Following in the influences of Black Sabbath and Sisters of Mercy, the Richfield, OH-based Abdullah got together in 1998 through drummer and vocalist Jeff Shirilla. Accompanied by guitarist Al Seibert, the duo brought on their hybrid of goth metal from their own Rage of Achilles Records and released their debut EP "Snake Lore" in 1999. The following year, their self-titled second album came out through Meteor City Records.