Death SS was formed in 1977 by Steve Sylvester, who was a member of the Ordo Templi Orientis. The band combined elements of horror, occultism and heavy metal to become a pioneer in horror metal and black metal; the musical style is called “horror music” by the band. The original line-up also featured Paul Chain, who would later embrace an experimental form of doom metal with his solo project, Paul Chain Violet Theatre. Death SS split in 1984 but reformed in 1988 (with Sylvester being the only original member). This new incarnation of the band recorded their first full-length album, ...In Death of Steve Sylvester. There would be many line-up changes in the years to come, with Sylvester once again being the only constant (except a short time in the early 1980s when Paul Chain would front the band on the Evil Metal EP).
The album Panic was partially recorded in the USA, with Neil Kernon as a producer, because the band liked his work for artists like Queensrÿche, Judas Priest, Dokken, Nevermore, David Bowie, Rush and Skrew and had, according to Sylvester, “a particular touch in the dark side of Heavy Metal […] that we were looking for”. The band’s management contacted Kernon, who accepted after listening to the band’s demos of the new songs. The album was released in 2000 by Sylvester’s own label, Lucifer Rising, and Dream Cather.