Formed in 1988 as Acumen by Jason Novak and Ethan Novak, the band released several cassette demos before self-releasing the CD demo "Transmissions from Eville" in 1994. Along with bassist Greg Lopez, they put the record out themselves under the name Robot Records. During shows for this period, the band added Jamie Duffy as a guitarist/engineer, and shortly afterwards the four-piece band was noticed by independent industrial label Fifth Colvmn Records, who signed the band and reissued "Transmissions from Eville" worldwide.