004.
In February 2005, T?gtgren left the band due to "conflicting schedules." That same year, Mikael ?kerfeldt rejoined the band for a single live show at Germany's Wacken Open Air on August 5. Prior to the show, the band commented on the Wacken show: "Not only the first, but also the last gig for Bloodbath (with Mikael ?kerfeldt on vocals)" (later also turning out to be the last one with Dan Swan?). In September of 2005, Bloodbath started a search for a new lead vocalist.
In August 2006, the band announced the departure of Dan Swan? from their ranks due to musical differences and Swan?'s restrictions to devote more time and effort to the project in the future. They simultaneously closed the vocal auditions, announcing that no suitable singer had been found.
On March 27th, 2007 the band announced that a new lineup would shortly be unveiled, along with news that they were producing new material, to be released on a mini-CD towards the end of summer. In August 2007, band member Jonas Renkse wrote a message on the band's official discussion forum which suggested that work was in progress[1] In December 2007, the CD's title, Unblessing the Purity, was announced in Mikael ?kerfeldt's "best of 2007" album list. It was later confirmed by Blakkheim on the band's forum.
On January 30th 2008, it was announced via the Bloodbath website that Mikael ?kerfeldt would be rejoining the line-up on vocals along with new member Per Eriksson (ex-21 Lucifers, ex-Genocrush Ferox) on guitars.
The new E.P. includes 4 songs and was released on March 10th 2008. As of June 2008, it is only available directly from Peaceville, and has yet to be released through standard retail outlets.
Also announced on the special website Peaceville Records set up for the Bloodbath mini-CD is the long awaited Wacken live CD/DVD, which was released after two delays on June 2nd,2008.
Bloodbath are expected to release their third full length album in 2008 also. The band has recorded most of the album already. Mikael ?kerfeldt will be recording his vocals in summer when he has time off from Opeth's touring.
