

In 1998, they began compiling a full band they hired fellow students Rune Solheim and Helge Risa to be their drummer and organist, respectively.

Ottesen and Zahl recorded an acoustic demo consisting mainly of songs which would later be released on their first studio album, as well as some others which did not make the cut. Gnom was formed by Janove Ottesen and Geir Zahl around 1997, not long after the band in which they previously played together, Blod, snått og juling, was disbanded after hitting a creative impasse. Janove Ottesen and Geir Zahl during the days of gnom

