Early 2007 former Exhumed guitarist Mike Beams launched a one-man project called Bereave. According to Beams, "Bereave is a project that was started in '93 as a three-piece doom band."



Mike Beams borrowed a friend's drum set in 1995 and recorded a demo called "Eternally Sleep" with vocalist Mark Smith from a previous band he was in called Burial (San Jose).



In 2001 Beams acquired a Roland VSession drum kit and was playing more drums than guitar. At the same time he bought better recording gear and had greater potential at carrying out ideas.